Activities

• Hike to the Cool Pools

• Take a Mud Bath

• See Native Petroglyphs and Pictographs

• Rock Climbing in the Canyon

• Make Some Music

• Create Your Own Activities

1. Hike to the Cool Pools

A short walk into the rising hills behind the oasis takes you to a series of breathtaking pools and falls of clear, cool water over sparkling granitic rock. This is the perfect activity for a hot, clear day when your personal hot tub doesn't seem quite as appealing as it did the night before under the moonlight.

As you head up along the path, you'll be able to spot many different illustrations of the diverse and beautiful vegetation of northern mexico's deserts and mountains, including fire-red ocatillo blossoms and bright yellow cactus flowers.

The first pool is only a ten or fifteen minute walk from home base, and after being exposed to the hot sun, you can dip into the cool water and rest in the shade of tall granite boulders. The second pool, a few minutes further up the trail, is deep enough to dive into. You can dry off by lying on the warm, flat rocks surrounding the pool. You can keep going as long as you have strength in your legs -- there are five more waterfalls to discover further upstream, if you're brave!

2. Take a Mud Bath

A recent addition to Guadalupe Canyon, our therapeutic mud baths have been carved right into the ground for your enjoyment! There are two side-by-side baths, large enough for a few people to enjoy, with seating nearby for socializing.

Try each bath: one is notably warmer than the other. This is entierly the work of Nature, since the baths are fed naturally by the underground flow of water in the area where the baths are placed. And don't be squeamish about the mud. Your skin will love you for it. You can also check out the gift shop to get a bag of dry mud to take home with you for future skin treatments.

3. See Native Petroglyphs and Pictographs

A short way from the oasis are some fascinating petroglyphs, or rock carvings, and pictographs, or rock paintings, illustrated by the Native tribes that used to inhabit this region. This is history carved straight into rock. We'll guide you to the right paths and secret locations where you can see representations of swirling suns and other images. You can also see the indentations they created by grinding stones along a former river bed.

4. Rock Climbing in the Canyon

The Canyon is a great place to pull on your climbing slippers, chalk your hands, and pick your way up some boulders. Additionally, we already have one top rope course set up just a short walk from Guadalupe Canyon Oasis and are working on several more. Just bring your belay device. We've also set up some slack lines for you to work on your balance. If you're interested in climbing in the Canyon, drop us a line and we'll be more than happy to show you our favorite boulder problems and hook you up with gear.

5. Make Some Music

Every once in a while, we break our own no-music rule and organize a little Open Mic night, usually on a weekend night. Come join in! Bring a guitar or percussion instrument and your favorite songs and serenade the stars with us. We meet in front of the store. Give us a call or send us an email, or monitor our twitter posts to figure out when the next music night will be.

6. Create Your Own Activities!

Are you coming with a large group? Do you have some ideas of your own for activities you'd like to facilitate? Great! Just give us an idea of what your plans are and we'll be happy to assist in any way we can.

Photo credit: Aaron Dressin (Fuente Eterno)