Emory Peak
Emory Peak rises to 2,385 m in Texas. Townsend Point stands 2,304 m to the east-southeast, 1.0 miles off. The nearest named place is Boot Spring, a spring 0.6 miles away. Texas Mountain Trail passes 15 miles off.
The story
Emory Peak, located in Big Bend National Park, is the highest peak in the Chisos Mountains and the highest in Brewster County. The peak is named for William H. Emory, the chief surveyor of the U.S. Boundary Survey team of 1852. From the Chisos Basin the peak appears to be a minor ridge, while the summit of Casa Grande, one mile closer, seems to be much taller. From the west, Emory Peak is clearly visible as a point slightly higher than most of the mountain range. The peak can be reached by a moderate hike on a well-marked path across steep rocky terrain with an elevation gain of approximately 2,500 feet (760 m). The Emory Peak Trail is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long. The trail is reached by climbing the Pinnacles Trail 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from the Chisos Basin trailhead. Once at the base there is a semi-technical rock scramble to navigate before reaching the summit. No gear is needed for this climb although hikers should take great care. High-desert flora and fauna including alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana), pinyon pine (Pinus cembroides), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), prickly pear cacti (Opuntia spp.), Mexican jay (Aphelocoma wollweberi), sotol (Dasylirion leiophyllum), and Texas madrone (Arbutus xalapensis) may be seen along the trail. There are signs warning of mountain lions and bears. The view from the top takes in most of the northern section of the park and a good portion of the Chisos range to the south. One surprise at the top, during the right season, is the population of ladybugs on the summit. There are solar panels, radio transmission equipment, and antennas at the top.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q3724770, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
What the record says
- Elevation
- 2385 m
How to reach it
- 15.0 mi off the Texas Mountain Trail
Named places within 25 miles
- Townsend Point: 1.0 mi
- Toll Mountain: 1.1 mi
- Casa Grande Peak: 1.8 mi
- Ward Mountain: 2.0 mi
- Mount Huffman: 2.6 mi
- An old waterpump: 4.6 mi
- Dominguez Spring Ruins: 7.9 mi
- Dominguez Spring Ruins: 7.9 mi
- Ruins: 14.8 mi
- 689.4576: 14.8 mi
- Boot Spring: 0.6 mi
- Cedar Spring: 2.7 mi
- Window Springs: 2.8 mi
- Ward Spring: 2.8 mi
- Oak Spring: 3.1 mi
- The Window: 2.9 mi
- Pulliam Bluff: 4.0 mi
- Cuesta Carlota: 17.7 mi
- Alto Relex: 18.0 mi
- Big Bend NP: 8.6 mi
- Balanced Rock: 12.2 mi
- Fossil Bone Exhibit: 15.7 mi
- Starlingua Ranch: 21.4 mi
- Glenn Springs: 10.2 mi
- San Vicente: 18.3 mi
- Terlingua: 19.5 mi
- Cattrail Falls: 2.6 mi
- The Window Pour Off: 2.9 mi
- Big Bend National Park: 3.3 mi
Other summits around it
The highest named summits within 17.1 miles of Emory Peak. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Townsend Point | ESE 121° | 2,304 m | 1.0 mi |
| Lost Mine Peak | NE 54° | 2,262 m | 3.5 mi |
| Toll Mountain | NE 55° | 2,255 m | 1.1 mi |
| Casa Grande Peak | NE 34° | 2,165 m | 1.8 mi |
| Crown Mountain | ENE 70° | 2,132 m | 2.9 mi |
| Ward Mountain | WNW 293° | 2,100 m | 2.0 mi |
| Pulliam Peak | N 11° | 2,077 m | 3.4 mi |
| Vernon Bailey Peak | NNW 341° | 2,018 m | 2.8 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:58 | 19:34 | 20:05 |
| June solstice | 06:55 | 20:22 | 20:56 |
| September equinox | 07:42 | 19:20 | 19:51 |
| December solstice | 07:44 | 17:24 | 18:00 |
Local time (America/Chicago).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Feb–Nov.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 48 | 52 | 57 | 64 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 70 | 64 | 55 | 49 |
| Precip in | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 3.6 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Chisos Basin, 2 mi away.
Inside the official boundary of Big Bend National Park. Quietest months by visitation: Aug and Jul; busiest: Mar.
NPS visitation statistics, monthly averages 2021–2025 (2020 excluded).
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element node/356733836
Day trips start here
- Big Bend National Park · 3 mi
Take the scenic way to Emory Peak.
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