Guadalupe Mountains in November: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 70/100 · #8 of 12 months

November is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park: crowds run 55% of the March peak (19,514 average visits). Weather: highs average 61°F and lows 39°F, with 1.0″ of precipitation and 10.5 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Guadalupe Mountains in November: what the park service says

Early November is the tail of Guadalupe Mountains' fall color: the park service puts the best viewing in the last week of October and the first week of November, with Upper Dog Canyon on the north side turning a week or two before McKittrick Canyon. McKittrick is day-use only, its parking is limited and it often fills on color weekends, and access closes at 5 p.m. Mountain Time, so a weekday visit is the park's own advice. November also starts the windy season, when gusts of 50 to 80 mph are possible on the ridges.

Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in November

Guadalupe Mountains averages 19,514 recreation visits in November — 55% of what March, the peak month, draws. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging.

Weather & daylight

Days are pleasant (highs average 61°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 39°F). It is typically dry (1.0″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 10.5 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station PINE SPRINGS, TX US (4 mi from park coordinates, 5,591 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of November.

What to pack for Guadalupe Mountains in November

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 39°F
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Guadalupe Mountains are May and August.

Also at their best in November

Other parks whose computed November verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Canyonlands in November — 35% of peak crowds, highs 55°F, score 72/100
• Mammoth Cave in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 61°F, score 72/100
• New River Gorge in November — 33% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 72/100
• Petrified Forest in November — 45% of peak crowds, highs 58°F, score 72/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in November · Last verified 2026-09-24