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CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE

Big Bend River Road and Ross Maxwell

Plan this ride

Recorded distance
138 km
Riding-time estimate
1 h 35
Journey
Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis

The recorded total and the leg detail need reconciliation. Inspect the leg notes before using this record for timing or navigation. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.

Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.

Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.

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Why this ride

Large-scale desert scenery, remote viewpoints and low settlement density. It also links naturally to Big Bend National Park.

Access context

Check seasonal gates, park access and state 511 notices before publication. Specific flag: heat; remote services.

Seasonal context

Oct-Apr

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

  1. 1. Alpine

    Alpine lies in the high desert of West Texas, at roughly 4,500 feet, in a basin between the Davis Mountains to the north and the long, empty country that runs south toward Big Bend. It is a railroad and ranching town of just under six thousand that has quietly become the logical base for anyone heading into the park, and also a college town, because Sul Ross State University sits on a hill above the main street. The result is better coffee than you would expect at the end of a long highway.

    Read the complete Alpine write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Alpine sits at 0 km, early in the day. Next is Presidio.

  2. 2. Presidio

    Presidio shares its river and most of its life with the Mexican town across the bridge. The Rio Grande runs along the southern edge, Ojinaga stands on the opposite bank, and the border crossing between them is the busiest thing in the area. West Texas is huge, and Presidio is a rare green strip in it, where the Rio Conchos joins the Rio Grande. This confluence, La Junta de los Rios, has been farmed for centuries, and the Spanish gave the place its name, which simply means fortress, after the military post that once stood here.

    Read the complete Presidio write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Presidio comes up 138 km in.

Recorded source links

Source

More motorcycle rides nearby