Long day walk, with amazing views
User: oliverd - 10/28/2017  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 19.00 Miles Duration: 8 hours, 45 minutes

A long day walk, but varied scenery and amazing views. If you don’t like heights or rock scrambling, skip the Emory Peak summit and do the extended South Rim (Northeast and Southeast Rim trails). If you only do one walk in Big Bend – do this one!

Detailed track notes and photos: https://hikingtheworld.blog/2017/10/29/emory-peak-big-bend/

Excellent hike that I plan on doing again
User: rodavenport - 4/12/2014  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 12.60 Miles Duration: N/A

I enjoyed this hike very much. Some spendid views of the desert south of the mountains. The only issue I had with the hike was the noise from the basin when you were outbound and inbound. Once you cross over the ridge lines its much more peaceful.

User: JHager - 12/14/2009  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 12.60 Miles Duration: N/A

I started the hike between 7:30 and 8:00 am on a cool morning (about 38 – 40 degrees) during the third week of December, 2009.  It was a little chilly at first, but I quickly warmed up.  I’ve hiked in Big Bend National Park many times before, but as this was my first solo trip, the sign at the trailhead warning of an aggressive mountain lion in the area wasn’t exactly comforting.  Even in December, the Chisos Mountains are beautiful and I made reasonable progress in spite of frequent stops to take photographs.  I was fortunate enough to see several deer on the trial shortly before I stopped for a long lunch.  I rested and ate at the South Rim and thoroughly enjoyed the view.  The trip back out to the Pinnacles, like the trip in via Laguna Meadows, was very enjoyable.  By mid-afternoon, the temperature was about 70-72 degrees and felt even warmer.   I don’t think I met more than 4 or 5 other hikers during the trip and I really didn’t mind the solitude at all.  The last couple of miles is mostly rocky and a fairly steep decent, so my 54 year-old body definitely felt the result of that pounding the following morning.  I shot almost as many photos on the return trip as I did coming out, so I didn’t get back until after 4:00 pm, but considering the view, I really didn’t care.  It was a great hike and I never even caught sight of the mountain lion the sign warned of.  I strongly recommend the South Rim trail.

Must do hike...highly recommended
User: omgjoz - 6/5/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 24.00 Miles Duration: 2 days

Hiked the loop plus some side trails in a couple days.  Fantastic place to visit.  The weather was great.  Hike in plenty of water.  Flies were quite bad.  Not many people on the trails.  Saw a mountion lion!  I will be back to hike this again.

HIKERS PARADISE
User: medicnco17 - 2/8/2008  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 10.00 Miles Duration: 12 hours

I LEFT OUT ON THE PINNACLE TRAIL @ THE LODGE THAT WAS THE FUNNEST 2 MILES IN I HAVE EVER HIKED. STRAIGHT UP! THE HIKE WAS MAGNIFICENT IT SNOWED ON ME AND THE NIGHTS WERE COLD. BUT THE VIEW FROM THE SOUTH RIM WAS JUST BREATH TAKING. I RECOMEND THIS TO EVERY ONE. I STAYED ON THE RIM THAT NIGHT AND THEN ONE NIGHT IN THE LAGOONA MESA NO BEARS BUT JUST AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT COULD BE.

South Rim Trail via Laguna Meadows and Boot Canyon
User: craigalbritton - 2/24/2007  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 12.80 Miles Duration: 6 hours, 38 minutes
My father (60 years old) and I departed the Basin at 0800 with a slight (we thought) chill in the air. We were dressed in typical hiking gear (shorts and a long sleeve t-shirt). The previous day's weather reported stated it would be in the 50's in the morning warming up to the 70's. Well, we thought even if it is off by a bit, we are good to go. WRONG! About an hour down Laguna Meadows Trail, the wind started blowing 30 to 40 miles per hour, and our extremities were starting to become numb. The whole time, we are thinking, "Damn, this doesn't feel like 50 degrees?!?". In usual male fashion, we trudged ahead with our heads down and hands in pockets (not a comfortable way to hike at all). We passed a few other hikers who graciously pointed out that the temperature was actually in the 30's without the wind chill effect. That was nice of them since we were at hour 2 of 6.5. They also looked at us like we were "those" hikers. You know the ones that are woefully unprepared for the weather. Oh well, we made it the South Rim, took our pictures and found a rock to shelter against int he sun. When we regained feeling in our extremities (all of them we decided, to make the return, all the while tricking ourselves into thinking, "It's going to be warmer on the return trip!" At this time, we got the bright idea to put our extra socks on our hands (See we had extra socks, but no jackets, Brilliant!). This made life and hiking much more pleasant as made down the Pinnacles trail in 1:48. (NOTE: The next day we made it UP the Pinnacles in 1:49, 1 minute slower. I am still trying to figure that one out; it defies all laws of physics.) All in all this is the premier hike at Big Bend and a must for any visit, but be wary of the weather and take jackets, etc. in the winter. Please use our stupidity to enhance your hike. Cheers.

User: adipaulie - 4/28/2006  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 12.60 Miles Duration: N/A

No more switchbacks!
User: pixistixs - 3/19/2005  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 6.00 Miles Duration: N/A
Did half of this one in the dark- scary! Nice to be done with the switchbacks. Wouldn't suggest doing this without a reserved campsite. Beautiful in the morning, nice to be going downhill for a change!!

User: wmaginot - 4/22/2004  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 12.50 Miles Duration: N/A

It was raining & there were waterfalls
User: Eveline - 10/11/2003  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 11.00 Miles Duration: N/A
This was like a whole different walk from 1998. Walked with the West Texas Trail Walkers again. The weather was rainy and they almost cancelled the hike. But we went ahead and did it. Pictures: http://www.geocities.com/ourwalks/Pinacles/trail2.html

Maybe the best hike in Big Bend
User: Austin Explorer - 10/15/2001  [View Log Page]
Rating: Difficulty: Solitude:
Distance: 14.60 Miles Duration: 9 hours, 52 minutes

We combined both the South Rim and Emory Peak on this day hike.  Not really recommended to do both of these in a day as we were spent afterwards.  The views on the South Rim (though a bit hazy) were spectacular.  I think a better option may be the camp near the rim and make this a two day trip to really have some time to explore and soak up the scenery.