Big Bend National Park and Ranch State Park - January 2016
- Thread starter wngrog
- Start date
wngrog
Adventurer
I heard over the radio that the first guys had reached NOWHERE. I got an empty feeling in my stomach knowing that when I got to NOWHERE, everything after would take me back to reality. We were 1300 miles into our expo and about 1000 miles from home.
Someone has a great sense of humor......
Headed down, I got over my attitude right and started enjoying the ride again.
One. Happy. Dude.
Someone has a great sense of humor......
Headed down, I got over my attitude right and started enjoying the ride again.
One. Happy. Dude.
wngrog
Adventurer
This trail sign should be mobile so I could put it on EVERY trail I had done in the last week.........
Funny story, when we came in on Saturday, the hot park lady told us that there would be marathon runners in the park on Sunday and to watch out for them.
This group was getting attacked (or approached) by a group of free range Longhorn Cattle when we passed by. They asked us to be a diversion while they ran by. We did. They did.
The next week a mutual friend of Andy and the runners combined stories to realize that the "saved" runner was a Cruiser owner from San Antonio.......crazy.......
Sadly, at this point leaving was a reality. We talked to the (not hot) ranger on duty and they told us we could go out via Presidio and save 20 miles of non pavement or we could take the direct route to Marfa on gravel. We chose OFF Road.....and we are so glad we did......
Patrick's favorite sign.......
Funny story, when we came in on Saturday, the hot park lady told us that there would be marathon runners in the park on Sunday and to watch out for them.
This group was getting attacked (or approached) by a group of free range Longhorn Cattle when we passed by. They asked us to be a diversion while they ran by. We did. They did.
The next week a mutual friend of Andy and the runners combined stories to realize that the "saved" runner was a Cruiser owner from San Antonio.......crazy.......
Sadly, at this point leaving was a reality. We talked to the (not hot) ranger on duty and they told us we could go out via Presidio and save 20 miles of non pavement or we could take the direct route to Marfa on gravel. We chose OFF Road.....and we are so glad we did......
Patrick's favorite sign.......
wngrog
Adventurer
The drive out of BBRSP is epic. The calichi road is wide and smooth. I hit 80 mph on a few stretches and it was awesome. The hills floated and we spaced as not to eat dust.
We hit pavement about 10 miles south of Marfa and early dinner on Sunday......
.......but first, we had to pass inspection....
Marfa is where we split up. Fireman and his perfect family headed NE to Wichita Falls, Andy made the Cannonball run to West Monroe and Run PMc and I ordered a pizza in Marfa
Most everything in Marfa is closed on Sunday, but this new Pizza joint was open on the east side of town. It was MONEY
We hit pavement about 10 miles south of Marfa and early dinner on Sunday......
.......but first, we had to pass inspection....
Marfa is where we split up. Fireman and his perfect family headed NE to Wichita Falls, Andy made the Cannonball run to West Monroe and Run PMc and I ordered a pizza in Marfa
Most everything in Marfa is closed on Sunday, but this new Pizza joint was open on the east side of town. It was MONEY
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Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
TTHANK YOU for this report! Wife and I were at BBNP over Thanksgiving with Frenchie (trip report to come, although it seems a bit redundant now...) but we had to bypass BBRSP.
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So my question is about your "egress" route: Some of the maps I've seen show a road heading North out of the East end of the park (Bandera Mesa Road) but I had thought that was a private road and there was some question about whether it was accessible? On the official state park map it reads "access pending" so is that the one you took out of BBRSP?
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EDIT: Never mind. Looks like you took Casa Piedra road out of the park heading North towards Marfa?
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Hey, did you see the Marfa lights? :elkgrin:
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So my question is about your "egress" route: Some of the maps I've seen show a road heading North out of the East end of the park (Bandera Mesa Road) but I had thought that was a private road and there was some question about whether it was accessible? On the official state park map it reads "access pending" so is that the one you took out of BBRSP?
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EDIT: Never mind. Looks like you took Casa Piedra road out of the park heading North towards Marfa?
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Hey, did you see the Marfa lights? :elkgrin:
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Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Oh, one more question: From your picture, it looked like most of the trails were fairly mild and long-wheelbase-vehicle friendly, yes? I know the ones in BBNP were.
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If you look at my sig you'll see why I'm asking. :sombrero:
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If you look at my sig you'll see why I'm asking. :sombrero:
wngrog
Adventurer
The trails we did in BBRSP could be done in a Suburban. There are lots of hard trails there that you would want to avoid. Lots of pin striping too so be prepared.
If you get to Marfa on a Sunday most everything is closed but the pizza joint across from Family Dollar is legit and open.
If you get to Marfa on a Sunday most everything is closed but the pizza joint across from Family Dollar is legit and open.
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Scott H Murray
Adventure Photog
Great trip report and great photos.
2025 deleted member
Well-known member
Nice!!
