We can also stroll its historic streets brimming with art galleries and antique shops. It’s important to visit with the guides at the local bike shop or park rangers to get up-to-date information on trail conditions. "I registered with the expectation that the distance from daily work, and the physical challenge would be the highlights, but in fact the camaraderie was the most enjoyable aspect of the tour.". We were there in January, and it was 80 degrees one day and below 40 the same night. That has changed a lot, especially in the last 10 to 12 years. This ten-day, van-supported trip explores the wild and picturesque terrain of the West Texas Big Bend region. And you don’t have to be an expert to give it a try, thanks to a local biking community that has blazed a trail for the sport over the past 30 years. It's been a cold winter in the Northern climes. The Lajitas Trails depart from the Lajitas Airport trailhead on FM 170, 5 miles east of Lajitas Resort. Back in Fort Davis, we'll say our goodbyes to those leaving us here. The support is a safety net for mountain bikers who are new to the area or want to test their legs on new challenges. If there’s significant rain, the mud can become overwhelming, almost like concrete on a bike. Call 432/424-3327. If you have a flat or mechanical issue, they help you out.”. It surely beats a damaging fall. You’re sure to return home with a bonanza of stories from your cycling adventure in Big Bend. Cyclists explore a bluff from the Dome Trail in Big Bend Ranch State Park. Call 432/477-2251. From epic to fully supported, we offer tours that suit different styles of touring. Chances are I won’t be hitchhiking out West any time soon to hire on with a ranch or join a sheriff’s posse. Indeed, Big Bend riding is not only prickly but also rugged, hilly and challenging, and subject to extreme temperature changes. On Friday, the guided rides focus on the Lajitas Trails, a thrilling system of interconnected, single-track trails that dip and swerve through fast-riding badlands. Our gentle downhill continues today as we lose 1,800 feet of elevation on our approach to the north entrance of Big Bend National Park. The Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest will not take place in 2019. “This place really caters to the mountain biker this weekend. Lizard Head Cycling Guides has found a mountain bike hide away in the far west Texas mountains of Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park. Average mileage between 45 and 60 miles per day, with a variety of terrain. The Big Bend is arguably Texas’ premiere destination for mountain biking. We have two cycle-friendly accommodations in the Big Bend area, the Chisos Mountain Lodge in the center of the Park and Big Bend Resorts and Adventures in nearby Terlingua. Leaving Panther Junction, we'll lose 1,900 feet of elevation over the next 12 miles while taking in breathtaking views of Mexico's distant Sierra del Carmen. https://texashighways.com/things-to-do/hiking-biking/biking-big-bend This ten-day, van-supported trip explores the wild and picturesque terrain of the West Texas Big Bend region. Perhaps more to come at some point. A few miles west of Lajitas, we'll pass an apparent ghost town that was once used as a set for several TV westerns. I had to get away! You can ride in the summer, but you’re limited to the early morning hours because the midday heat is down-right dangerous. Accommodations run the range from convenient and comfortable to resort luxury. “It’s an amazing bicycle community—this many people way out in the middle of nowhere hanging out, having a couple of beers, and talking about their rides—it’s really fun,” marvels Shea Webb, a San Angelino who attended his first Bike Fest last winter. Big Bend’s mountain-biking season lasts roughly from October through April. We'll remain in the park all day as we head back up the previous day's downhill and make our way to Chisos Basin. I soaked it all in and then rode off into the horizon, just like the Lone Ranger. If time and weather permit, we'll cap the evening with a star party at the nearby McDonald Observatory, home to one of the world's largest reflector telescopes and a perfect vantage point for viewing the Texas-sized night sky. More than 150 miles of desert and mountains trails to explore! At our highest, we will be roughly 5,400 feet above sea level. Find and compare cycling holidays and tours in Big Bend National Park. Big Bend has lots to explore! Find the right bike route for you through Big Bend, where we've got 2 cycle routes to explore. Depending on the nature and location of the trip, these facilities could range from RV parks with hot tubs, to wilderness locations without running water. It gives us places to go ride, and it also makes it easier for us to tell people where to go.”. Better still, it would be a real adventure to link up Big Bend State Ranch with Big Bend National Park. Later on, we will drop some 900 feet before climbing again into the unique town of Marfa, made famous on the silver screen in the James Dean classic Giant and, more recently, No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. With the wide-open country's ever-present winds, we'll surely see headwinds and tailwinds at some point today, especially since the route zigzags in all four directions during the ride to Marathon. Held at a time of year with a good chance for cool, sunny weather, the festival schedules a slate of guided rides each day, places water stations around the riding areas, and coordinates a roving bike patrol, including EMTs and volunteers to assist with orientation and mechanical issues. Cycling Simulator is a free online cycling manager game settled in a fictional cycling universe with