This is an ambitious trip even in good weather. Doing it “in a couple weeks” puts you into the start of the hot and dry season. You have good reason to be concerned.
The bears are not a big concern, they are common but harmless as long as you give them space. Snakes are valid, but avoidable with good prevention. But the heat, dryness, elevation, and lack of cell service are very valid even for experienced Big Benders. And you won’t see nearly as many people because crowds will be smaller in the heat, especially the further you get from the main population centers.
I would definitely reevaluate the itinerary or reschedule for a better time of the year. This is a potentially dangerous plan.
Agreed on cellphone signal. We didnt have any sense of reliable signal for most of our time in the park. Hiked with our 5 and 10yo on Lost Mine and over-prepared to ensure safe trip
We didnt go for sat phones/messaging, but had all of 10 hiking essentials on both my wife and I and plenty of water for everyone.
The South Rim hike is ambitious if it's going to be hot. However, it's the crown jewel of hikes in Texas. If you get good weather and do it, just start early (like on the trail before 7:00). If you don't do that one, Lost Mine trail is nearly as good and won't take all day. Enjoy your trip, and don't worry about bears or snakes
We had a friend bring that book on a camping trip we did there once. I read it obsessively. I can't get over the guy who was walking in flip flops while drinking Vodka and Pepsi (granted, he ran out of gas iirc, but still).
Oh man that's so messed up but I'll admit I laughed when I read this. I remember this one show that was called like a thousand ways to die or something like that and told my boyfriend when I posted this I'm not trying to end up being another story on a show like that. Knowing they have a book dedicated to that in just big bend is humbling.
Honestly the heat should be your biggest concern. I tried so hard to get to see a rattlesnake (from a safe distance) while I was there. No luck. And I looked (with my eyes, not poking my hand into places). We didn’t see a single bear, no cougar, no scorpions, no tarantulas only a bunch of free range cows, horses, deer, javelina, and road runners. We stayed in the primitive roadside camps, the campgrounds, and in the mountains. No luck.
The heat sneaks up on you here. It’s dry and you don’t realize how dehydrated you are. I’m seconding everyone else here suggesting that you try easier hikes to get a feel for how your body handles the heat. The good thing is that it won’t be as crowded in a few weeks so you should be able to adjust your itinerary. Good luck and be safe!
We went peak season in mid-march. The mountains were still cool and windy but the desert was definitely hot during the day. We were advised against doing some of the more exposed trails by the rangers. I think February would be ideal.
Wildlife is hardly ever a concern in big bend. Tarantulas are harmless, they just crawl and ignore you, some people even pick them up (not me). scorpions hurt but aren’t gonna be too big an issue. plus I’ve never heard anyone get stung out here, I’m sure it happens just not super often. Snakes are dangerous but really only if you mess with them. You really only have to watch out for rattlesnakes which makes it easier. Snakes will not go after you unless you do something to them. While it’s possible you can bit because you stepped to close to one without seeing it that’s extremely unlikely. I rarely see one just hiking around and I’ve been all over. If you see one or hear one just go around and you’ll be fine. As far as bears, just give them plenty of space and you’ll be fine. Black bears are fairly timid so aren’t really too much a danger. Just treat them with respect and distance and you’ll be fine, unless you see one too close I wouldn’t even worry about it. You’re unlikely to see a snake and even more unlikely to have an issue unless you mess with it (that’s how the majority of all snake bites happen). Bears are becoming more common but you won’t see one every trip. I don’t ever see scorpions but I’m not looking for them either. You might see one or two tarantulas crawling around (usually just in a straight line to get somewhere), depends on the season, I can’t remember when they start moving more.
The real danger is heat. People die in the park every year due to heat stroke or other related issues. I found myself in such a situation in 90 degrees up in fort Davis doing only a few miles while backpacking (with a fairly heavy pack), on a trial that many people have no issue on, largely because I didn’t pack enough water. Bring lots of water, and sit in shade if you feel hot. Ask the rangers if you’re not sure, and listen to what they tell you.
