The Outer Mountain Loop is a 30-mile loop through Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. On this route, you pass through forested areas of the Chisos Mountains and the surrounding Chihuahua Desert. The area is home to a variety of habitats, plants, animals, and vegetative environments, including pinon, juniper, and oak woodlands as well as a variety of desert shrubs. It is recommended to hike the loop clockwise and is accessible for hikers, trail runners, and backpackers.
Outer Mountain Loop combines several established trails into one big loop giving visitors a great overview of Big Bend National Park. Although the trails are easy to follow, the rugged, steep terrain can be challenging. In Big Bend National Park, summers are extremely hot, while winters are pleasantly warm, making it a great place to escape cold weather.
DIRECTIONS
Even though the loop can be completed in either direction, it is most commonly completed clockwise by combining the following trails:
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Pinnacles Trail
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Boot Canyon Trail
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Dodson Canyon Trail
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Blue Creek Trail
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Laguna Meadows Trails
WATER
This trek requires visitors to carry sufficient water. Seasonal springs are unreliable and water is scarce. Water can be cached at two locations, the Homer Wilson/Blue Creek Ranch and Juniper Canyon Road (high clearance vehicles are required for Juniper Canyon Road). No other storage box provided by the NPS can be used to cache water. For more information about water and caches please visit: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/bc_outermountainloop.htm.
CAMPING AND PERMITS
Permits are required for backcountry camping in Big Bend National Park. Some permits are only available for reservation 24 hours in advance and must be picked up in person. Other areas allow for reservations to be made further in advance by visiting www.recreation.gov.
For more information please visit https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/bc_usepermits.htm.
SEASONAL CLOSURES
Some portions of Big Bend National Park are closed between February 1 and May 31 to protect nesting falcons. For more information about this seasonal closure please visit: https://www.nps.gov/bibe/learn/news/peregrine-falcon-closures-to-begin-february-1.htm.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information about visiting Big Bend National Park, please visit https://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm.
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