On the border of New Mexico and Texas in the Chihuahuan Desert lies this incredible uplifted coral reef that is Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Not only does it hold the highest peak in Texas at 8,715’ it also showcases one of the best examples of an ancient marine fossil reef. The reef is known today as the Capitan Reef and it formed over 260 million years ago before an uplift beneath the surface of Texas pushed it up and into our view. The park contains not only the Chihuahuan Desert but also highland forests of Douglas fir, aspen, ponderosa pine, and southwestern white pine. In those forests elk, mountain lions, black bears, golden eagles, falcons, mule deer, turkeys, and more roam and wander. Beneath the mountains are salt flats and gypsum sand dunes that have historically gave travelers to the area a hard time but are known to contain remnants of Clovis. The Mescalero Apache would briefly call these mountains home as they hid from the US Army. A history podcast series is coming shortly over the Apache.