Guadalupe Mountains National Park McKittrick Canyon I know this place looks desolate, and it would be a hard place to live. It does have a lot of life and diversity. I hope to show you how the canyon changes from the desert to a lusher environment further inside the canyon. Not lush in most people’s standards, but compared to the desert around, very different. Thank you for all your comments. All advice and instruction is appreciated. Please look at the pictures full size to get a more impressive view! The Canyon Today Thousands of visitors come to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to visit McKittrick Canyon each year, especially during the latter part of October or early November for the sensational fall colors. In this tiny part of west Texas, the foliage (brilliant reds, subtle yellows, and deep browns) contrasts dramatically with the flavor of the arid Chihuahuan desert that includes century plants, prickly pear cacti, blacktail rattlers, steep canyon walls and crystal clear blue skies. Whether you come for the fall show, or plan your trip for another season, the beauty of McKittrick Canyon is always breathtaking. Wildlife Many animals are hard to view due to their nocturnal nature. These include bobcats, mountain lions, raccoons, ring tail cats, and many species of bats. Look for their signs - scent, nests, tracks, scrape marks, and scat. During the daylight hours other species are out and about; be patient, sit still and listen, and you may have the opportunity to observe mule deer, javelina, wood rats, vireos, towhees, fence lizards and yes, even rattlesnakes - the most frequently seen are black-tailed and rock rattlers. Look closely at a rock or the bark of a tree; many animals take full advantage of the camouflage nature has provided. As you watch dragonflies near the water, you may be surprised to know that some are found only here and nowhere else. Rainbow trout can be observed swimming in the stream. They were introduced into the canyon in the '30s, but have survived as a small population. Plants The mouth of McKittrick Canyon is predominately scrub desert where yuccas like the "Spanish bayonet" (Yucca faxoniana), sotol (Dasylirion leiophyllum), and ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) thrive. To the untrained eye, it seems impossible for anything to grow in such harsh conditions, yet the plants have evolved to meet the challenge. Cacti and other desert succulents avoid drying out by storing water in their succulent tissues. To protect from water evaporation, the stems have a thick waxy coating. Their leaves, reduced to needles, provide protection from predators while reflecting the radiant heat of the sun. Further along the trail, trees stand as sentinels, silently guarding the canyon. Alligator juniper, velvet ash, ponderosa pine, and big tooth maple shelter agaves under their shady limbs. The most intriguing tree though is the Texas madrone with its smooth red-orange bark and shiny green leaves. In spring, it has urn-shaped, cream-colored flowers that fill the air with a sweet fragrance. In fall its red berries provide food for American Robins and Townsend Solitaires. This tree is a remnant of the past; surviving from a time of more significant rainfall and a less distinct desert climate. In the distance, the gurgling water of the perennial stream is its lifeline. For more information go to this website. Cut and paste into your browsers address line. http://www.nps.gov/gumo/planyourvisit/mckittrick.htm Thank Y’all, Todd