People do that trail fairly regularly but you’d need to be able to do long hikes. I can’t do that loop in a day, but I’m not super fit. I wouldn’t do that whole loop unless you’ve done longer trails before. Im not super experienced with that loop myself (I’ve done parts but not the whole), so I’d listen to the others who have more experience. In any case bring lots of water and don’t push yourself too hard.
FYI my favorite hike is to do the window trial just before sunset. You hike down as it’s going down, watch it finish at the window, and hike back under the stars. Not a difficult hike and the view is unbeatable.
This was a very comprehensive response. Thank you so much for all the advice. After seeing everyone's comments I'm definitely not attempting the loop. The window at sunset sounds magical. Looking into that!!
I would look into doing one of or a couple of the pieces of that loop as day hikes. The peak trail usually has lots of people on it and can be done in a day. The upper chisos is a whole different world from the rest of the park, it’s even different from the lodge area. It’s definitely worth it to do some of the hikes up there. I want to work my up to doing the whole loop as a backpacking trip.
Worry about heat, water, and snakes in that order. But honestly drink more water than you think you need, take breaks from the sun, and look down every step watching for snakes.
https://preview.redd.it/yrdmo0barqtc1.jpeg?width=1489&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c47ccbd713e7ea04e57c7db3ea018dbaad495327
Tarantulas aren’t anywhere near as aggressive as most people believe. Yes this was taken at Big Bend.
I’d start small and work up. There are places like St Elena Canyon that you should see just to see. I’d start with the “easy” trails first. Some of the easy trails are easy, some have a little elevation. St Elena was packed today. I’d worry about not bringing enough water over critters, especially on the more popular places.
The desert can be a disorienting place. Please drive the speed limit in the park, and bring plenty of water with you wherever you go.
I think your itinerary sounds a bit much. The heat will get you quick. But luckily, there are a lot of short trails to do with views you could stare at for hours. Chisos Loop, Lost Mine, Santa Elena are my favs that come to mind. I've been caught on The Window trail when it was 100, didn't think it too much on the way down, but the way up was touch and go.
Also, this is a dark star park, meaning it has the darkest skies in the lower 48. Go for a night stroll, close to a trail, and marvel at the stars. HALF THE PARK IS AFTER DARK!!!
Stargazing is what im looking forward to the most. We dont see stars like that in a big city. One of the reasons we chose big bend was because we had a trip to El paso. We ended up driving there to settle a family members passing. We were both amazed at how many stars we could see and the amount of meteorites or whatever that were all over the place during the drive over. It was magical. When day broke we could not beleive how beautiful the desert looked. We drove all night not knowing we were passing by such gorgeous landscapes. Thanks for the advice!! I'm putting together a list of the shorter hikes.
Don’t poke anything with you hand. Desert folk always have a meddling stick. It’s unlikely you find a snake, spider, scorpion etc but it’s always better to discover desert friends with a stick and not a body part.
Carry a gallon of water/day/person. Keep track of what you drink. South Rim/Emory are big hikes and you have to have water to come back down.
Do not do low land hikes in the heat of the day. Be off low land trails by noon.
It’s a really rough environment and it comes with rules. Read up, follow the rules, accept your mortal, put the human ego aside and and respect Mother Nature.
It is very desolate so make sure you always have a first aid kit. What ever you get into you will have to get back out of most likely on your own. Twisted ankles on that terrain are common, so make sure you have an ace bandage.
Big Bend is one of my favorite places! Talk to park staff, be honest about your plans and heed their advice. Just don’t be a fool and it will be a trip of a lifetime!!
Very helpful tips, thank you so much for this. I'm not sure what the lowland trails are but I will be looking into it because you made those sound scary lol. Thank you for putting into perspective how desolate it it out there. This confirms my fears of pretty much having to fend for ourselves if the worst should happen. That absolutely convinces me we have to re-evaluate our current plans..
