More about El Paso's Dia de los Muertos

Day of the Dead enthusiasts can learn more about the holiday here.

El Paso has many events planned this year, click here and page down to see a list of all the upcoming events in that city!

Overland Trail Museum

The Overland Trail Museum in Fort Davis is in the home of Nick Mersfelder, a native of Bavaria who came to the area in the early 1880s. He was soldier, ranger, barber, justice of the peace, coroner, photographer, Odd Fellow, cattleman, financier, and musician.

A book about his life, which is available at the Museum on Fort Street in Fort Davis, says Mersfelder's life's motives as, "to make money, to help his fellowmen, and to enjoy life as he went along. This room, which is pictured in a old photograph in the book, shows it filled with his musical instruments.

The Overland Trail Museum is a great place to view artifacts of early life in Jeff Davis County, from saddles to clothing and handwork, historical documents and photos.

Dia de los Muertos

Views of altars made by the El Paso community for Day of the Dead celebrations.

Check our Texas Mountain Trail calendar for more event details.

Learn more about it here!

Evening Sun on Sierra Blanca

This is one of the few times we'll show highway signs on this blog, because frankly so many beautiful places in the region are completely untouched by man. We're in the frontier!

But this view of Sierra Blanca is so pretty in the evening light. You can see the view yourself, from the picnic area on eastbound I-10. Besides, you need the rest from the freeway...and an excuse to get off the road and enjoy the pure mountain air.

More from El Paso's Day of the Dead

El Paso puts on a fine Dia de los Muertos celebration this time of year. For information on this year's festivities, visit our Texas Mountain Trail events calendar. Click here!

Learn more about it here!

Bits of Red

The canyons of the Guadalupe Mountains National Park sport true fall color this time of year.

Plan to visit the park to get a rare fall treat. Pictured here is the Devil's Hall Trail, a delightful and satisfying 4.2 mile roundtrip hike.

For information on visiting the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, see: www.nps.gov/gumo

For information on hiking in the park and elsewhere in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

CCC built--Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park

One of the most popular lodging opportunities in the region is the completely restored CCC-built adobe Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park.

To learn more about historic hotels in the region, click here to visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/historichotels

To learn about adobe, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/adobe

For more information on the Indian Lodge, click here.

Moonrise near Red Rock Ranch

Van Horn's Red Rock Ranch invites visitors for driving tours, and hiking and rock art tours.

Now there's a new Red Rock Ranch Visitor Center on Broadway, Van Horn's main street.

Dia de los Muertos

More images from El Paso's Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos celebration.

For event information, click here or visit here.

For more information on Dia de los Muertos, visit here.

Day of the Dead

El Paso has a city-wide celebration of Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead.

Check out the many community events on the Texas Mountain Trail "Upcoming Events" page for events on through November 2. Click here!

To learn more about the holiday, click here.

'Tis the Season!

Fall color season in the Guadalupe Mountains is upon us!

McKittrick Canyon is a very popular place for hikers, get more information here, www.nps.gov/gumo

For more information on hiking in the Texas Mountain Trail region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Stagecoach Route

Down there, in the middle ground of this photo, is the original route of the Butterfield Overland Mail, a stagecoach making the first transcontinental mail delivery in 1858. The route runs through the current Guadalupe Mountains National Park (pictured here), Hueco Tanks State Historic Site, and the El Paso airport.

A year after the service was established, it was rerouted to the south and ran through Fort Davis and just south of Van Horn.

For more information on the Butterfield Overland Sesquicentennial, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/butterfield

An exhibit about the Butterfield Overland Mail can be seen through January at the El Paso Museum of History. For more information, click here.

Insect in flight

Can you find the insect?

This was taken in early October along the Devil's Hall trail at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

For information on hiking trails in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

For more information on the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Scenic Loop in Jeff Davis County

A lovely drive--be it by car, bike, or motorcycle--is the 74 mile Scenic Loop by Fort Davis.

For more information, visit: www.fortdavis.com

For information about cycling in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/bike

Honoring the family

Far West Texas cemeteries display creative, homemade expressions of honor for family members. Here a planter in the Van Horn cemetery decorates a grave with both real plants and artificial flowers.

For more information on Van Horn, click here.

Another view on the Devil's Hall Trail

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park, along with Big Bend National Park, and our many state parks, offer great fall hiking opportunities all over the Texas Mountain Trail region!

For information about hiking, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Single Red Leaf

The Guadalupe Mountains National Park offers real fall color to the visitor, a rarity in Texas.

This is the beginning of the fall color season. Hikers taking the McKittrick Canyon and Devil's Hall trails can experience it!

For more information on hiking in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

For more information on the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Interior of the Ysleta Mission

The Ysleta Mission of El Paso County is the oldest continuously active parish in the state of Texas, and the community of Ysleta is the oldest town in Texas, first established after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.

The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo was founded in 1682. This building lasted until a disastrous flood in 174o. In late 1851, the present building was established.

For more information about the Missions in El Paso County, visit: http://www.themissiontrail.net/

Evening light

A common sight in the evening hours many places in the Texas Mountain Trail region.

Tiny blossom

A small beauty found along the trail near Dog Canyon at the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

For information about hiking in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

For information about the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Stay at a Historic Hotel

The Gage Hotel in Marathon is just one of the many historic hotels visitors enjoy in the region.

Take a look at a list of historic stays at:

www.texasmountaintrail.com/historichotels

Lizard friend

All over the region, small lizards entertain hikers.

Plan to visit one of our nature centers in the region or learn about hiking opportunities at www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

True Fall Color in Texas?

YES! The Guadalupe Mountains National Park is widely known as having true fall color, and hikers flock to the McKittrick Canyon Trail this time of year. The best time for viewing is traditionally the latter half of October and sometimes early November.

But the McKittrick Canyon Trail isn't the only place in the park where one can experience color. These photos were taken this year on Saturday, October 4, and the maples were just starting to turn a brilliant and beautiful red!

For more information on hiking in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

For more information on the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Texas Madrone

Plan to visit one of our great nature centers in the region, click here.

Hiking the South Rim

The South Rim is one of Big Bend National Park's premier hikes. Here's a view at the summit.

For information about hiking in Big Bend and the rest of the Texas Mountain Trail region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

For information about Big Bend National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/bibe

A familiar sight across the region

For information about ranching-related attractions in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/ranching

Sunset during a rain

The sky just north of Van Horn on Hwy 54.

Hiking Dog Canyon

At the north end of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Dog Canyon awaits the visitor. It is a secluded and forested canyon at 6,300 feet, and gets its name from the now-extirpated black-tailed prairie dogs that were once numerous in the area.

For more information about hiking in the area, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

For more information about Guadalupe Mountains National Park, visit: www.nps.gov/gumo

Dancers at the Tigua Indian Cultural Center

El Paso County was long ago settled by Tigua Indians. You can learn about their history at the Tigua Indian Cultural Center.

Big Bend National Park

Just another lovely view from inside Big Bend National Park. (www.nps.gov/bibe)

For information on hiking in the region, visit: www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Milagros

In honor of its many, many sunny days, El Paso has placed artist-made "suns" all over town. Here's another one from outside the El Paso Museum of History in the downtown area. The milagros are votive offerings to a favorite saint as a reminder of the petitioner's particular need, or they are offered to the saint in thanks for a prayer answered.