Big Bend

[Doug Huse]

3 of us, 2 Ultras and a Wing, will be heading east from San Diego to Big Bend in 2 weeks. Looking for suggestions on campgrounds and any info on alternate roads into the park. We hate to backtrack. Also can we maybe hope the current cold snap will snap and allow the temps to get back into the reasonable range? Thanks,

Doug

[David R]

Doug,

When I was there I stayed at Fort Davis State Park. I would liked to have stayed at the Chisos Basin campground but time did not permit. It is a basin in the central mountains in the park. There was a previous post of it with pictures. I came in from the north and exited at the west end of the park and took Hwy 170 to Presidio then 67 up to Fort Davis again. Hwy 170 is quite the ride with open grazing. I came over one sharp rise and found that some cows and my harley wanted the same part of the road. Somehow I was able to dodge them but that slowed me down quite a bit. I think they were Brahmas? Google Tx hwy 170 and you will find several hits about this road. Here is one link: http://www.surgent.net/other/fm170.html

I posted some of my Big Bend Pictures on my website: http://hdlorydr.homestead.com/HarleyBigBend2005.html

P.S. Watch out for the "Road Runner" birds. They run across the highway often and got to be a nuisance...

[Doug Huse]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks much!

Doug

[Mellow]

Big Bend is pretty easy... there are only two major roads into the park, one from the west from Study Butte and one from the north from Marathon.

Once in the park you can ride all of the park in one day... Chisos Basin and Santa Elana Canyon are the 2 areas you just have to do..

The best road in Texas - IMO - is the one from Presidio to Study Butte..

You can camp in Chisos Basin but it's 1st come 1st serve but Rio Grande Village isn't too far and has a bigger campground.

Beware of the Javelinas during the day... we were told last time to collapse your tent or they'll tear it apart looking for food... they never messed with us so just make sure you keep food away from your tent/bike. We had one scratch up a wing in Ft Davis.

As David said above, Davis Mtns State Park is a nice place and you can to check out the McDonald Observatory as well.

[Doug Huse]

David and Mellow,

This is just what I was lookin' for. We're gonna have a great trip. Thanks,

Doug

[David R]

Doug,

Google "Marfa Lights" and read about the mysterious lights near the town of Marfa. I declined the chance to join some of the wingers riding over to see the lights and regret not going.

[Trailace]

Doug,

Google "Marfa Lights" and read about the mysterious lights near the town of Marfa. I declined the chance to join some of the wingers riding over to see the lights and regret not going.

Mellow and I tried to see the lights a few times with no luck. :(

[Mellow]

Mellow and I tried to see the lights a few times with no luck. :(

Nah... I think that was chuck you went out there with... I didn't feel like riding in the dark that far... and if there were lights... I didn't want to be abducted.

[Trailace]

Nah... I think that was chuck you went out there with... I didn't feel like riding in the dark that far... and if there were lights... I didn't want to be abducted.

No it was Rainman.