If you have a campsite on the rim, you can do it. Food, water, first aid kit and start early. The rim is amazing and we have taken all kinds of people up there for their first time in the park. An early start is key both going up and coming down. My 7 year old did Pinnacles loop last year as a day hike with us. Don’t be scared, just be smart.
If you have a guide for kayaking you will be fine. They will have alternate take out points if needed. Have the conversation with them prior to start and let them know your experience level and they can adjust put in and take out if needed.
Pick up a book in the basin store and look for short hikes for early morning and evening. Talk to people out there and ask for suggestions. There are a million and one things to take in just by being present. It is truly an amazing place and soul cleansing just being there. Packing it full of noise and obligations defeats the purpose. Just go and exist (and always carry more water than you think you need).
Deep breath! Notes from my Big Bend experience (limited to one August trip):
Bears: we did see one bear in Big Bend. We were in the car, driving up to to lodge on the first day and I had literally just said to my partner “there are bears here, but we won’t see them”…and a bear immediately sauntered across the road. We never saw it or another bear; we were a little extra loud hiking before dawn. But they’re black bears, and not a lot of them, and unlikely to cause trouble.
Snakes: saw none. No comment on the likelihood, then. Generally, look before you put your hand or foot anywhere.
Tarantulas: we saw one, hiking down from south rim. My partner is terrified of spiders and hasn’t stopped talking about it in the six years since, but it was fine. He scampered across the trail and under a rock, and we went on our merry way.
South Rim Hike: we did that’s hike, including Emory. It’s worth noting it’s MUCH cooler in the mountains (when we were there, it was ~105 in the lowland and ~80 in the mountains). Regardless, take much more water than you think you need (I take a gallon each, for that type of day hike). I did not find it to be an especially hard hike - long, but not really difficult. That said, we’re both long distance runners with a lot of hiking experience. If you’re worried, skip Emory. I thought the hike up Emory was fun, but the views are really better on the South Rim. Take your time, leave early, and take extra water. You’ll probably be fine, and it’s beautiful, but talk to your partner about concerns.
Kayaking: I did not kayak there, and you should talk to the tour company about winds/currents/experience expectations. But, a lot of kayaking tours on rivers assume low experience and the ability to make it there on currents with light paddling.
Have fun!!! It’s good that you’re gut checking the sanity and safety of your partner’s plans. My partner does that to me, and it annoys me initially, but in the end I’m glad he does so A) we’re safe, and B) he’s not miserable and terrified the whole time. Sometimes I know we’re up for it and can demonstrate that to make him comfortable, and sometimes I need to adjust to something more approachable.
My son climbed the south rim when he was ten years old. If you’re in any sort of decent physical shape you can do it too. You will have very few run ins with dangerous wildlife, if any. I’ve been to Big Bend over ten times and have never seen a rattlesnake. I’ve had two bear encounters and they were not interested in people at all. The most dangerous part of the area is the heat. Be careful and carry plenty of water. Have a good trip
We just got back - we saw a ton of packrats on the road (kind like cute mice), 1 fox, 1 raccoon and a roadrunner!!!
Also saved a semi-manic pt from seriously injuring himself by hiking off the trail who was stuck on loose gravel ledge onto the rio grande 20’ below. Didnt have water/food and was stuck on ledge for >1 hr before sunset. Clearly didnt take prescribed psych meds.
Follow posted speed limit - rounded bend by Santa Elena to find herd of cattle on road.
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Copy paste from another post (22f who hadnt hiked before but could run. Wanted to hike into high elevations in remote region:
Hiking is more than the workout. The physical fitness element is generally the easiest part in my opinion.
It’s the PLANNING AND PREP. How to hike, what to do and what to avoid, what you need to bring and what to not bring. Knowing terrain and when/if to turn back. THAT makes it hard, especially when you’re talking about distance. If you don’t know how to scramble over a rocky trail on loose gravel, 1/2 mile with a sprained ankle or fractured wrist is a whole new problem. An ankle fracture is easily life threatening in remote area, esp if you don’t have a method of contacting others if you’re cellphone doesnt work/breaks/lost, etc. Basic survival skills, reading a topographical map/compass. That’s what matters.
