GNMP Named to Top Five U.S. Destinations for Solo Travel

A leading global travel booking site, Skyscanner, has selected Guadalupe Mountains National Park, home to the highest peak in Texas (8,751 feet), as one of only five U.S. destinations featured in its latest guide for tranquil solo travel, Elsewhereism.

With January marking the peak travel-planning season, the guide highlights lesser-known destinations that help travelers avoid crowds and plan calmer trips for the year ahead. Google Trends data shows U.S. search interest in “solo travel” is at its highest level in the past five years, alongside a late-2025 spike in searches related to “quiet travel” and “quiet destinations.”

Skyscanner’s selection is based on visitor numbers, geography, and access. Guadalupe Mountains National Park welcomed around 226,000 visitors in 2024, placing it among the least-visited national parks in the United States.

Its remote location, the long distances between trailheads, absence of major highways or nearby urban centers, and large areas of designated wilderness with no motorized access help keep crowds and noise low year-round, with winter being one of the calmest periods to visit.

Why Guadalupe Mountains National Park was Selected

Skyscanner’s research identified five factors that make Guadalupe Mountains National Park especially well-suited to solo travelers seeking tranquility:

● Low visitor numbers: Around 226,000 visitors in 2024, making it one of the least-crowded national parks in the U.S.

● Remote, varied landscape: A mix of vast desert and wooded wilderness with long distances between trailheads

● Limited external noise: No major highways, air corridors, or nearby urban centers

● Protected quiet zones: Large blocks of designated wilderness with no motorized access

● Open terrain: Wide-open landscapes that naturally reduce human-made noise

Where to Go for Quieter Walks

Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers several areas where it’s easy to walk for long stretches without seeing many other people, particularly during the winter months.

Salt Basin Dunes features a wide, open gypsum landscape reached by a short approach hike, where early mornings are often empty. McKittrick Canyon, while well known in the fall, is noticeably quieter outside peak season and is well suited to a slower, day-use walk.

The Smith Spring Loop at Frijole Ranch is a short, shaded trail that leads to a small spring and waterfall, offering a calm stop without a long or technical hike.

What to Know Before You Visit

There is no lodging inside the park, which helps keep visitor numbers low. Pine Springs and Dog Canyon offer first-come, first-served campgrounds near major trailheads, but with limited amenities.

Solo travelers looking for conventional accommodations typically stay in Carlsbad (about 56 miles away) or Van Horn, TX (about 62 miles away), and visit the park on day trips. The nearest major city is El Paso, roughly a two-hour drive to Pine Springs via U.S. 62/180.

Due to limited services and patchy cell signal, visitors are advised to carry plenty of water, check weather conditions in advance, and let someone know their planned route and return time.