Guadalupe Mountains National Park is home to the eight of the ten tallest peaks in Texas and the largest exposed fossil reef on Earth, showcasing remnants from an underwater world that existed 260 million years ago when West Texas was covered by the sea.

This treasured park also preserves 10,000 years of human history, from early hunter-gatherers who lived in the area’s caves to conflicts between the Mescalero Apache and Buffalo Soldiers to the arrival of ranchers and settlers.

Thousands of visitors make the trek out to this park every year to explore the winding limestone walls of McKittrick Canyon or hike to the top of Guadalupe Peak, Texas’ highest point. But the park’s awe-inspiring mountaintop views and spectacular night skies have been diminished over time due to haze pollution from faraway coal plants and nearby oil and gas operations. Guadalupe Mountains isn’t the only national park plagued by this haze pollution. Carlsbad Caverns National Park, 40 miles north in New Mexico, also suffers greatly, and Texas’ Big Bend National Park experiences hazy skies from many of the same polluting sources.

Our 2024 Polluted Parks report finds that Guadalupe Mountains National Park has significant concern levels in the categories of Unhealthy Air and Harm to Nature. In the Hazy Skies category, the park faces unsatisfactory levels. Although none of the high-impact climate threats such as drought, invasive species, sea level rise, and wildfires were identified in the park, Guadalupe Mountains still experiences the impacts of climate change.

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Fortunately, we have solutions at our fingertips that would sharply reduce air pollution, protect the health of southwestern communities and provide clearer skies and brighter stars in Guadalupe Mountains and many more of our nation’s most revered national parks. With available technology, EPA and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality have an opportunity through the Regional Haze Rule to clean up polluting facilities and ensure Texans can continue to enjoy Guadalupe’s striking views. NPCA’s experts continue to raise awareness on the consequences of air pollution and work with decision makers who can hold polluters accountable.

Air & Climate Report Polluted Parks National parks are home to some of America’s most iconic landscapes and best-preserved cultural and historic sites, and these places need clean air and a healthy climate to flourish. Yet air pollution and climate change remain some of the most serious threats to the health of our parks today — and the problems they cause include weakening the health of plants and animals, permanently harming ecosystems and negatively affecting visitors’ health and enjoyment. NPCA advocates for swift action to curb air pollution and limit climate threats affecting people and parks. This report offers an update from our 2019 Polluted Parks report with new data that shows modest improvements. Most importantly, the report demonstrates that we must act now to ensure parks thrive for generations to come.

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