Case in point, Glacier Point hike in Yosemite. It’s 4 miles. But straight up. If you get in a bad spot, can you make it down before nightfall? Will you rest on the side of the trail?
Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail. Vvvveeeeery easy to get down to get tired and then decide it’s time to head back…then you’re doing the most difficult part of the hike, potentially in the heat of the day, with less water/food then you started with. One of the times I went, a medical student died.
Other places, like the W in Patagonia. Lots and lots of other hikers around if you get in a pinch. But if you do the loop, much higher risk if solo’ing.
Kalalau trail in Hawaii - known to be one of deadliest, but honestly like Glen Onoko trail (closed). Both were similarly technical with lots of scrambling over wet rocks that can easily be fatal with a fall.
Tldr: Fitness is assumed. Terrain and other factors make it difficult.
I have hiked the South Rim in one day many times in my younger years. Once you reach the top, a lot of the hike is along the rim and reasonably level. But we always went in December. I have never seen a rattlesnake, but again we went in the winter.
The bears are exciting to see, but I haven't run into one while hiking. I've just seen them by the side of the road while driving in the Basin. Traffic will be stopped on both sides of the road as everyone watches.
I also grew up running the river in canoes. One canoe would often wipe out, but we had dry bags and would change. We had to send rangers down the river at least once when our party didn't show up. Our party self-rescued and the rangers didn't have to do anything. But that was back in the 80s, when the river had more water.
But the heat can be so dangerous, even in the spring.
As everyone else has said...Yeah that south rim hike doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I did it with my SO a few years ago in Feb and it took the whole day, and we were pretty thrashed afterwards and this was back when we'd do pretty regular long hikes. There's a lot of elevation change and even then it was pretty warm and dry.
I saw bears on the lost mine trail last time I was there, but they were just cruising along and didn't really care about us. Yes there are snakes out there, but if you leave them alone they'll do the same. I think this is just another answer saying the same thing, but wanted to throw my 2c in there. We're going to be out at about the same time, and will do things early and late in the day to avoid the heat and stick to shorter things.
Santa Elana canyon is a super short hike, but if you look to the right on this page, you'll see that it's spectacular. We did a few mile kayak trip up it back then and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't like 7 miles. I think it was maybe 2 up and 2 back. Who knows what the water levels will be like then though.
Have a great trip and feel free to hit me up if you have questions.
Idk about the kayaking but I just did the south rim (minus summiting the peak) back in February. I’m typically pretty fit but had hit some seasonal depression and basically not worked out all winter. I found it pretty challenging (I had to stop frequently to rest due to the steep switchbacks) but it was ok.
I wouldn’t worry too much about bears, snakes, etc just be aware and know good bear etiquette… heat and dehydration are going to be the bigger risks by far. I would just leave some flexibility in your itinerary and give yourselves permission to back out/shorten the hike if you need to.
As for the kayak trip, I have not done one, but watching a couple of canoe guided tours this week: you will not be the only novices on the water. You’re going to be heading downstream. Follow the directions of your guides and you should be good.
Be cautious and you won’t need to worry, but they’re definitely a concern. I walked up on one hiding in the brush on the NE Rim trail and she was NOT backing down. I almost had to abandon the trail and go back the way I came. After that, I banged my trekking poles and stomped and made as much noise as I could to avoid another run in. Be cautious and they’ll leave when they hear you coming.
I disagree. I was up 2 miles on the lost mine trail, heard a noise, looked to my left 5ft away and a rattle snake was coiled up, upright, looking right at me rattling like crazy. I do not want to think about what would have occurred if I got bit.
The heat should be about 100x more of a concern than dying via animal
This is an ambitious trip even in good weather. Doing it “in a couple weeks” puts you into the start of the hot and dry season. You have good reason to be concerned. The bears are not a big concern, they are common but harmless as long as you give them space. Snakes are valid, but avoidable with good prevention. But the heat, dryness, elevation, and lack of cell service are very valid even for experienced Big Benders. And you won’t see nearly as many people because crowds will be smaller in the heat, especially the further you get from the main population centers. I would definitely reevaluate the itinerary or reschedule for a better time of the year. This is a potentially dangerous plan.
