Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail to Guadalupe Ridge in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

Hike Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail to Guadalupe Ridge Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

Class 1 11.6 miles 2000 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Feb 23, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail to Guadalupe Ridge GPX Track

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The Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail does not go to the cave, which requires a permit and reservation from Carlsbad Caverns National Park to enter. Slaughter Canyon goes just below the cave, and heads up through a wide and pretty canyon until a ridge takes you up above the north and south forks of Slaughter Canyon before leading through hilly meadows above the canyon head. I was looking for the official junction with the Guadalupe Ridge Trail, but it seems the Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail has changed since it was tracked, since I sort of wasn't on the "official" trail (see map) toward the end. Anyway, nice views at the top with no real destination. As a side hike, you can head up North Slaughter Canyon, which just follows the wash and has some nice white slickrock potholes. you can pick this up just before going up the ridge.

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Starting up the Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail.
Starting up the Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail.
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Looking back down the canyon toward the trailhead.
Looking back down the canyon toward the trailhead.
Sections of the trail follow the rocky wash, but there are big cairns to mark the way.
Sections of the trail follow the rocky wash, but there are big cairns to mark the way.
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Looking back down Slaughter Canyon from where the trail starts up the ridge. To my left in this photo is the North Slaughter Canyon Trail, which leads up the wash and there are some nice white potholes like the one pictured here.
Looking back down Slaughter Canyon from where the trail starts up the ridge. To my left in this photo is the North Slaughter Canyon Trail, which leads up the wash and there are some nice white potholes like the one pictured here.
Heading up the ridge on the Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail, looking back the way I came.
Heading up the ridge on the Middle Slaughter Canyon Trail, looking back the way I came.
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The trail hugs the mountainside, a steep dropoff on the right as you go. This photo was taken looking back the way I came up.
The trail hugs the mountainside, a steep dropoff on the right as you go. This photo was taken looking back the way I came up.
Looking up toward where the trail goes. It's easy to follow, but gets more faint the higher you go, and cairns mark the way.
Looking up toward where the trail goes. It's easy to follow, but gets more faint the higher you go, and cairns mark the way.
Looking back toward the ridge separating North and South Slaughter Canyons.
Looking back toward the ridge separating North and South Slaughter Canyons.
Most of the elevation is done, but the trail continues along the ridge for a while.
Most of the elevation is done, but the trail continues along the ridge for a while.
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Looking back down, South Slaughter Canyon on the right.
Looking back down, South Slaughter Canyon on the right.
Continuing along hilly meadows after finishing the ridge ascent.
Continuing along hilly meadows after finishing the ridge ascent.
Hills!
Hills!
The junction with the Guadalupe Ridge Trail is somewhere around here, but I couldn't find it. Or maybe I was on it? I don't know. The cairns weren't clear. I ended up turning back after enjoying the hills a bit.
The junction with the Guadalupe Ridge Trail is somewhere around here, but I couldn't find it. Or maybe I was on it? I don't know. The cairns weren't clear. I ended up turning back after enjoying the hills a bit.

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!