Colorado Canyon River Access

Colorado Canyon pull-off along Hwy 170, the scenic River Road, between Presidio and Lajitas is a favorite river access site, but is also a great place to pull off the road and enjoy the surroundings.

This section of the road runs through Big Bend Ranch State Park, which says this about Colorado Canyon:

"The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo corridor is an easily accessible area of the park for day use, including rafting, canoeing and free bank fishing. Several river access points are found within the park along F.M. 170. Colorado Canyon includes Class II and Class III rapids. This section of the river is not considered dangerous under normal flow conditions. The walls of Colorado Canyon, unlike the limestone canyons of Big Bend National Park and the Lower Canyons, are composed entirely of igneous rock. Raft trips may be arranged through local outfitters in Terlingua and Study Butte."

Information on river trips offered by area outfitters, here!

Bluebonnets, Events and THANK YOU!

Now's a great time to head to the Big Bend to see
the bluebonnets along Hwy 170, the scenic River Road!

Last night the region proved there are PLENTY of us who want to to work together to plan great events for our communities and for our travelers.  We were bowled over, frankly, at the to-capacity crowd that showed up at the (wonderful) Big Bend Telephone community room in Alpine for our 1st Annual Events Summit. 

Photo: courtesy of Marfa Public Radio

Our work for tonight was to build the first every regional PLANNERS calendar, so our community leaders can find marketing partners and the perfect dates for upcoming events. 

We were told, "good luck getting people to work together," but the region showed the pessimists, and our crowd was easily double the size we expected.  By working together, our regional event planners and community leaders will have better offerings for YOU, the traveler!  Take a look at the great events on our calendar now! 

A huge thanks should be extended to our sponsors:  the City of Alpine, and Museum of the Big Bend; and Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center, Hotel Paisano, the Gage Hotel, Holland Hotel, Big Bend Resorts and Adventures,  Maverick Inn, Saddle Club, Century Bar and Grill, Sierra la Rana, Texas Mountain Realty, St. James Episcopal Church, Blue Sky Productions, and Senator Jose Rodriquez.  BIG thanks also to the event organizer, the hardworking Paige Phelps of Marfa, and our Texas Mountain Trail board members who supported and contributed to this event, including Liz Jackson of the Museum of the Big Bend, Robert Alvarez of the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce, Abby Garza of the Alpine Chamber of Commerce, Travis Roberts, Linda Hedges of TPWD.  Also thanks to Stewart Ramser, our partner with the Big Bend and Texas Mountain Travel Guide, Chris Ruggia of Visit Alpine; and our volunteers, Monte Riggs and Teresa Caldwell, the Texas Heritage Trails Program Director of the Texas Historical Commission.

Big Bend's Big Hill

River Road looking west over the Rio Grande

Possibly one of the most scenic spots along one of the most scenic highways in the state of Texas is the Big Hill on Hwy 170.  Connecting Terlingua/Study Butte to Presidio, Hwy 170, also known as the River Road is a highlight of any visit to Big Bend.

National Geographic says this about the River Road:

"From Shafter, drive to Presidio and pick up signs for the River Road (FM-170); the 67-mile (108-kilometer) stretch between Presidio and Study Butte offers photo-worthy scenery along the way. On your right are glimpses of the usually muddy Rio Grande, its banks half hidden by cane. Local resident Bill MacLeod, author of River Road Vistas, recommends the following: "Stop at the top of Big Hill overlooking the Santana Basin for the single best view in the whole world."

And our friends at Lajitas cite the road's status as one of the 50 most scenic in the country (by Readers Digest) and a Top 20 Bucket List item by Texas Monthly! 

There's a great place to stop at the top of Big Hill to see the scenic vistas, both east and west.   Read more about the River Road on the Lajitas website, here. 

River Road looking east

Plenty of room for travelers to stop at the top, park the car,
and get out and enjoy the view

Colorado Canyon, Along the River Road

Colorado Canyon pull-off along Hwy 170, the scenic River Road, between Presidio and Lajitas is a favorite river access site, but is also a great place to pull off the road and enjoy the surroundings.

This section of the road runs through Big Bend Ranch State Park, which says this about Colorado Canyon:

"The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo corridor is an easily accessible area of the park for day use, including rafting, canoeing and free bank fishing. Several river access points are found within the park along F.M. 170. Colorado Canyon includes Class II and Class III rapids. This section of the river is not considered dangerous under normal flow conditions. The walls of Colorado Canyon, unlike the limestone canyons of Big Bend National Park and the Lower Canyons, are composed entirely of igneous rock. Raft trips may be arranged through local outfitters in Terlingua and Study Butte."

Information on river trips offered by area outfitters, here!

Scenes from the River Road

Hwy 170 between Terlingua and Presidio offers some of the very best wilderness scenery anywhere.  From the edge of Big Bend National Park, through the southern boundary of Big Bend Ranch State Park and along the Rio Grande....enjoy the ride!