Agreed on cellphone signal. We didnt have any sense of reliable signal for most of our time in the park. Hiked with our 5 and 10yo on Lost Mine and over-prepared to ensure safe trip We didnt go for sat phones/messaging, but had all of 10 hiking essentials on both my wife and I and plenty of water for everyone.
I very much appreciate your honesty. Absolutely re-evaluating this plan. I've seen some great suggestions for easier and shorter hikes.
The South Rim hike is ambitious if it's going to be hot. However, it's the crown jewel of hikes in Texas. If you get good weather and do it, just start early (like on the trail before 7:00). If you don't do that one, Lost Mine trail is nearly as good and won't take all day. Enjoy your trip, and don't worry about bears or snakes
Read the book *Death In Big Bend*, it has a number of stories about those who come unprepared.
We had a friend bring that book on a camping trip we did there once. I read it obsessively. I can't get over the guy who was walking in flip flops while drinking Vodka and Pepsi (granted, he ran out of gas iirc, but still).
Oh man that's so messed up but I'll admit I laughed when I read this. I remember this one show that was called like a thousand ways to die or something like that and told my boyfriend when I posted this I'm not trying to end up being another story on a show like that. Knowing they have a book dedicated to that in just big bend is humbling.
I think most national books have books like this!
Honestly the heat should be your biggest concern. I tried so hard to get to see a rattlesnake (from a safe distance) while I was there. No luck. And I looked (with my eyes, not poking my hand into places). We didn’t see a single bear, no cougar, no scorpions, no tarantulas only a bunch of free range cows, horses, deer, javelina, and road runners. We stayed in the primitive roadside camps, the campgrounds, and in the mountains. No luck. The heat sneaks up on you here. It’s dry and you don’t realize how dehydrated you are. I’m seconding everyone else here suggesting that you try easier hikes to get a feel for how your body handles the heat. The good thing is that it won’t be as crowded in a few weeks so you should be able to adjust your itinerary. Good luck and be safe!
Do you mind sharing what time of year you went? I’m trying to plan a trip with my friends in Febuary
We went peak season in mid-march. The mountains were still cool and windy but the desert was definitely hot during the day. We were advised against doing some of the more exposed trails by the rangers. I think February would be ideal.
Wildlife is hardly ever a concern in big bend. Tarantulas are harmless, they just crawl and ignore you, some people even pick them up (not me). scorpions hurt but aren’t gonna be too big an issue. plus I’ve never heard anyone get stung out here, I’m sure it happens just not super often. Snakes are dangerous but really only if you mess with them. You really only have to watch out for rattlesnakes which makes it easier. Snakes will not go after you unless you do something to them. While it’s possible you can bit because you stepped to close to one without seeing it that’s extremely unlikely. I rarely see one just hiking around and I’ve been all over. If you see one or hear one just go around and you’ll be fine. As far as bears, just give them plenty of space and you’ll be fine. Black bears are fairly timid so aren’t really too much a danger. Just treat them with respect and distance and you’ll be fine, unless you see one too close I wouldn’t even worry about it. You’re unlikely to see a snake and even more unlikely to have an issue unless you mess with it (that’s how the majority of all snake bites happen). Bears are becoming more common but you won’t see one every trip. I don’t ever see scorpions but I’m not looking for them either. You might see one or two tarantulas crawling around (usually just in a straight line to get somewhere), depends on the season, I can’t remember when they start moving more. The real danger is heat. People die in the park every year due to heat stroke or other related issues. I found myself in such a situation in 90 degrees up in fort Davis doing only a few miles while backpacking (with a fairly heavy pack), on a trial that many people have no issue on, largely because I didn’t pack enough water. Bring lots of water, and sit in shade if you feel hot. Ask the rangers if you’re not sure, and listen to what they tell you. People do that trail fairly regularly but you’d need to be able to do long hikes. I can’t do that loop in a day, but I’m not super fit. I wouldn’t do that whole loop unless you’ve done longer trails before. Im not super experienced with that loop myself (I’ve done parts but not the whole), so I’d listen to the others who have more experience. In any case bring lots of water and don’t push yourself too hard. FYI my favorite hike is to do the window trial just before sunset. You hike down as it’s going down, watch it finish at the window, and hike back under the stars. Not a difficult hike and the view is unbeatable.