managers, teams and riders from all over the world - all aiming to win the biggest tours and races of the season. And Lajitas Resort is home to a 25-mile trail system—originally built for racing—that’s both riveting and accessible. Carry spare tubes, preferably the type with sealant. Midway through the day, we'll roll into Alpine, a great place to fuel up at one of the small cafés and diners lining the main drag. Overnight facilities vary, but tents are typically pitched on large, flat, grassy areas. Big (Bend) Thoughts I feel to be in a period of transition. We'll take a short detour and … Temperatures in Big Bend can fluctuate by as much as 40 degrees in a single day. It was a pretty good two weeks, the first week was spent riding the rollers on a daily basis, sometimes 45 minutes, sometimes an hour. If you’re up to it, the 58-mile IMBA Epic Trail stretches deep into the park. Our home for the evening is the Rio Grande Village campground located along the Rio Grande River. Let's find your dream tour. Expansive views and some climbing will lead us to the remote park headquarters at Panther Junction, among the least-visited units of the National Park Service. Big Bend is the largest, most remote, and least visited National Park in the lower 48 states. The festival showcases a different mountain-biking area on each of its three days, although riders can go wherever they please. Ah, a short riding day! On the first day I decided to check out the Dome Loop in Big Bend Ranch State Park. But the traffic count is low, and although we're heading mostly downhill, we'll have a good dose of rolling hills throughout the day. Average Elevation Gain Range: 2500-4500 ft/day, no high limit. Big Bend National Park’s hiking trails are closed to mountain biking, but bikes are allowed on the park’s paved and unpaved roads. After pitching our tents at our oasis for the night, we may want to check out the Hallie Stillwell Hall of Fame Museum honoring the early 20th-century female settler whose tenacious character exemplifies the pioneer spirit of west Texas. Riders share their favorite Big Bend mountain biking rides. W estern Montana only started looking like spring a few days ago. Please click here to jump to the Overview section with all tour details including pricing.. Big Bend Texas MTB Tour: Highlights. Texas Highways Associate Editor Matt Joyce always takes his bike along on road trips, just in case. BIG out country - not claimed: Eurobig - Claimed: Eurobig - Not claimed: Zoom-level: 4. We were a hundred or so miles north of the Big Bend, and it was still on my riding/seeing agenda. Riders should train for Bike Fest ahead of time and research the gear they’ll need. In Mike Long’s opinion, the best time to ride in Big Bend is actually the weeks following Bike Fest. Riders navigate trails near the Contrabando Waterhole in the state park. Sign up for magazine extras, upcoming events, Mercantile specials, subscription offers, and more. All that said, if you’re properly prepared, the payoffs are magnificent—exhilarating rides, soaring vistas, inspiring isolation, and interesting perspectives on the region’s rich cultural and natural history. The rugged setting is a challenge: Prickly plants and tire-piercing crags line the trails of gravel, sand, and rock; the desert sun is intense; shade and water are scarce. Daily climbing will average between 2,500 and 3,500 feet, and we’ll move into typical grades of 3% to 6%, with occasional climbs reaching over 8% (these are typically short-lived). Earlier this year I went to Colorado with Velo View (see post) and had a fine time, even if my cycling prowess was less than optimal. We'll end the day with a celebratory dinner. (50-75 vertical feet/mile). Communities offer services, amenities, and entertainment. Surrounded by tall, rocky cliffs, our layover day here will give us the chance to spend some time off the bike walking some of Big Bend National Park's most spectacular and popular trails. All Rights Reserved. Weather can turn on a dime. Terlingua's current residents are artists and an assortment of eccentric characters. Enter Velo View Bike Tours. Anyone done any road cycling in Big Bend? The 52 mile Epic Bike Trail Loop in Big Bend Ranch State Park has become the premier mountain biking route for serious off-road cycling enthusiasts. Visitors should check in at the Barton Warnock Visitor Center, 1 mile east of Lajitas on FM 170, to pay the $5 entrance fee. Our journey through this hidden gem of the Lone Star State will not be without its challenges — the landscapes are vast, quiet, and empty, with long stretches devoid of services. Vegetarian and special dietary needs will be accommodated, though food selection may be limited in some locations. On Saturday, the guided rides explore Big Bend Ranch State Park with routes of varying length and difficulty. Adventure Cycling’s Guided Tours response to COVID-19, Photos by Ray Foss | Tom Johnson | Sue Crosby. Big Bend. Big Bend is a hiker's paradise. A Very Hilly tour is just that. A tour for someone looking to push themselves on their adventure. Campsites at the Maverick Ranch RV Park in Lajitas (Bike Fest headquarters). That walk paid off, too, when the Fresno Divide trail flattened out and revealed dramatic views in every direction, from the Solitario flatirons to the Rio Grande, the Sierra Rica mountains in Mexico, and the faint outline of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park. Previously, cycling was only allowed on the paved roads and all mountain biking was reserved for the state park. Big Bend After Fort Davis, we made it in to Alpine and hoped for a short day of riding along with an indoor place to stay. 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