Devil’s Hall at Guadalupe Mountains National Park
The Devil’s Hall Trail is a fun, 4.2 mi, 2.5- 3 hrs, moderate, out and back hike
The hike begins at the Pine Springs Canyon campground. This campground also provides the trailhead for Guadalupe Peak, Devil’s Hall, The Bowl, and El Capitan trails.
The hike terrain is split in half. For about half of the hike, you will be walking through a mostly flat, forested trail. This path leads along the banks of the dry wash, which provides the path for the second half of the hike. This dry wash is a rocky terrain that involves rock scrambling.
Leave your hiking poles in the car for this one – you’ll need both hands for the dry wash portion.
The first half of the hike is less active than the rocky terrain you will later be traversing. However, it still offers some amazing views!
This part of the trail is actually also used by horse traffic to avoid the switchbacks at the beginning of the Guadalupe Peak trail. You will eventually come to a connecting path sign along the trail.
Once you drop down into the wash part of the trail, the hike becomes more fun! Leave your hiking poles for this trail, as you will need your hands to scramble over rocks.
Even though it was January when we visited, many of the trees still had beautiful fall colored leaves with deep red and orange hues. This part of the hike was also well-shaded by trees lining the two sides of the wash, which I’m sure offer some relief from the scorching sun in the summer.
After ~1 mile, the canyon makes a slight curve to the left and forms a layered rock formation known as the Hiker’s Staircase. We’re almost there!
Make sure to climb up these narrow steps to reach the Devil’s Hall, an impressive formation of limestone cliffs that reach 100 ft high.
Find more details about our visit to Guadalupe Mountains National Park.