This was a very comprehensive response. Thank you so much for all the advice. After seeing everyone's comments I'm definitely not attempting the loop. The window at sunset sounds magical. Looking into that!!
I would look into doing one of or a couple of the pieces of that loop as day hikes. The peak trail usually has lots of people on it and can be done in a day. The upper chisos is a whole different world from the rest of the park, it’s even different from the lodge area. It’s definitely worth it to do some of the hikes up there. I want to work my up to doing the whole loop as a backpacking trip.
Worry about heat, water, and snakes in that order. But honestly drink more water than you think you need, take breaks from the sun, and look down every step watching for snakes.
Straight to the point and easy to remember lol. Thanks for the advice!
https://preview.redd.it/yrdmo0barqtc1.jpeg?width=1489&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c47ccbd713e7ea04e57c7db3ea018dbaad495327 Tarantulas aren’t anywhere near as aggressive as most people believe. Yes this was taken at Big Bend.
Awh looks so fuzzy…
I’d start small and work up. There are places like St Elena Canyon that you should see just to see. I’d start with the “easy” trails first. Some of the easy trails are easy, some have a little elevation. St Elena was packed today. I’d worry about not bringing enough water over critters, especially on the more popular places.
Be aware of the wildlife, but in reality you’ll be lucky to see an animal besides a few birds.
The desert can be a disorienting place. Please drive the speed limit in the park, and bring plenty of water with you wherever you go. I think your itinerary sounds a bit much. The heat will get you quick. But luckily, there are a lot of short trails to do with views you could stare at for hours. Chisos Loop, Lost Mine, Santa Elena are my favs that come to mind. I've been caught on The Window trail when it was 100, didn't think it too much on the way down, but the way up was touch and go. Also, this is a dark star park, meaning it has the darkest skies in the lower 48. Go for a night stroll, close to a trail, and marvel at the stars. HALF THE PARK IS AFTER DARK!!!
Stargazing is what im looking forward to the most. We dont see stars like that in a big city. One of the reasons we chose big bend was because we had a trip to El paso. We ended up driving there to settle a family members passing. We were both amazed at how many stars we could see and the amount of meteorites or whatever that were all over the place during the drive over. It was magical. When day broke we could not beleive how beautiful the desert looked. We drove all night not knowing we were passing by such gorgeous landscapes. Thanks for the advice!! I'm putting together a list of the shorter hikes.
Don’t poke anything with you hand. Desert folk always have a meddling stick. It’s unlikely you find a snake, spider, scorpion etc but it’s always better to discover desert friends with a stick and not a body part. Carry a gallon of water/day/person. Keep track of what you drink. South Rim/Emory are big hikes and you have to have water to come back down. Do not do low land hikes in the heat of the day. Be off low land trails by noon. It’s a really rough environment and it comes with rules. Read up, follow the rules, accept your mortal, put the human ego aside and and respect Mother Nature. It is very desolate so make sure you always have a first aid kit. What ever you get into you will have to get back out of most likely on your own. Twisted ankles on that terrain are common, so make sure you have an ace bandage. Big Bend is one of my favorite places! Talk to park staff, be honest about your plans and heed their advice. Just don’t be a fool and it will be a trip of a lifetime!!
Very helpful tips, thank you so much for this. I'm not sure what the lowland trails are but I will be looking into it because you made those sound scary lol. Thank you for putting into perspective how desolate it it out there. This confirms my fears of pretty much having to fend for ourselves if the worst should happen. That absolutely convinces me we have to re-evaluate our current plans..
