Dec 06, 2016 — This loop to Hunter Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park follows the Bear Canyon Trail to the summit, which is a pleasant hike in a cozy forested canyon/gully setting. The trail switchbacks a bit toward the top of Bear Canyon and emerges on the rim. From the rim you could head west to Hunter Peak. However, I wanted to check out The Bowl, a meadow just north of the summit that is likely more pretty when it's not winter. I left a dotted line on my map if you want to skip The Bowl and reduce the hike length slightly. Hunter Peak is a nice viewpoint looking southwest toward the other peaks in the range. The trails for the whole route are well marked and maintained, and the views are great up on the rim and summit.
From Hunter Peak, I continued west and descended along the Tejas Trail. This trail switchbacks many times as it winds around on the slopes and back to the trailhead.
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