"Found a great herd path to the scrambly bits, then a choose-your-own adventure over and around the false summits to the top. We took a different herd path off the mountain and it ended up being a horrendous scree fest all the way back down. Wish we stuck to our uphill route." — wacbravo • Mar 11, 2024

"On and off foot trails. Mostly thick bushwhack to scree field to class 4 climbing moves near the top. The high point is to the top left climb go in between the 2 giant rock faces. Rope tied around tree up there looks like it has been used to repel the class 4 to get down. I was able to down climb be careful. Some jugs and good pieces to hold look around for them. Not easy but a adventure for sure. 4.5 hours total. 3.5 liters of water." — Kramo • May 21, 2022

"This was a fun climb to the highest point in Big Bend National Park. I completed this climb with my friends Jayden, Jeremy, and Chloee. Three of us made it to the summit, but Jeremy was unable to summit due to a fear of heights. We completed this hike as an extension of the South Rim Trail. We first took the Laguna Meadows Trail to the Pinnacles Trail. Then, we took the Emory Peak Trail to the summit before returning to the Pinnacles Trail and completing the South Rim Trail. The Laguna Meadow Trail is gradual and only needs followed for 0.3 miles until you reach the fork in the trail. The Pinnacles Trail is pretty easy but does steadily gain elevation leading up to the Emory Peak Trail. Lastly, the Emory Peak trail has a toilet and bear boxes where you can store your gear. The trail is quite steep (1000 ft. elevation gain in 1.5 miles), so be prepared. The last section of the trail is an exposed 25-foot rock scramble. It is not a particularly difficult scramble, but you must pay close attention to what you are doing. The views at the summit are gorgeous. We made it to the summit of Emory Peak in 2 hours. We finished the whole South Rim Trail in 8 hours. Overall, this is a goo..." — Noodles • Dec 20, 2020

"Started before sunlight. Lost the trail and ended up going down a blocked old leg of the trail full of branches. Really nice, interesting (differently landscapes) hike - view from the top frames the full glory of the fossil caldera - and you realize your car is sitting in the fire pit. The wind blowing over the ridge from the south felt like a hairdryer to the face. I knew it would be hot and started early. The people coming up as I was descending I genuinely felt for. 4h car to car. " — fish • Aug 24, 2019

"I parked east of the peak and hiked up the Pine Canyon Rd. to the trail, then took the trail about 1 1/2 miles before heading off trail up the north slope of Crown. At first it was steep but easier due to climbing up the wash and a solid rock face, but towards the summit the vegetation got thicker. It was a fun climb though, and offered great views of the Chisos Moutains, and further south into Big Bend and Mexico. I also tried Crown Mt. west for the second time, this time trying the south side, but there was nothing there that I could climb up." — ZachTeich • Nov 24, 2017