(Updated: June 10, 2006) Rides in Big Bend National Park: 1.       Poker Run: First card: Terlingua Ghostown porch. Terlingua Trading Company. Leave Lajitas and drive west on 170 to Terlingua Ghost  Town.  Turn right to Terlingua Trading Post (drinks, shopping). Second card: Study Butte Store. Continue east on 170 to Junction 118 and turn right (south) towards Big Bend National Park. Stop at Study Butte Store (gas, groceries, drinks). Third card: Sotol Vista overlook. Continue south entering Big Bend National Park. Ride approx. 7 miles to the Costolon turn off. Turn right and ride approx. 8 miles to the Sotol Vista Overlook. If you ride down the Big Hill, you missed it. But ride to costalon for fun.  Fourth card: Basin Visitor Center. Return to highway 118 and make a right, east. Ride approximately 10 miles to the Basin turn-off. Turn right and drive approx. 7 miles up into the Chisos Mountains to the Visitor Center (store, restaurant). Fifth card: Panther Junction Visitor Center. Return to Hwy 118 and head east to Panther Junction Visitor Center (water, restroom, info/books/phone). Castolon and Santa Elena Canyon: (a geologist’s heaven) From Study Butte drive east on 118 into park. Go approx. 7 miles and turn right on Ross Maxwell Hwy towards Castolon. Approx. 23 miles to historic Castolon store. Another 7 miles to Santa Elena Canyon overlook. There is the 14 mile Maverick Road (dirt) that returns to Maverick entrance station making a complete loop. It is rideable on a road bike, but is dusty and slow. Or return via Castolon and Ross Maxwell Hwy. Rio Grande Village: Enter park through Maverick entrance (west end), and ride approximately 48 miles to Rio Grande Village. This ride winds east through the park passing turn-offs to Castolon and the Basin. You will pass Panther Junction Visitor Center  about 25 miles from the entrance.  You will pass the turn off to Historic Langford Hot Springs(1/2 mile dirt road and ¼ mile hike), ride through the only tunnel in West Texas, over look Boquillas, Mexico, and reach river level. Persimmon Gap: From Panther Junction Visitor Center ride north on Hwy 385 towards Marathon. A beautiful open desert drive passing the Dagger Flats Road (dirt), Dog Canyon trail, and many dry creek crossings  (approx. 28 miles one way).   Other Big Bend Area Rides: River Road Scenic Ride- Deemed “The Most Beautiful Ride in Texas”. This is a must for all riders.  This is a spectacular ride along the Rio Grande River and Colorado Canyon, Fresno Ranch and through parts of Big Bend State Park. It has classic windy curves (careful, they come on fast), western movie sets, and West Texas geology ending at Presidio, Texas. This can be done as a one-way to Presidio, or loop through Marfa and Alpine and back. Panther Junction to La Linda- A wonderful desert ride outside the north end of Big Bend National Park. Exit the park on the north end at Persimmon Gap Entrance. Approximately 2 miles turn right (east). This classic desert hwy will take you to Stillwell store and museum, and on to La Linda where it dead ends (approx. 25 mi.) at an old bridge crossing to Mexico. An interesting abandoned mine lies on the distant hills and the Blue Sky Café is sometimes open for a cool drink.  Ft. Davis Mountains Loop- A classic ride in the Fort Davis Mountains country 100 miles to the north of Big Bend. Begins and ends in Fort Davis, passing by the McDonald Observatory. Can be done while heading to or from Interstate 10. Balmorhea-An excellent ride through an exceptional canyon heading  northeast out of Fort Davis towards I-10. Study Butte to Alpine- Good return ride back to civilization on Hwy 118 through classic West Texas desert country. Available Fuel Stops-  Alpine - Marathon - Stillwell Store on the road to La Linda -Study Butte (80 miles from Alpine) 2 stations:  Study Butte Chevron and Study Butte Store - Lajitas Trading Post in Lajitas (97 miles from Alpine) In Big Bend National Park: -Panther Junction(80 mi. from Marathon and 25 mi. from Study Butte) -Rio Grande Village(25 mi. from Panther Junction) **PLEASE RIDE SAFELY** -Speed limit in Big Bend National Park is 45 mph and is ENFORCED- -Speed limit in Terligua area is 55 mph- **DRINK PLENTY OF WATER**