Hwy 170 is part of the historic driving route, the Texas
Mountain Trail designated to celebrate Texas in anticipation
of San Antonio hosting the World's Fair in 1968

 

Visit the Barton Warnock Center, Learn all about Big Bend!

One of the great places to learn about Big Bend is the Barton Warnock Environmental Education Center near Lajitas on the River Road, Hwy 170.  Stop in to get information about the region, or arrange for your entry to Big Bend Ranch State Park.

From the Center's website:

"Barton Warnock Visitor Center serves as the eastern visitor center for Big Bend Ranch State Park and is located near Lajitas. Permits for backpacking and camping (no hookups) at Big Bend Ranch State Park can be obtained at Barton Warnock or at Fort Leaton State Historic Site, the western visitor center for the park. Visitors can also purchase river-use permits, licenses, and information about the Big Bend region.

The new, renovated Interpretive Center, "Una Tierra - One Land," is the fruit of an international partnership effort of State and National park experts in Texas and the Mexican states of Coahuila and Chihuahua. The vast majority of information, including captions and text, is presented in both English and Spanish.
The Center presents an archeological, historical, and natural history profile of the Big Bend region. It houses a book store and gift shop. The book store includes guides for area interest, as well as books on the history and the natural environment of the Big Bend Region. The gift shop has a variety of T-shirts, post cards, and souvenirs."

Scenes from the River Road, Hwy 170 along the Rio Grande

Just east of Presidio, Fort Leaton State Historic Site

The southernmost loop of the historic 1960s driving route, from which our organization was formed, snakes by the Rio Grande from Presidio to Terlingua.  Hwy 170, known as the River Road was part of the grand plan by the State of Texas to introduce our great places to the world during HemisFair '68.  They put up highway signs for 10 looped driving "trails" throughout Texas to take travelers to places that are uniquely Texan.  So along with the Texas Forts Trail, Texas Plains Trail, Texas Forest Trail and so on, our Texas Mountain Trail was begun.

It wasn't until the late 1990s that our non-profits started developing, each a regionally-based, regionally-governed organization assisted by the Texas Historical Commission and charged with promoting heritage tourism.  Our Texas Mountain Trail was formed in 2005, and we've been promoting Far West Texas, supporting communities, and developing tourism products--like the Far West Texas Wildlife Trail (with TPWD), cycle-friendly programs and the new Peak Fitness Challenge.

We use this blog to introduce our special Far West Texas places to travelers, so you can plan trips to our region...trips that provide you with the kind of adventure YOU want.  Seeing it here on the blog is nice, but seeing it in person is terrific, right?  So next time you're in the region, plan to take in the beauty of the River Road.  It is one of the most scenic drives you'll find in the entire state! 

Dawn Near the River Road

Taken at dawn in a stretch of Big Bend Ranch State Park along Hwy 170, the River Road next to the Rio Grande between Terlingua and Presidio!

A cooler place on a hot day down by the river

For a short, easy hiking adventure with plenty of shade from the hot sun, try Closed Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park

Light reaches through the narrow Closed Canyon, part of Big Bend Ranch State Park
easily accessible from the River Road between Terlingua and Presidio

This is an easy, 1.4 mile hike in shade most of the time, and considered a highlight of any visit to Big Bend Ranch State Park. 

Hikers enjoy the stroll between tall rock canyon faces; this is a cool and quiet place just above the Rio Grande.  There are stretches with slick rock at your feet, and places with an abrupt drop of a yard or so....so only go as far into the canyon as you feel comfortable.  We'd recommend taking this hike on clear days, since a (rare) day with rain could produce a flash flood.

The trailhead is located on Hwy 170, known as the River Road, between the Ranchieras West and Ranchieras East trailheads.  After a brief hike through typical Chihuahuan Desert terrain, you reach the canyon opening.

Our friend, Dawn, wrote a wonderful blog entry (with lots of great pictures!) about her hike in the canyon.  Read it here.

Here's a link to a detailed trail report.

Beautiful sunrise

Taken along the River Road Hwy 170 between Presidio and Lajitas.  So pretty!

Views of the River Road

Hwy 170--the River Road--between Terlingua and Presidio, is part of the historic driving route set in the 1960s, the Texas Mountain Trail, upon which our organization was built to promote the heritage and great places you can visit in Far West Texas!

Rio Grande view from the River Road, Hwy 170

Colorado Canyon river access point from Hwy 170

One of our favorite River Road companions

The teepees on the River Road, Hwy 170 between Presidio and Terlingua

One of the most scenic drives in the state is Hwy 170, from Presidio to Terlingua/Study Butte, and if you're a geology buff, one of the best ways to explore the road is with William MacLeod's River Road Vistas.  Mile by mile, the text, photos and diagrams tell how the landscape formed, by volcanic action, erosion and other factors.