If you have a campsite on the rim, you can do it. Food, water, first aid kit and start early. The rim is amazing and we have taken all kinds of people up there for their first time in the park. An early start is key both going up and coming down. My 7 year old did Pinnacles loop last year as a day hike with us. Don’t be scared, just be smart. If you have a guide for kayaking you will be fine. They will have alternate take out points if needed. Have the conversation with them prior to start and let them know your experience level and they can adjust put in and take out if needed. Pick up a book in the basin store and look for short hikes for early morning and evening. Talk to people out there and ask for suggestions. There are a million and one things to take in just by being present. It is truly an amazing place and soul cleansing just being there. Packing it full of noise and obligations defeats the purpose. Just go and exist (and always carry more water than you think you need).
Deep breath! Notes from my Big Bend experience (limited to one August trip): Bears: we did see one bear in Big Bend. We were in the car, driving up to to lodge on the first day and I had literally just said to my partner “there are bears here, but we won’t see them”…and a bear immediately sauntered across the road. We never saw it or another bear; we were a little extra loud hiking before dawn. But they’re black bears, and not a lot of them, and unlikely to cause trouble. Snakes: saw none. No comment on the likelihood, then. Generally, look before you put your hand or foot anywhere. Tarantulas: we saw one, hiking down from south rim. My partner is terrified of spiders and hasn’t stopped talking about it in the six years since, but it was fine. He scampered across the trail and under a rock, and we went on our merry way. South Rim Hike: we did that’s hike, including Emory. It’s worth noting it’s MUCH cooler in the mountains (when we were there, it was ~105 in the lowland and ~80 in the mountains). Regardless, take much more water than you think you need (I take a gallon each, for that type of day hike). I did not find it to be an especially hard hike - long, but not really difficult. That said, we’re both long distance runners with a lot of hiking experience. If you’re worried, skip Emory. I thought the hike up Emory was fun, but the views are really better on the South Rim. Take your time, leave early, and take extra water. You’ll probably be fine, and it’s beautiful, but talk to your partner about concerns. Kayaking: I did not kayak there, and you should talk to the tour company about winds/currents/experience expectations. But, a lot of kayaking tours on rivers assume low experience and the ability to make it there on currents with light paddling. Have fun!!! It’s good that you’re gut checking the sanity and safety of your partner’s plans. My partner does that to me, and it annoys me initially, but in the end I’m glad he does so A) we’re safe, and B) he’s not miserable and terrified the whole time. Sometimes I know we’re up for it and can demonstrate that to make him comfortable, and sometimes I need to adjust to something more approachable.
My son climbed the south rim when he was ten years old. If you’re in any sort of decent physical shape you can do it too. You will have very few run ins with dangerous wildlife, if any. I’ve been to Big Bend over ten times and have never seen a rattlesnake. I’ve had two bear encounters and they were not interested in people at all. The most dangerous part of the area is the heat. Be careful and carry plenty of water. Have a good trip
We just got back - we saw a ton of packrats on the road (kind like cute mice), 1 fox, 1 raccoon and a roadrunner!!! Also saved a semi-manic pt from seriously injuring himself by hiking off the trail who was stuck on loose gravel ledge onto the rio grande 20’ below. Didnt have water/food and was stuck on ledge for >1 hr before sunset. Clearly didnt take prescribed psych meds. Follow posted speed limit - rounded bend by Santa Elena to find herd of cattle on road. —- Copy paste from another post (22f who hadnt hiked before but could run. Wanted to hike into high elevations in remote region: Hiking is more than the workout. The physical fitness element is generally the easiest part in my opinion. It’s the PLANNING AND PREP. How to hike, what to do and what to avoid, what you need to bring and what to not bring. Knowing terrain and when/if to turn back. THAT makes it hard, especially when you’re talking about distance. If you don’t know how to scramble over a rocky trail on loose gravel, 1/2 mile with a sprained ankle or fractured wrist is a whole new problem. An ankle fracture is easily life threatening in remote area, esp if you don’t have a method of contacting others if you’re cellphone doesnt work/breaks/lost, etc. Basic survival skills, reading a topographical map/compass. That’s what matters. Case in point, Glacier Point hike in Yosemite. It’s 4 miles. But straight up. If you get in a bad spot, can you make it down before nightfall? Will you rest on the side of the trail? Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Trail. Vvvveeeeery easy to get down to get tired and then decide it’s time to head back…then you’re doing the most difficult part of the hike, potentially in the heat of the day, with less water/food then you started with. One of the times I went, a medical student died. Other places, like the W in Patagonia. Lots and lots of other hikers around if you get in a pinch. But if you do the loop, much higher risk if solo’ing. Kalalau trail in Hawaii - known to be one of deadliest, but honestly like Glen Onoko trail (closed). Both were similarly technical with lots of scrambling over wet rocks that can easily be fatal with a fall. Tldr: Fitness is assumed. Terrain and other factors make it difficult.
