South Rim and the High Chisos

Big Bend National Park (Chisos Mountains)

The South Rim of the Chisos Mountains is an escarpment high above the desert. NPS calls the South Rim hike one of the most strenuous in the park; it’s also a classic overnight, with designated backpacking sites scattered through the woodlands of the High Chisos.

The planned two-year closure of the Chisos Basin for lodge construction, which would have forced backpackers to approach from the desert, was canceled by the Park Service on April 1, 2026.

The hike

NPS lists the South Rim at 12.5 miles round trip from the Chisos Basin trailhead, with two ways up: the steeper Pinnacles Trail, which has more log steps and gains about 1,700 feet in 3.2 miles, and the more gradual Laguna Meadow Trail, which gains about 1,600 feet in 3.5 miles. Combining them makes a loop.

Earth Trekkers, which updated its guide in April 2026, describes the loop counterclockwise. The Laguna Meadow Trail climbs gradually through forest past the fork for the Colima Trail. At the top, the South Rim Trail runs about 2 miles along the escarpment, with a signed spur to the rim viewpoint. Next comes the fork for the East Rim (Earth Trekkers calls it the Northeast Rim), which closes February 1 to May 31 for nesting peregrine falcons. The Boot Canyon Trail then descends toward Boot Spring, which NPS calls “unreliable and usually dry,” to a saddle below Emory Peak. There you choose between the 3-mile round-trip side trip to Emory, which ends with a short rock scramble, or heading down the Pinnacles Trail’s switchbacks to the Basin.

The 42 designated campsites are spread along these trails. NPS’s 2020 camping guide lists them by area: Juniper Flat, Boulder Meadow, Pinnacles, Toll Mountain, Boot Canyon, Colima, Juniper Canyon, East Rim, South Rim, Blue Creek, Laguna Meadow, and Laguna West. Most hold four to six people; Colima 1 is the only site that takes a group of 15.

NPS’s South Rim page warns of snakes and little shade, and asks hikers not to build cairns that could lead others off the trail. The South Rim is also part of the Outer Mountain Loop, a 30-mile trip that drops into the desert. For a desert overnight to the Rio Grande, see the Marufo Vega Trail.

Tips

Carry all your water. NPS says Boot Spring isn’t reliable year-round.
Pick your route up. NPS says the Laguna Meadow Trail is more gradual; the Pinnacles Trail is steeper.
Plan around the falcon closure. No East Rim camping or hiking Feb. 1 to May 31.
Use the food lockers. NPS says bears, javelinas, skunks, and birds will check your camp for food.
Start early. NPS calls this one of the park’s hardest hikes.

Camping

A backcountry permit is required, and it assigns your specific sites for specific nights, according to NPS. Camping in the High Chisos is only at the 42 designated sites. Groundfires and woodfires are prohibited, charcoal isn’t allowed in the High Chisos, and you cook on a gas stove. Store all food in the lockers provided. Pets aren’t allowed on trails or in the backcountry. Parties are limited to 15 people. A permit covers up to 14 consecutive nights.

NPS pages disagree on how to get a permit right now (see the note at the top): the permit page fetched October 12, 2026 says all sites are currently issued in person at Panther Junction, up to 24 hours ahead.

Inside Intel: In a 2015 Big Bend Chat thread on favorite rim campsites, RichardM recommended SW4 for its “short stroll to fantastic views from the rim for both sunrise and sunset,” and mule ears said SW3 is the only site with a view from the site itself. In a 2010 thread, AlexyE said the best rim view is at SE3. Those are older site names; check how they match the current NPS codes.

Trail facts

Distance: 12.5 miles round trip (NPS); about 15.5 with Emory Peak
Route type: Loop (Laguna Meadow and Pinnacles trails)
Difficulty: Strenuous
Campsites: 42 designated High Chisos sites (South Rim, East Rim, Boot Canyon, Laguna Meadow and others)
Water: Carry it all; Boot Spring is usually dry
Permits: Required; check current in-person or online rules
Fires: Prohibited; gas stoves only
Food storage: Food lockers at sites
Dogs: Not allowed
Trailhead: Chisos Basin
Last verified: October 12, 2026

The Lowdown

A night at 7,000 feet in the Chisos:

On this loop the Pinnacles Trail crosses Toll Mountain Pass at 7,000 feet, far above the desert floor. See the sleeping bags testers rate for high camps.

See the picks →

Where this comes from

This page draws on the sources below, along with other guides and trip reports. Links go to the original pages.

Before you go: This page is based on published trail guides, trip reports, and reviews, along with official park and agency information where we could find it. It’s meant to help backpackers discover new trails, not to replace current, official information. Conditions, closures, permits, campsites, and water sources change, and some details here may be out of date or wrong. Confirm everything with the managing agency and check current conditions before you head out, and don’t rely on this page alone for safety or navigation. Backcountry travel involves risk.