Lost Peak via Tejas and Marcus Trails Loop in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX

Hike Lost Peak via Tejas and Marcus Trails Loop Guadalupe Mountains National Park, TX

Class 1 13.8 miles 2800 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Apr 11, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lost Peak via Tejas and Marcus Trails Loop GPX Track

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This loop starts at the lesser-visited northern end of Guadalupe Mountains National Park from the Dog Canyon Trailhead. I wanted to see a different side of the park that wasn't all about summit views, and the result was a nice hike through a pretty Texas landscape with minimal tree cover, more of a quintessential snippet of the rolling hills of Texas.

I set out on the Tejas Trail (listed as the Dog Canyon Trail in some places), which heads along the side of the canyon before ascending to the ridge above. I took a quick detour to Lost Peak (just a little bump off the trail), before continuing south along the pretty ridgeline. The Tejas Trail reached a junction with the McKittrick Canyon Trail, where I kept right. I took another right onto the Blue Ridge Trail and followed this briefly. This section of the loop heads through some nice tree cover before heading north and descending along the Marcus Trail. The Marcus Trail descends to lower than the trailhead and then curves east to ascend a few hundred vertical before taking the fianl descent back to the Dog Canyon Trailhead. The majority of this portion wide open and only has sporadic trees or vegetation taller than grasses.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Lost Peak
7830 ft
150 rise

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Along the Tejas Trail through Dog Canyon.
Along the Tejas Trail through Dog Canyon.
Ascending the Tejas Trail.
Ascending the Tejas Trail.
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View into Dog Canyon.
View into Dog Canyon.
Along the ridge, ascending out of Dog Canyon.
Along the ridge, ascending out of Dog Canyon.
View back into Dog Canyon.
View back into Dog Canyon.
View south along the ridge, past Lost Peak.
View south along the ridge, past Lost Peak.
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Some pretty forest along the ridgeline.
Some pretty forest along the ridgeline.
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Descending from the ridge.
Descending from the ridge.
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Descending along the Marcus Trail.
Descending along the Marcus Trail.
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Lots of wide open meadows.
Lots of wide open meadows.
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View back as I start ascending another ridge along the Marcus Trail.
View back as I start ascending another ridge along the Marcus Trail.
View west.
View west.
Continuing along the Marcus Trail.
Continuing along the Marcus Trail.
View up toward Lost Peak, though the trail now takes me back down to the trailhead.
View up toward Lost Peak, though the trail now takes me back down to the trailhead.
Image 25 from gallery
Continuing east along the Marcus Trail at the top of the ridge. Now to start the descent.
Continuing east along the Marcus Trail at the top of the ridge. Now to start the descent.
Image 27 from gallery
Almost back to the Dog Canyon Trailhead.
Almost back to the Dog Canyon Trailhead.
Image 29 from gallery

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!