East Rim Trail: A Hidden Gem in Big Bend National park

The East Rim Trail gets less hype than its prissy South Rim sister but, in my very humble opinion, it absolutely offers better views. In fact, I’d say it’s the best hike I have done in Big Bend National Park. The South Rim is fine and all, but in comparison, the East Rim offers even more stunning views and a more private experience.

The funny thing about the East Rim Trail is that it’s only 2.4 miles long, but you have to hike more than 5 miles to even reach it. There’s no driving up to the trailhead and immediately hitting the overlooks here, but if you put in the work, it’s well worth it.

Bonus points! You can expect to see fewer people out there because it is harder to access than many more popular trails. I saw only one group of people on the East Rim Trail during my visit. Admittedly, it was a shitty day for hiking – cold and rainy – but I relished the solitude.

Recommended supplies

• 1.5L water (for just the East Rim trail; you’ll need more to get there and back)
• 150-300 calories (again, just for the East Rim)
• Rain jacket
• Gloves, hat and neck protection in spring, fall or winter
• Extra top layer (all seasons)
• A sense of wonder

Hiking the East Rim Trail: Roundtrip ~12 miles+

There are two main ways to access the East Rim Trail, but either way you begin at the Chisos Basin Trailhead. For the sensitive or curious, elevation there is about 5,400 feet. On the rim itself, at 7,403 feet of elevation, you will be higher than some of the clouds. There’s nothing like seeing birds flying beneath you.

Accessing the East Rim

Fair warning: You are looking at a minimum of 12 miles to get to this trail, hike it and return. 

Route 1: Pinnacles Trail to Boot Canyon

From the trailhead, your first option is to laboriously make your way up Pinnacles Trail to Boot Canyon Trail. Then you’ll follow Boot Canyon until it forks onto the East Rim Trail. That’s 5 miles of tough, uphill hiking before you set a single foot on this fucking trail. And then you have to do the Rim itself and hike back!

That’s why I chose to loop all these trails together into a single crazy Rim hike – more on that in another article.

Route 2: Laguna Meadow to Colima Trail to Boot Canyon

Your other option for this trail, again starting from the Chisos Basin Trailhead, is to hit Laguna Meadow Trail and follow it down to Colima Trail. From there, you can follow Colima roughly East to the tail end of Boot Canyon Trail, which once again leads you to the East Rim Trail. This option is clocking in at about 5.4 miles, but slightly less steep than door number one.

Whichever path you take, there will be notable elevation gain and some moderately challenging hiking. The point is, you have to really fucking want this trail to get to it. As David Goggins would say, “stay hard, motherfucker”.

Your choices for going back are the same as for accessing the trail. Go back whence you came or loop it into a longer hike of the Rim. Whatever you do, you won’t regret the visual feast that awaits. Getting to the East Rim trail may be a pain in the ass but the reward is worth the agony.

Highlights from the East Rim Trail

The East Rim trail offers hikers the best views within Big Bend National park. This is a challenging trail only for experienced, physically fit hikers. To even reach the trail requires over 5 miles of steep hiking but the views at the end make it worthwhile.

Southeast Rim Views

The southeast half of this trail is the best. Here you come out on the ridge line that offers the most gorgeous views within the whole of Big Bend National Park.

You’ll be so blown away that you’ll forget the aching and complaining in your legs and back (well, almost). On the map, you can see many of the views I’m raving about between campsites ER9 and ER7.

Sheer cliffs plummet 1,650 feet down as the eye to wanders for miles across the gently rolling lower desert mountains. Your sightline extends past Tortuga Mountain on toward Mariscal Mountain and Mexico. Just look at it on a topographical map and you’ll see what I’m talking about. 

Seriously, words cannot do this view justice. From the moment I clapped eyes on it, a big, stupid smile plastered itself on my face and I couldn’t stop. It was just so damn pretty.

It rivals the views on the Permian Reef Trail in Guadalupe Mountains National Park, which might be my favorite hike of all time.

Relax in Seclusion (Carefully)

These are undeniably the best views in BBNP. Plus, you’re about as far out as you can get on one of the least hiked trails in the area, so you’re unlikely to be disturbed by other people.

This also makes the East Rim a great place to picnic if you can tolerate the strong winds and cooler temperatures. I did, and I hate the cold. But you should know that the wind is very gusty here and it is much cooler and more exposed than on the trails you will take to get here. Definitely have an extra layer at the ready.

Also, please exercise caution as you enjoy the views. It may be tempting to throw your arms open wide and dance like Fraulein Maria in the Sound of Music, but one misstep or wobble could plunge you to your death. Believe it or not, people have accidentally fallen off of cliffs in Big Bend. It doesn’t lead to a pretty end for anyone. 

Just don’t be an idiot. It’s not that hard.

Backcountry Camping

As you head toward the East Rim, you’ll notice backcountry campsites along the trail. The path itself slowly meanders back through the forested mountains and away from the cliff face, which means most of them don’t offer much of a view

Most, but not all. I have to tell you that the East Rim #4 campsite would be an epic place to spend the night, with plunging sightlines toward Juniper Canyon. It’s just a short hike off the beaten path, and worth considering if you want to spend the night out there.

Too long; didn’t read

Here’s the bare minimum you need to know, ya lazy bitch:

• You cannot access this trail directly; minimum of 5 challenging miles mountain hiking to the trailhead (and the same 5 miles back)
• Unparalleled views, the best in Big Bend National Park
• Colder and windy on the Rim itself compared to most of your hike – pack an extra layer