(This article by Colorado-based writer Judy Christie originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of Military Officer, a magazine available to all MOAA Premium and Life members. Learn more about the magazine here; learn more about joining MOAA here.)
Some national parks are famous, while others are more obscure and yet bring something special to travels.
Such is the case with Guadalupe Mountains National Park in west Texas, according to Capt. Marvin Heinze, USN (Ret), who has tent camped with his wife in the “isolated and beautiful” place. “It’s one of the most impressive night skies I’ve ever seen.”
He describes the splendor of the Guadalupe park with “mountains that rise out of the desert,” an area that includes the four highest peaks in Texas.
El Capitan, the park’s most striking feature, is a 1,000-foot-high limestone cliff with no formal trail to the summit. The peak is best seen from U.S. Highway 62/180 in the vicinity of the park.
Heinze, a MOAA board member, volunteers for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association. “I think people getting out in the parks get away from the turmoil of society,” he said.
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For another natural wonder, visit the Palo Duro Canyon State Park in the Panhandle, home of the second-largest canyon in the U.S. Explore it by foot, mountain bike, horse, or car. A variety of campsites, including equestrian sites and backpack camping areas, are available, or stay in a cabin on the canyon’s rim or floor.
Military Site: Fort Davis, in west Texas, is a surviving example of an Indian Wars’ frontier military post in the Southwest. From 1854-91, troops protected emigrants, freighters, and travelers hoping to reach the gold fields of California.
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