South Rim & Emory Peak, Big Bend National Park
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.
