Stats, trail tips and important information regarding this trail are located at the bottom of the blog post. Unless explicitly noted, all pictures in this blog are owned by me and should otherwise not be used without expressed written consent.

We woke up relatively early to begin the Emory Peak hike at the Chisos Basin in Big Bend National Park. We began at 10:30 AM, but if it were a hotter time of the year we would have regretted that decision. Thankfully the parking lot by the visitor center had a parking space available.

Several popular hikes are within 1/4 mile from the Chisos Basin Visitor Center, and several of those are literally behind the visitor center in a somewhat connected trail system. We had already hiked the Window Trail (highly recommended). The trailhead to Emory Peak is easy to find and well-marked…

The flora and mountain peaks at Emory Peak and Chisos Basin are absolutely iconic Texas. Take a look at this century plant and beautiful mountainscape background…

The first few miles there were glimpses of mountain views with some shading that helps during the hotter months. The last couple of miles are more exposed with grassy plains, 50-mile views and dotted with century plants and cacti…

The closer you get to the top, the more jaw dropping the views become…

Absolutely beautiful huh?

The last .5 mile is scrambling through boulder scree but it’s worth it! Check out these views at the top…

For those who are afraid of heights, the last little scramble requires some rock climbing. Most people we met at the top were happy avoiding it. But you know me – I can’t resist. Here’s a screen capture from the video I made at the tippy top…

And here is my full video at the top. See if you can spot the Chisos Basin Visitor Center…

We ate some much-deserved trail snacks then headed back down. As always with out-and-back trails, the hike back offers a renewed perspective. Check out this cool boulder that seems to be placed there by an artist…

A plethora of interesting wildlife is in the Chisos Basin, including bears, tarantulas, coyotes, rabbits, woodpeckers and the occasional mountain lion. Check out this interesting acorn woodpecker we spotted on the way down…

As we exited the trail, we were greeted by one of the native black bears! Oddly enough, both times we’ve visited the Chisos Basin we’ve seen them. Apparently they train their cubs to pick the mesquite berries from the trees by the visitor center…

A pretty awesome ending to a rewarding hike!

Total Distance/Time: 10.65 miles in 5 hrs 10 min

Calories Burned: 2,974

Trail Type: Out-and-back

Trail Features: Mountains, distant views, grassy knoll, bears, desert fauna, cacti

Best Time to Hike: colder months (November-March)

Trail Tips:

– Hike It While You Can!: Hike it before the Chisos Basin Visitor Center remodel!!! You have until May 2025 and it’s expected to be closed for 2-3 years.

– Be Prepared: It’s a significant calorie burn, bring plenty of water.

– Boulder Scree/ Rock Scrambling: The boulder scree towards the top is real; wear the right shoes and consider tracking poles.

– Wildlife: Watch for bears and tarantulas, but that’s any hike in the Chisos Basin.

Difficulty Rating: 8/10

Trailhead Coordinates: 29.270, -103.302