To make this hike truly epic, you can combine it with several other trails in the Chisos to form the "Chisos Mountain Loop." This 14-mile loop begins on the Laguna Meadows trail, traverses the South Rim, and then finishes on the Pinnacles trail.

If you're truly a glutton for punishment, you can also add on a summit of Emory Peak—the highest mountain in Big Bend National Park. So ultimately, how long and how difficult you want to make this adventure is entirely up to you.

While it's definitely possible to complete this loop as a day hike, you can choose to break it up into an overnight backpacking trip by using one of the many backcountry campsites that line the trail. If you go for a longer itinerary, tackling this route over two days might be a good idea.

Note: If you plan to spend the night in the backcountry, you'll need to book your backcountry campsite in advance. Check with the NPS for campsite availability.

The trail tread itself is classic high desert singletrack, consisting of plenty of rocks, rock steps, some sandy sections, and some fairly steep climbs. This hike is mostly non-technical, but if you choose to climb up Emory, expect to encounter some substantially steeper and more technical climbing.

Many sources note that the best views from the South Rim are only accessible via a short spur trail off of the main loop. Be sure to head all the way out to the rim, because the views are absolutely exceptional!

Sources: https://www.earthtrekkers.com/south-rim-trail-hike-big-bend-national-park/ https://bigbendguide.com/inside-the-park/hikes/day-hikes/the-south-rim-trail/ https://www.theoutbound.com/theoutbound/25-must-do-hikes-in-texas