Chisos South Rim, Big Bend NP

Hike Name: Chisos South Rim, Big Bend NP Location: southwest TX Length: 14 Submitted by: Steve Cypher Date Submitted: 0/0/00 Rating:	more Texas trail reviews Texas national parks Texas state parks
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Description
There are few truly great mountain hikes in Texas, but this is one. You'll find lots of spectacular views in a fairly short hike. Park at the Chisos Basin Lodge (the restaurant is recommended) and take the Pinnacles Trail up the mountains to the south. The trailhead is nonsensical, taking you winding around the lodge in the wrong direction. I usually walk up the road to the cabins and get on the trail at the dead end. It's a long 3 ½ miles to the top of the ridge because of the climb, but the last mile is the best where you can see out across the basin. The view at the top is great. Emory Peak is a fun distraction because of the scramble up to the rocky top (careful not to fall off). From here you can see that the Chisos Mountains are a green island in a sea of desert. Take the Boot Spring Trail past Boot Spring and then up the Boot Canyon Creek to the south rim, about 6 ½ miles from the lodge. Boot Spring and the upper creek usually have a little water, but leave it for the wildlife unless you're desperate. You'll be amazed by the view from the south rim. You're 5000' above the Rio Grande. The southeast and northeast rim from here are closed from February-June for falcon breeding season, but in other times of the year try to get a camping spot on the rim (SE3 is great) so you can watch the sun rise over the desert. You can loop back to the basin by taking the Laguna Meadow Trail, or just review the Pinnacles Trail. You have to get a designated camping spot from the rangers when you arrive, so there's no guarantee which one you'll get. But I haven't seen a bad camping spot in the Chisos backcountry and they all have a bear-proof steel box. I never had the nerve to try Big Bend in the summer, but fall, winter and spring, this is a beautiful place.

Directions to Hike
Any route to Big Bend NP is through hundreds of miles of god-forsaken desert. The Chisos Mtns. are the really tall one in the middle of the park.

Contact Information
Big Bend NP information line - (915) 477-2251. Trails Illustrated makes a good map for this hike.

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