Color of Marfa's Grasslands and Mountain Biking in Big Bend

The colors are...wonderful.  Marfa's light, and the effect of that light on the grasslands north of town rarely disappoint.  Similar views can be seen from Hwy 17, the road between Marfa and Fort Davis. Come on out and see it for yourself!

#30DaysofBiking

Yesterday, we asked you to note the dates for the next Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest, a terrific mountain biking festival in Big Bend.  Today, we want to encourage you to ride your mountain bikes in Big Bend Ranch State Park anytime...don't wait for the festival to give the park a try?  Sauceda Ranch is the middle of Big Bend Ranch State Park, a perfect launching spot for long (adventurous) days on your bike.  And if you're a beginner, you can stick to the dirt roads in the park...and have a GREAT time, too.  Click here to download the park's biking guide!

The many roads of Big Bend Ranch State Park offer mountain biking adventures to even (prepared) beginning mountain bikers!  For more experienced riders, the park has been named an EPIC ride by the International Mountain Bicycling Association.

Red Flag Warnings and Mountain Biking Festival!

Photo by Luke Stewart Billingsley

Our friends at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center is flying a new red flag at their entrance on Hwy 118 just outside Fort Davis. The red flag denotes that we are in a Red Flag Warning. 

So what is a Red Flag Warning? The National Weather Service issues Red Flag Warnings to help alert people to the potential danger of critical weather and low fuel moisture conditions that could lead to wildfire. This could be due to low humidity, high winds, dry fuels, or any combination of these. CDRI hopes that flying the red flag will help remind people that Jeff Davis County remains under a Red Flag Warning.   And they thank friend, Stewart Billingsley, CDRI member and Jeff Davis County Fire Marshall, for the photo and for all you do for the area!

#30DaysofBiking

Save the date for one of the best mountain biking festivals just about anywhere, the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest, February 12-14, 2015 in Big Bend Ranch State Park, and West Texas trails.  This festival is a benefit for trail development in Big Bend.  There's always something for everyone, experienced riders, beginners, even kids!  Click here for more information!

 

Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest in February

The terrific folks at Desert Sports and Big Bend Ranch State Park are once again holding a GREAT mountain biking festival for beginners through expert riders, the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest.  February 13-15, the trails in Big Bend Ranch State Park, Lajitas and Big Bend National Park will be explored with patient and skilled guides.  The event is a benefit for the Big Bend Trails Alliance, which does important development and maintenance work on the region's trails, so the modest festival fees are going to a good cause!

This year's ride menu is HERE.  The list includes kid's rides, rides on the state park's EPIC trail, short rides and long 2-day rides....there's something for everyone!

Want to sign up?  Sure you do!  Links to registration are on THIS page.

Last year, we enjoyed the interpretive ride (easy!) through the state park to the ruins of a modest ranching enterprise from the early part of the last century.

TPWD interpreter explains the significance of the homesite ruin
at Big Bend Ranch State Park along the ride route

Save the Date: Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest!

Beginner, intermediate and advanced mountain bikers eager to ride our great Big Bend trails--including Big Bend Ranch State Park's EPIC ride (rated as such by the International Mountain Biking Association)--should put the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest on their calendar for next year, February 13-15. 

We're definitely beginners and we had a terrific time on ride, accompanied by Texas Parks and Wildlife rangers, encouraging mountain bikers themselves.  They helped us see ruins of candelilla factories in the remote areas of Big Bend Ranch State Park, and the ruin of a rock house dating back to the 1890s.  We can't wait for this year's festival!

The Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest is already on our Texas Mountain Trail regional events calendar...along with lots of other fun things to do.  From our calendar listing:

"The fourth annual Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest will convene mountain-bikers of all skill levels for three days of trail adventures and social fun at Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend National Park, and the Lajitas Trails, February 13 – 15.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is partnering with Terlingua-based outfitter Desert Sports to produce Bike Fest as a fundraiser for the Big Bend Trails Alliance. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa will host the event, with camping available at the resort’s Maverick Ranch RV Park. Post-ride fun each day will include keg parties, hooping, dinner and live music in laid-back Terlingua, and a chance to ride around on the Austin Bike Zoo’s fantastical bike creations.

