South Rim Viewpoint

The South Rim is a high cliff-edge viewpoint on the Chisos Mountains, reached on foot from the trailhead near Chisos Basin. This is a day outing, not a roadside stop: expect a strenuous 12–14.5 miles round trip and about 2,000 feet of climbing. Start early and carry all the water you need; Boot Spring is not reliable year-round. On clear days, the view reaches across much of Big Bend and into the mountains of northern Mexico.

Pinnacles is the steeper way out of the Basin, with more log steps. Laguna Meadow climbs more gradually. Combine them for a loop, or use Laguna Meadow both ways for a less steep out-and-back. The rim runs in a long arc, so the views change as you walk instead of ending at one roadside platform. Northeast and Southeast Rim sections can close during peregrine falcon nesting season; check trail conditions before you go.

The panorama shifts from west-facing country around toward the south and east. Elephant Tusk stands out among the distant peaks, and clear weather opens views into northern Mexico. For a photo that shows the height of the rim, include a nearby rock edge above the low ridges and desert below; a frame of only faraway mountains loses the scale.

Much of the Chisos is built from volcanic ash and lava laid down during eruptions between 38 and 32 million years ago. Activity began at Sierra Quemada, “burned mountain range,” just south of the present South Rim. Later eruptions added the layered volcanic rock that makes up much of the mountains, and erosion has been carving the landscape ever since.

If you take Pinnacles, the route passes through Boot Canyon, the lushest stretch of the Chisos. Arizona cypress grows there and nowhere else in the park, and pools may appear after rain. It is also a good place to look for Colima warblers. Black bear, mountain lion and gray fox tracks or scat are not unusual on Chisos trails, though those signs do not promise an animal sighting.