South Rim trail, Big Bend NP Day 8 part 1

Howdee all.

March 26

We saved the South Rim trail for the end of our stay in Big Bend, hoping for an early arrival of the Colima warbler. They are usually not seen in the area until mid April.

This is the only place in the US that the Colima warbler is seen, when it migrates from Mexico, here to spend the summer.

 Hike to South Rim

via Laguna Meadows approx 4 miles

Colima trail – 1 mile

Boot canyon trail to South Rim- 1.8 miles

return trip via Pinnacle trail approx 6.4 miles

Total trip approx- 14 miles

Difficulty- Moderate

Elevation gain- approx. 2000 feet

You can see the map below there are different ways to reach South Rim 

I really wanted to start the trip via Laguna Meadows trail We were told it is a gradual up,versus the Pinnacle trail which switchbacks up the first mile.

Jeff wanted to hike up the Pinnacle trail..

Luckily the coin toss had us go up the meadows.. The right choice in my opinion…after going down via the Pinnacles trail later that day and seeing how steep it was..

It was not as though we weren't getting enough exercise to begin with..   It was a gradual, as we were told…I did have to stop many times to catch my breath.. The meadows area…We also did some birding… We left the Meadows trail.. and followed the one mile Colima trail..

hoping to see or hear the Colima Warbler,we didn't see it on the trail named for this warbler.

At the end of the Colima trail we picked up Boot Canyon trail to the South Rim

Here we did see a few birds, along with a Painted Redstart. Looks like we are getting close…To the top…

Stay tuned for the views from South Rim and the hike down via the Pinnacle trail.