Scenic spring-fed trail passing through desert woodlands and riparian habitat, leading to a rare oasis that supports abundant wildlife beneath dramatic mountain scenery.
Accessible during park operating hours
Daylight hiking is recommended
Individual Entrance Pass (7 days): $5
Children age 15 and under: Free
America the Beautiful Pass accepted
How to Get There
From Carlsbad, NM (55 mi): Take US-62/180 south toward Guadalupe Mountains National Park, continue to the Frijole Ranch area near Pine Springs, park at the Smith Spring Trailhead, and follow the loop trail to the spring.
Overview
The Smith Springs Trail loops out from historic Frijole Ranch through classic Chihuahuan Desert terrain — agave, yucca, cactus — before dropping into a shaded oasis of cottonwoods and maples fed by a permanent spring. It's short, but the contrast between desert and oasis makes it one of the most rewarding easy hikes in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and a good introduction to how water shapes life in this rugged desert range.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for the Smith Springs Trail, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
