Big Bend N.P. end of December

[VIVID1]

I’m thinking of towing my little DS to Southwest Texas to ride around Big Bend (Approx. Dec 26-30). Anyone else planning on going there same time?

I’ve been warned a few times already not to ride off-road alone in Big Bend, but unfortunately I don’t know anyone who can go with me around the holiday season. Oh yea, I have zero dirt riding experience so I plan on making a fool out of myself daily

[dirty dave]

i may be down there around that time. i've been there the last few winters by myself. they have great maps at the park headquarters. watch out for the wild pigs(javalinas)

[Gordy]

In the park itself, you can't go off road except for dirt roads, but with your off road experience, that should be a good thing. Some of them are somewhat rocky and there is plenty of sand! I don't know about the Terlingua area, but supposedly there is lots of off roading out there. And don't go over the speed limit in the park!
If Arch sees this, he knows a lot about the area.
It is beautiful, you'll have a good time.

[AlexYZF]

Anna? I am a non-very-active member of CLSB and we've met on a F4T couple years ago.

This sounds like a great idea. I need to know a little more about the park, etc. and I think I am in

P.S. Leavendust and I were planning to go to Mexico, but looks like he is bailing out, and ain't goin' by myself (not knowing more than 2 words in Spanish and all)

[VIVID1]

Originally Posted by AlexYZF

This sounds like a great idea. I need to know a little more about the park, etc. and I think I am in

SWEET! Yep, this is Anna.

I've been to Big Bend National Park before, but on a sport bike, I didn’t have time to ride the whole park though, the park is huge, most of it is paved. This time I want to venture off-road, I'm a newbe to dirt riding, so I'll be taking it easy, there are "improved" dirt roads and "primitive" dirt roads according to their website (see links below) and there are many more dirt roads outside of the park, and also there is Big Bend State Park near by, I've never been there.

park info: http://www.nps.gov/bibe
improved dirt roads: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/improved-dirt-roads.htm
primitive dirt roads: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/primitive-dirt-roads.htm



Alex, I'll PM you with when I'm leaving and stuff.

[dirty dave]

one of my favorite paved roads is just outside the park. 170 north to presideo. you wont regret it.

[VIVID1]

Originally Posted by dirty dave

one of my favorite paved roads is just outside the park. 170 north to presideo. you wont regret it.

Yep, I rode that whole area two winters ago, love it, I want to bring a DS there now.

Both of these are from the River Road (170)

[Gordy]

Lotsa country out there!

[WoodButcher]

Originally Posted by VIVID1

SWEET! Yep, this is Anna.

I've been to Big Bend National Park before, but on a sport bike, I didn’t have time to ride the whole park though, the park is huge, most of it is paved. This time I want to venture off-road, I'm a newbe to dirt riding, so I'll be taking it easy, there are "improved" dirt roads and "primitive" dirt roads according to their website (see links below) and there are many more dirt roads outside of the park, and also there is Big Bend State Park near by, I've never been there.

park info: http://www.nps.gov/bibe
improved dirt roads: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/improved-dirt-roads.htm
primitive dirt roads: http://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/primitive-dirt-roads.htm


I'll PM you with when I'm leaving and stuff.

What bike are you going to be riding? You planning on trailering down or riding all the way? I was out there early dec. last year and it was a bit cool, but good. I actually was there in the middle of march which is their busiest time and it still wasn't even close to being crowded.

I've got some pictures of the dirt roads out there if I can just dig up the link...got it. Rather than post a bunch of pics, this is my photobucket album. I think it is set up now so you can just browse it. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v227/woodbutcher/big%20bend/

Hope that works. I'm hoping to head out again before the end of the year, but have no idea of when. Might be stopping in on the way back from a family xmas trip to Phoenix, so around dec 28th. If you will be there around then, let me know. I will have the bike with me and may be able to slip away from the family for a few hours of riding.

[VIVID1]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher

What bike are you going to be riding? You planning on trailering down or riding all the way?

Might be stopping in on the way back from a family xmas trip to Phoenix, so around dec 28th. If you will be there around then, let me know. I will have the bike with me and may be able to slip away from the family for a few hours of riding.

I'm towing my XT225 down there.

Great pictures! Black gap road looks really nice from your pictures.

Cool! Once I figure out where I'm staying (I’m going to try and make reservations ahead of time, x-mas time is pretty busy over there) I can PM you with the info. My cell phone didn't work there last time.

[WoodButcher]

Originally Posted by VIVID1

I'm towing my XT225 down there.

Great pictures! Cool! Once I figure out where I'm staying I can PM you with the info.

Terlingua Ranch Resort is about 11 miles north of Study Butte and has decent rates on rooms. Like $65 last year. Kind of remote, but nice. Only downside is their septic system can't handle TP, so you have to put it in a can and take it out to the trash. Not a major thing for me, but the females in the family weren't too keen on it.

Otherwise, the Big Bend Motor Inn in Study Butte is very convienient. Regular rooms, rooms with fridge and microwave, or camping and rv sites. We stayed there for a couple of days in March. More expensive, but easy park access and the fridge was nice. Maybe we got the higher spring break rates though. http://www.bigbendmotorinntx.com/

Inside the park it's either the lodge in the Basin or camping. Anything in the Basin will be cold though.

[VIVID1]

Originally Posted by WoodButcher

Terlingua Ranch Resort is about 11 miles north of Study Butte and has decent rates on rooms. Like $65 last year.

I just checked their rates a few days ago and it's twice that for x-mas break

I stayed here two years ago, was OK and wasn't too expensive.



The view was nice

[Bounce]

Don't know how long your planning to be in the area, but you can get a house in Marathon from Adobe Haciendas that's fully equipped for cooking etc with multiple beds. Marathon is 40 miles north of the park (70 miles from Panther Junction park headquarters). I was there last weekend and at $98/nite and 7 nites for the price of 5 it's pretty sweet deal if you don't mind traveling back and forth.

[barko1]

That week may be the busiest of the year. The lodge is booked a year in advance and camping in the park is probably full. The Basin can be cold but I stayed at Rio Grande Village one Christmas and it dipped to 9 degrees. Got chilly in the tent

[AntWare]

Originally Posted by VIVID1

I’ve been warned a few times already not to ride off-road alone in Big Bend

Hey V' it'd really be a sin to go all the way down there and not get off of the beaten path, the park really comes into it's own once you get off the asphalt.

Most of the trails are really graded roads anyhow.
The easiest one, if you want to get your confidence up is on the west side of the park right by the entrance. It's called old Maverick Road, and will drop you down into Santa Elena canyon.

It's another easy trip along the West & East River Roads along the river to the Rio Grande Village.

If you only do one, i'd hit the Old Ore Road. It's just west of the Village and runs north to Dagger Flats Road, which takes connects you back to the asphalt half way between the parks north entrance at Persimmon Gap, and the headquarters at Panther Junction.

If you take your time, be careful through the sand washes, I think you'd enjoy it.

Good luck.

Here's a fairly good pdf of the park