Click here to learn more about this book.

Colorado Canyon River Access

Along the River Road, between Lajitas and Presidio, there's a lovely place to stop and view the Rio Grande.  A popular "put in" place for river trips, there's few places as beautiful as this. 

Big Bend Ranch State Park's website says this about the area: 

"The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo corridor is an easily accessible area of the park for day use, including rafting, canoeing and free bank fishing. Several river access points are found within the park along FM-170. Colorado Canyon includes Class II and Class III rapids. This section of the river is not considered dangerous under normal flow conditions. The walls of Colorado Canyon, unlike the limestone canyons of Big Bend National Park and the Lower Canyons, are entirely of igneous rock."

For a list of outfitters working on the river, click here.

Ocotillo at Ojito Adentro Trailhead in Big Bend Ranch State Park

We're excited because we're spending a weekend in Big Bend Ranch State Park in a couple of weeks with the Tierra Grande Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, and we'll take EVERY opportunity to experience this vast, wild, and incredibly beautiful land.  This is the national park's lesser known neighbor, but it offers more remote hiking, mountain biking, birding, and rock watching opportunities.

This trailhead is on the main road to the center of the park, Sauceda Ranch.  The unpaved road is rugged, and most cars can handle it fine.  If you have a delicate vehicle or a large RV you might want to enjoy the park's wonderful sights and trails along the paved River Road (Hwy 170) instead.  The road to Sauceda Ranch has a 25 mph speed limit, and that's really as fast as you want to go, more for the scenery than for the rugged road conditions.  The drive into Sauceda will take an hour...we recommend taking it in the morning light, which is when this photo was taken. 

Saddle/Paddle Tour of Big Bend!



 Over the next few days, we'll show you our recent one day Saddle/Paddle tour of the Big Bend!   

Getting up in the saddle!

  


If we'd had some trepidation about getting on a horse for the first time in decades, our guide Janelle of Lajitas Stables put all fears to rest.  She put us all on horses that were surefooted and responsive to the reins, and as thoroughly inspiring of confidence as Janelle herself.  A California native, she'd worked with horses for many years, including a stint in England.   Now in Texas for six years, and obviously completely in her element here, we knew we were in good hands.

We headed UP the mountain above the stable headquarters on the River Road, Hwy 170, just west of Lajitas.  The trail was rocky and rough, and we imagine people from other centuries--native Americans, soldiers, settlers, cowboys--moving through this landscape on horseback.  The sky was clear, the day lovely even as the temperature rose.  Our leisurely pace allowed us to see cactus close up, and listen to the breeze rush through the desert grasses. 

Before we knew it, we were on top of the mountain, and the rest of the world seemed far, far away.  No more car noise, no airplanes above.  All we could hear seemed timeless...our horses climbing, the wind, our own hushed conversations. As we continued up through Big Bend Ranch State Park, we eventually saw the Rio Grande down below us, a lovely ribbon of green cutting through the mountains. 



We're on the trail!


 

Our view of the Rio Grande!

 Tomorrow, more views from the Trail in Big Bend Ranch State Park and our Saddle tour!





Colorado Canyon access to the Rio Grande, Big Bend Ranch State Park

Easy to get to from from the River Road, Hwy 170.....for your river fun is the Colorado Canyon river access in Big Bend Ranch State Park.  The park's website says this:

"The Rio Grande/Rio Bravo corridor is an easily accessible area of the park for day use, including rafting, canoeing and free bank fishing. Several river access points are found within the park along FM-170. Colorado Canyon includes Class II and Class III rapids. This section of the river is not considered dangerous under normal flow conditions. The walls of Colorado Canyon, unlike the limestone canyons of Big Bend National Park and the Lower Canyons, are entirely of igneous rock."

We'll report on our own canoe trip with an outfitter in the coming days...stay tuned!

Sunrise on the River Road

One of the loveliest drives anywhere is the River Road, Hwy 170 that connects Terlingua to Presidio.  The land is rugged and spectacular, but you miss an experience if you don't look up into the sky, too.  We recently took this shot on a morning drive to the Lajitas Stables.  We'll post about our saddle/paddle experience with them soon!

Cool Places on Hot Days! Inside the adobe walls of Fort Leaton!

Fort Leaton's thick adobe walls offer a cool oasis for travelers on the River Road between Lajitas and Presidio.  Now a state historic site, part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife system, it is open for day use by visitors.  A bit about Fort Leaton from its website:
"Fort Leaton State Historic Site, consisting of 23.4 acres, five of which are the site of a pioneer trading post, is located in Presidio County. The park was acquired December 8, 1967, by deed from a private owner and was opened to the public in 1978
.
In 1848, Ben Leaton built a fortified adobe trading post known as Fort Leaton. He dominated border trade with the Apache and Comanche Indians before he died in 1851. In 1936, the Texas Centennial Commission placed a marker at the site."