Chisos Mountains
The Chisos Mountains as photographed facing southeast
Highest point
Peak	Emory Peak
Elevation	7,825 ft (2,385 m)
Coordinates	29°14′45″N 103°18′14″W / 29.24583°N 103.30389°W / 29.24583; -103.30389
Geography
Chisos Mountains
Country	United States
State	Texas
Range coordinates	29°16′N 103°18′W / 29.267°N 103.300°W / 29.267; -103.300

South rim sunset (left) and approaching rain (right)

The Chisos Mountains, also known as the Chisos, are a mountain range located in the Big Bend area of the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, United States.^[1] The mountain system covers 40 square miles (104 square km) and is contained entirely within the boundaries of Big Bend National Park, making it the only mountain range in the United States fully contained within a national park.^[1][2] The Chisos Mountains are the southernmost mountain range in the mainland United States.

The Chisos Mountains were created by volcanic activity during the Eocene Epoch 35-44 million years ago.^[3]

The highest point in the Chisos Mountain range is Emory Peak at 7,825 ft (2,385 m) above sea level.^[1]

Location

The Chisos Mountains are located in Big Bend National Park. The range of mountains extends twenty miles from Punta de la Sierra in the southwest to Panther Junction in the northeast. An extensive trail system and permit-required backcountry campsites are maintained by Big Bend National Park for its visitors.^[4] The Northeast Rim and Southeast Rim trails are closed from February 1 through May 31 along with some of the backcountry campsites along these trails to protect the local peregrine falcon population.^[4]

The mountain area is partly forested (recovering from logging and overgrazing prior to the area's inclusion in the National Park System in the 1930s), and surrounded by the Chihuahuan Desert. The nearby towns include Study Butte, Terlingua, Fort Stockton, 135 miles north, Alpine, 105 mi (169 km) northwest and Presidio, about 100 mi (160 km) west. Two Mexican towns (Boquillas and Santa Elena) border the park; and cross-border access was reopened in 2011.^[5]

Etymology

One of the multiple possibilities of the origin of the name is the option that it stems from hechizos, a Castilian word meaning "enchantment". Another possibility is the option that the word originated from chisos, a Native American word meaning "ghost" or "spirit".^[2]

Peaks

• Emory Peak 7,835 ft (2,388 m)^[1]
• Lost Mine Peak 7,535 ft (2,297 m)^[1]
• Toll Mountain 7,415 ft (2,260 m)^[1]
• Casa Grande Peak 7,325 ft (2,233 m)^[1]

Climate

• Elevation: 5,300 feet (1,615 m)^[6]

Wildlife

• Ornithology
  • Birds of the Chisos Mountains include 81 total known species that live within six different plant associations.^[8] The six plant associations along with the number of known species within them include: the Arroyo-Mesquite-Acacia Association (31 species), the Lechuguilla-Creosotebush-Cactus Association (13 species), the Sotol-Grass Association (32 species), the Deciduous Woodland Association (42 species), the Pinyon-Juniper-Oak Association (32 Species), and the Cypress-Pine-Oak Association (24 species).^[8]
• Myrmecology
  • Ants of the Chisos Mountains include 81 total known species within 29 different genera.^[9]

Flora

Quercus tardifolia is an evergreen tree with gray bark and reddish-brown twigs. The common name is Chisos Mountains oak which refers to where the species was rediscovered. This species was thought to be extinct when in May 2022, a specimen was found.^[10][11]