This is a trip report copied almost verbatim from what I wrote in 2000.
I took this trip on what I figured to be the last non-busy week before Spring Break; however, it was already getting crowded in the campsites (the Basin was full). I had arrived the night before around midnight; seeing that the other campsites were full I simply napped in the cab of my truck. It was fairly chilly, probably around 35-40, so I bundled up pretty well. I did see a coyote exploring the trash cans once early in the morning.
- Trail distances for Pinnacles Trail to South Rim, return
- via Laguna Meadows (from Basin trailhead):
- 3.5 miles to Emory Peak trail
- 4.5 miles to Boot Canyon campsites
- 4.8 miles to Boot Spring
- 5.3 miles to Southeast Rim Trail jct.
- 6.3 miles to Southeast Rim Trail jct. at the South Rim
- 8.0 miles to Colima trail jct.
- 8.8 miles to Blue Cr. trail jct.
- 12.1 miles to Basin trailhead
A bit after sunrise I went on into the Chisos Mountains to the Basin and the ranger HQ to get a backcountry permit. The nice older couple behind the counter, apparently camp hosts, pulled out a notebook with photos of the various campsites in the backcountry to help me to determine where I would go. Seeing the full campsite status, I was more concerned with getting away from crowds than a scenic site, but finally decided on Boot Canyon #4 and SW #3 just off the South Rim.