With over 200 miles of multiuse and singletrack trails, including the only International Mountain Bike Association’s only “Epic” trail in Texas, Big Bend Ranch State Park has become a world-class mountain-biking destination. The Epic trail, which can be extended from 54 to 70 miles depending on a rider’s preference, is a favorite among Bike Fest riders. There is also a two-day Epic ride option, with an overnight stay and meals at the Sauceda Headquarters bunkhouse.

Bike Fest participation has grown year to year because there is something for everyone, and each day offers a variety of ride options, including the Rincon Loop ride, and the 18-mile Contrabando Loop and singletrack Dome Trail."

The fourth annual Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest will convene mountain-bikers of all skill levels for three days of trail adventures and social fun at Big Bend Ranch State Park, Big Bend National Park, and the Lajitas Trails, February 13 – 15.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is partnering with Terlingua-based outfitter Desert Sports to produce Bike Fest as a fundraiser for the Big Bend Trails Alliance. Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa will host the event, with camping available at the resort’s Maverick Ranch RV Park. Post-ride fun each day will include keg parties, hooping, dinner and live music in laid-back Terlingua, and a chance to ride around on the Austin Bike Zoo’s fantastical bike creations.
With over 200 miles of multiuse and singletrack trails, including the only International Mountain Bike Association’s only “Epic” trail in Texas, Big Bend Ranch State Park has become a world-class mountain-biking destination. The Epic trail, which can be extended from 54 to 70 miles depending on a rider’s preference, is a favorite among Bike Fest riders. There is also a two-day Epic ride option, with an overnight stay and meals at the Sauceda Headquarters bunkhouse.
Bike Fest participation has grown year to year because there is something for everyone, and each day offers a variety of ride options, including the Rincon Loop ride, and the 18-mile Contrabando Loop and singletrack Dome Trail.
- See more at: http://texasmountaintrail.com/events/big-bend-ranch-state-park-chihuahuan-desert-bike-fest#sthash.JxEsDvbq.dpuf

Check it out at www.texasmountaintrail.com/events

Travel Spotlight - the Rocking Chairs of the Historic Hotel Limpia

A Fort Davis institution, the historic Hotel Limpia offers
relaxing rocking chairs on every porch and veranda. What
better way to enjoy the quiet of the mountains!!

Riding to McGuirk's Dream, Part 2

Mountain bikers were greeted
by TPWD's Linda Hedges
who interpreted the site

Yesterday, we started our report on our ride to the Contrabando Canyon's rock house ruin, the former home of H.W. McGuirk in the late 1890s.  We were there on a ride at the Chihuahuan Desert Bike Fest, a cooperative effort of TPWD, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Desert Sports, Big Bend Trails Alliance and many other dedicated volunteers.

We took one of the easier rides, an 11+ mile trek to the rock house.  When we arrived, TWPD's Linda Hedges told us all about the ruin, and guided us through an illuminating look at the site. 

Continuing our information from TPWD:

"The roof was constructed with wood timber framing (vigas of cottonwood) as rafters gathered on site, an ddesigned with a shallow pitech to shed water towards the canyon below.  Both the original section and the addition of small fireplaces for cooking, with very nicely constructed chimneys indicating that the work was undertaken by experienced craftsmen.

 

The rock house ruin's many rooms
shown here

 

Remnants of a corral in the foreground

Immediately adjacent to the residence is a series of small, ribbon-like stone fence enclosures, no more than 3 feet high, that were likely used to protect small livestock.

 

 

 

Mountain Biking in Big Bend Ranch State Park and the Chihuahuan Dester Dirt Fest!

If you're not in Big Bend Ranch State Park, or at Lajitas this weekend, you're missing some great mountain biking!  That's because the park, Lajitas Golf Resort, Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Trails Alliance, and Desert Sports are hosting three days of EPIC mountain biking opportunities...for riders of all skill levels....the Chihuahuan Desert Dirt Fest.


Today there's a kids ride of 7-10 miles, as well as rides of 15-20 miles, 20 and 30+ miles...something for everyone!

This has become an annual event, so stay tuned to the Desert Sports website or the Big Bend Ranch State Park website for information about future events!