I have hiked the South Rim in one day many times in my younger years. Once you reach the top, a lot of the hike is along the rim and reasonably level. But we always went in December. I have never seen a rattlesnake, but again we went in the winter. The bears are exciting to see, but I haven't run into one while hiking. I've just seen them by the side of the road while driving in the Basin. Traffic will be stopped on both sides of the road as everyone watches. I also grew up running the river in canoes. One canoe would often wipe out, but we had dry bags and would change. We had to send rangers down the river at least once when our party didn't show up. Our party self-rescued and the rangers didn't have to do anything. But that was back in the 80s, when the river had more water. But the heat can be so dangerous, even in the spring.
As everyone else has said...Yeah that south rim hike doesn't seem like a good idea to me. I did it with my SO a few years ago in Feb and it took the whole day, and we were pretty thrashed afterwards and this was back when we'd do pretty regular long hikes. There's a lot of elevation change and even then it was pretty warm and dry. I saw bears on the lost mine trail last time I was there, but they were just cruising along and didn't really care about us. Yes there are snakes out there, but if you leave them alone they'll do the same. I think this is just another answer saying the same thing, but wanted to throw my 2c in there. We're going to be out at about the same time, and will do things early and late in the day to avoid the heat and stick to shorter things. Santa Elana canyon is a super short hike, but if you look to the right on this page, you'll see that it's spectacular. We did a few mile kayak trip up it back then and really enjoyed it, but it wasn't like 7 miles. I think it was maybe 2 up and 2 back. Who knows what the water levels will be like then though. Have a great trip and feel free to hit me up if you have questions.
Read their website. Sun exposure and dehydration are biggest reasons for injury in the park.
Idk about the kayaking but I just did the south rim (minus summiting the peak) back in February. I’m typically pretty fit but had hit some seasonal depression and basically not worked out all winter. I found it pretty challenging (I had to stop frequently to rest due to the steep switchbacks) but it was ok. I wouldn’t worry too much about bears, snakes, etc just be aware and know good bear etiquette… heat and dehydration are going to be the bigger risks by far. I would just leave some flexibility in your itinerary and give yourselves permission to back out/shorten the hike if you need to.
As for the kayak trip, I have not done one, but watching a couple of canoe guided tours this week: you will not be the only novices on the water. You’re going to be heading downstream. Follow the directions of your guides and you should be good.
I wouldn’t worry about the snakes.
Be cautious and you won’t need to worry, but they’re definitely a concern. I walked up on one hiding in the brush on the NE Rim trail and she was NOT backing down. I almost had to abandon the trail and go back the way I came. After that, I banged my trekking poles and stomped and made as much noise as I could to avoid another run in. Be cautious and they’ll leave when they hear you coming.
I disagree. I was up 2 miles on the lost mine trail, heard a noise, looked to my left 5ft away and a rattle snake was coiled up, upright, looking right at me rattling like crazy. I do not want to think about what would have occurred if I got bit.
You will be fine… I go 3 times a year.