South Rim
What to Expect
Safety Advisory
The South Rim sits at roughly 7,400 feet with significant exposed cliff edges — stay back from the rim edge, especially if you have children or in high winds, which can be sudden and strong.
Summer temperatures in the Chisos Basin regularly exceed 90 degrees, and afternoon thunderstorms roll in fast with no warning; start before dawn in June through August and be off the exposed rim by noon.
Black bears are active throughout the Chisos Mountains — store all food in bear boxes at the trailhead, and never leave a pack unattended at the rim overlooks where bears have learned to associate hikers with snacks.
Trail Details
- 1
Do the loop counterclockwise: take Pinnacles up while your legs are fresh and descend the gentler Laguna Meadows route — your knees will thank you on the last two miles back to the basin.
- 2
Carry at least 4 liters of water per person — there are no reliable water sources on the day-hike loop, and the desert sun at elevation will drain you faster than you expect even on a cool day.
- 3
The best photography window is 30 to 60 minutes after sunrise from the eastern end of the rim, when the low angle light hits the desert floor and the Sierra del Carmen glows amber behind the Rio Grande.
