South Rim & Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Hike Statistics:
Distance: 15.2 miles
Elevation gain: 3,185 feet
Highlights: Emory Peak, South Rim, Laguna Meadows, Pinnacles, Boot Canyon
About this Hike
Big Bend’s Chisos Mountains offer some of the most surprising hikes and scenery in the western United States. A “sky island,” the mountains exhibit a much cooler climate and more vegetation & wildlife than the surrounding desert. They provide a paradise for camping, hiking, stargazing, and wildlife watching.
The Chisos Mountains’ most impressive offering is the hike to their South Rim. Hiking to the South Rim is an all-day excursion that brings you to an unbelievable view of the Chihuahuan Desert. You can make the hike a round trip by detouring through Boot Canyon and the Pinnacles trail. You can also add the out-and-back scramble to Emory Peak, the highest point in the park. By adding these detours, you expose yourself to a wide variety of ecosystems, flora, and terrain. You’ll also find the greatest views in all of west Texas. In total, the hike is a grueling – but rewarding – 15-mile adventure.
Spring and fall are the best seasons to tackle this hike. Summer brings sweltering heat, which – while somewhat mitigated by the mountains’ elevation – necessitates extra precaution, planning, and water. Bring a pair of binoculars to look for animals like deer, black bears, mountain lions, and Mexican jays.
Read more about this epic hike in my guest post on Walking the Parks. If you’re looking for an easier way to see the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend, consider the Lost Mine Trail.
