Chisos Mountains

Chisos Mountains
A photo of the Chisos mountain range from the desert to the east, 22 February 2002.
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 Mtns
Country	United States
State	Texas
Range coordinates	29°16′N 103°18′W / 29.267°N 103.300°W / 29.267; -103.300Coordinates: 29°16′N 103°18′W / 29.267°N 103.300°W / 29.267; -103.300

The Chisos Mountains are a mountain range located in the Big Bend area of West Texas, United States. The mountain range is contained entirely within the boundaries of Big Bend National Park. This is the only mountain range in the United States to be fully contained within the boundary of a national park. It is also the southernmost mountain range in the mainland United States.

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

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. 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.

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.

Sunset from the South Rim in Big Bend National Park.

Rain approaching the South Rim of the Chisos.

View from the South Rim.

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".