Mike Millsap
02-24-2005, 02:42 PM
THE LUBBOCK/QUANAH LOOP:
This loop is paved all the way, and the road surface was good a few weeks ago. The Rolling Plains country can be very pretty with lots of wildflowers in the Spring. You may want to take a camera. This is probably going to be a full day ride.
From East Lubbock go East on Highway 40 until you reach Ranch Road 651 where you will turn left and go North into Crosbyton. You can get gas here. At the intersection in Crosbyton, turn right and go East on U.S.82. You will cross the canyon where the Silver Falls roadside park is located and there are new restrooms and a nice rest area.
Continue on U.S. 82 until you reach Ranch Road 264 and turn left or North and go to McAdoo where you will turn right at the intersection with County Road 193. You will make a series of right angle turns that are fun at speed unless the farmers have left a lot of mud, dirt or gravel on the surface of the road. You will soon drop off the Caprock into the Rolling Plains country.
At the intersection with Highway 70, you will go straight and continue on East on County Road 193 into Patton Springs, Afton, and East Afton. Just stay on 193 and continue mostly East.
You will go through Dumont and Finney and eventually come to a Tee with U.S. 83. Here you turn left and travel North for a short distance. You will then turn right and back to the East on Ranch Road 1168. Watch for 1168 to turn back to the North for several miles where it will become Ranch Road 1038. You will go North until you get to Paducah where you will find and turn right on Ranch Road 104 that goes to the Northeast. There is gas in Paducah.
Although the pavement continues on to the North, Ranch Road 104 will make a right turn and go to the East into Quanah, a city named for the Comanche chief that was half White. Quanah has an attractive old square and also has several pretty good places to eat if you like ordinary American food. Try Dutch’s for example.
Now comes the dull part of the trip but maybe a good time to let your lunch digest. You will take U.S. 287 back to the West all the way into Childress. This road is heavily patrolled by the DPS. Relax but don’t fall asleep.
In Childress, look for U.S. 62. You will turn left on it and travel South for only a few miles and then turn right and go West on Ranch Road 94 and go all the way to Northfield. There are also some good restaurants in Childress. Get gas in Childress if you are low.
At Northfield you have a choice of two routes, and either of the two routes will be an enjoyable ride. You can turn left in Northfield and continue on Ranch Road 94 into Matador (where you can find your way back to Lubbock however you want), or you can go West on Ranch Road 656. Let’s go West on 656 until you reach the Tee with Highway 70 where you will turn right and go on North into Turkey. You will have just completed a surprising number of high speed right angle turns that you also need to watch carefully for farmer debris.
When you get into Turkey, turn left and go West on Highway 86 into Quitaque where you will turn left again and go South on Ranch Road 1065. After a few miles you will turn right and go West on Farm to Market Road 689. You will go through some tight turns getting back up on the Caprock.
When you arrive at the intersection with Highway 207, turn left and travel South into Floydada. From there you can return to Lubbock however you like.
I hope you have enjoyed this Quanah Loop. The loop can easily be extended to include a ride to the Wichita Mountains in Southeastern Oklahoma if you want to do an overnight trip. If you do ride and enjoy the Quanah Loop, let me know and I have another couple of loops that I like to ride and will share.
This loop is paved all the way, and the road surface was good a few weeks ago. The Rolling Plains country can be very pretty with lots of wildflowers in the Spring. You may want to take a camera. This is probably going to be a full day ride.
From East Lubbock go East on Highway 40 until you reach Ranch Road 651 where you will turn left and go North into Crosbyton. You can get gas here. At the intersection in Crosbyton, turn right and go East on U.S.82. You will cross the canyon where the Silver Falls roadside park is located and there are new restrooms and a nice rest area.
Continue on U.S. 82 until you reach Ranch Road 264 and turn left or North and go to McAdoo where you will turn right at the intersection with County Road 193. You will make a series of right angle turns that are fun at speed unless the farmers have left a lot of mud, dirt or gravel on the surface of the road. You will soon drop off the Caprock into the Rolling Plains country.
At the intersection with Highway 70, you will go straight and continue on East on County Road 193 into Patton Springs, Afton, and East Afton. Just stay on 193 and continue mostly East.
You will go through Dumont and Finney and eventually come to a Tee with U.S. 83. Here you turn left and travel North for a short distance. You will then turn right and back to the East on Ranch Road 1168. Watch for 1168 to turn back to the North for several miles where it will become Ranch Road 1038. You will go North until you get to Paducah where you will find and turn right on Ranch Road 104 that goes to the Northeast. There is gas in Paducah.
Although the pavement continues on to the North, Ranch Road 104 will make a right turn and go to the East into Quanah, a city named for the Comanche chief that was half White. Quanah has an attractive old square and also has several pretty good places to eat if you like ordinary American food. Try Dutch’s for example.
Now comes the dull part of the trip but maybe a good time to let your lunch digest. You will take U.S. 287 back to the West all the way into Childress. This road is heavily patrolled by the DPS. Relax but don’t fall asleep.
In Childress, look for U.S. 62. You will turn left on it and travel South for only a few miles and then turn right and go West on Ranch Road 94 and go all the way to Northfield. There are also some good restaurants in Childress. Get gas in Childress if you are low.
At Northfield you have a choice of two routes, and either of the two routes will be an enjoyable ride. You can turn left in Northfield and continue on Ranch Road 94 into Matador (where you can find your way back to Lubbock however you want), or you can go West on Ranch Road 656. Let’s go West on 656 until you reach the Tee with Highway 70 where you will turn right and go on North into Turkey. You will have just completed a surprising number of high speed right angle turns that you also need to watch carefully for farmer debris.
When you get into Turkey, turn left and go West on Highway 86 into Quitaque where you will turn left again and go South on Ranch Road 1065. After a few miles you will turn right and go West on Farm to Market Road 689. You will go through some tight turns getting back up on the Caprock.
When you arrive at the intersection with Highway 207, turn left and travel South into Floydada. From there you can return to Lubbock however you like.
I hope you have enjoyed this Quanah Loop. The loop can easily be extended to include a ride to the Wichita Mountains in Southeastern Oklahoma if you want to do an overnight trip. If you do ride and enjoy the Quanah Loop, let me know and I have another couple of loops that I like to ride and will share.