Big Bend - The Outer Mountain Loop

Outer Mountain Loop

Lone Star Trekking

Rating: 4 Vigorous   (click to see rating defined)
5 Days - $725 per person

Trip Itinerary:

Day 1: Meet your guides and other group members at 4:00PM, inside Big Bend National Park.   We will have
an orientation, safety briefing, gear distribution and pack fitting. Dinner is included, but the Chisos Mountains
Lodge Restaurant is available for those wishing to eat there.

Day 2: Our first day on the trail. After breakfast, we'll drive to the trail head. We begin the day by climbing up the
Pinnacles Trail into the Chisos Mountains. Once at the Emory Peak Trail junction, we'll drop our packs and
take the side trail to Emory Peak, the highest point in Big Bend at 7825ft. After returning to our packs, we will
continue on to our camp site for the night on the South Rim. On the South Rim we'll take in the spectacular
views across the desert into Mexico, and enjoy a magnificent sunset.
Distance: 9.5 miles Elevation Start: 5400ft Elevation End: 7400ft

Day 3: After breakfast, we'll make our way to Juniper Canyon Trail. As we descend out of the mountains, you'll
see the mountain forest give way to the desert below. Once we make it to Juniper Canyon road, we'll turn west
to begin our crossing of the desert along the Dodson Trail. Along the way we will see evidence of the area's
ranching past as the South Rim looms high above us. We will make our way to Fresno Creek to refill our water
supply and make camp for the night.
Distance: 11 miles Elevation Start: 7400ft Elevation End: 4400ft

Day 4: After breakfast, we continue our journey towards the west. The trail continues its roller coaster course
of rising and falling until we reach a pass that over looks the south-western portion of the park. From here you
can see Mexico, Mule Ears, Santa Elena Canyon, the Chimneys, and other landmarks. From here we continue
our trip to the Homer Wilson Ranch house where we will re-fill our water supply and then on to our camp for
the night in Blue Creek Canyon.
Distance: 8.5 miles Elevation Start: 4400ft Elevation End: 4800ft

Day 5: The final day of hiking we climb up Blue Creek Canyon to Laguna Meadows and make the transition
from desert back to mountain forest. From Laguna Meadows we make our way back down the trail and return
to our vehicles in the Basin.
Distance: 6 miles Elevation Start: 4800ft Elevation End: 5400ft

Note on itinerary: Although we do our very best to follow the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to
change due to permit and campsite availability, and other reasons beyond our control. This trip is operated
rain or shine.

Trip Preparedness: This is a level 4 trip. Participants will be carrying their own backpacks with weights of
35-50 lbs over steep and rocky terrain with constant and dramatic elevation gain and/or loss. Trip members
need to be in superior physical condition. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip, we strongly encourage
participants to be involved in a training regimen before the trip.   Day hiking with 30-40 lbs in a pack and
making sure your hiking boots are broken in before your trip is key.

Trip Price Includes: Professional instruction and guiding; all meals; backpacks, tent, sleeping pad, sleeping
bag, head lamp, stove, cooksets; group first aid kit, water filters; campsite and backcountry permit fees.

Not included: Transportation from your hometown to group meeting point; park entrance fees; insurance of
any kind (travel insurance is recommended);energy drinks; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities
and items of a personal nature.

Tipping Guidelines: Tipping at the end of the trip is optional. If you feel your guides did an outstanding job and
would like to reward them for their efforts, $5-$20 dollars per day, per guide is a suggested guideline.

Closest Airports:
Midland/Odessa (MAF) 4 hours
Del Rio (DRT) 4 hours
El Paso (ELP) 5 hours
San Antonio (SAT) 7 hours
Austin (AUS) 8 hours

Important Information about Air Travel: Contact Lone Star Trekking prior to purchasing your airline tickets to
confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate. We will contact you once the
minimum number of participants has been reached.

Weather: Daytime temperatures usually range in the 60s - 90s ºF but can sometimes climb even higher.
Night time temperatures drop into the 40s - 50s or even lower. While rain is not common, there is always the
possibility of showers or storms, so rain gear is important, even in this arid landscape.

(click image to enlarge)