The Guadalupe Peak Trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park is a 8.4 mile round trip hike with an elevation gain of 2,930 feet (they estimate 6 to 8 hours).

If you can identify this beetle (or the other insects in this post) please add a comment. See more of my photos that I need help identifying.

The hike was fantastic. Lots of great views and interesting plants and insects.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the world’s premier example of a fossil reef from the Permian Era.

Over 80 miles of hiking trails in the park offer easy nature walks through desert flora; more moderate hikes follow canyons and reach riparian oases, and strenuous all day hikes can take you into high country forest.

At Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in Texas at 8,749 feet in Guadalupe Mountains National Park I found a huge city of ladybugs. The ladybugs covered the bark of many bushes and trees and crawled over rocks (link has photos with many more bugs – unfortunately not in great focus). They were everywhere. It seems odd to me that they would have such a huge concentration since it would seem like food would then be a problem, but there they were.

This park is one of the many wonderful less known but still great national parks.

Related: Magical Day at Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park – Helitrope Ridge Trail, North Cascades National Park – Chomphet Hike, Luang Prabang, Laos – Mount Rainier National Park Photos