Big Bend Ranch [Archive]

DaveC

07-10-2008, 02:13 PM

I heard from a ATV dealer that the ranch was opened to off road vehicles.
Anyone found any useful info on this large expanse of desert?

TPWL Big Bend Ranch web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/big_bend_ranch/)

ed29

07-10-2008, 02:40 PM

Good Deal! I just telephoned the parks people and asked, and there has been a quiet shift in their position since late last year. Our street legal dirt bikes are now allowed to go where the 4X4 trucks and Jeeps go. We have to have the ORV decal to ride there. They were specific about telling me that the bikes could not go on the hiking trails..... twice! Makes sense to me. When I hike I would not want bikes coming up the trail behind me.

Not sure that the welcome extends to unlicensed ATVs or other non street legal machines.

This is a much better situation than it was several months ago and my hat is off to those patient people that worked hard and quietly behind the scenes. I suspect that I know who a couple of you are... Thanks folks!

Teeds

10-13-2009, 01:07 PM

Hate to drag up an old thread, but there is an open question that should be clarified.

There are zero opportunities for non-licensed vehicles in BBRSP. The back country roads that were opened, approximately 60 miles total, are open to street legal vehicles only.

Please don't be a squid and ride off the roads there to explore. They are watching for tracks and likely any excuse to shut the door on access.

When the decision was initially made, it was 4x4 only, no motorcycles, until it was pointed out to them that motorcycles were also street legal ...

ed29

10-13-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks Tony. I am looking forward to checking it out late this year.

SteveMcQueen

12-04-2009, 10:43 AM

Good Deal! I just telephoned the parks people and asked, and there has been a quiet shift in their position since late last year. Our street legal dirt bikes are now allowed to go where the 4X4 trucks and Jeeps go.

Note: This post is a bit general, it's based on a lot of the fighting that has been going on regarding that area, so not all of it pertains to your post directly.

Regarding plated vehicles: Any street legal car or motorcycle may ride or drive on any public roadway, it doesn't matter what the locals say or threaten. Although it is best to earn their support and show them that motorcyclists are good people. Roads that may or may not be private, and roads that go ACROSS privately owned property are a whole 'nother matter. Riders may piss off some overly aggressive wrong land owner, a gun may be pointed at them by aforementioned land owner, and depending on how gun shy they are.. they might pee a little. :nono:
Do-not repeat this phrase or look at him like the smiley depicts: :cool2:"Yeah, well if you think you're MAN enough.. go ahead and pull that trigger you tough son of a gun"

Ok, I'll be serious now. It's a state park, you've got nothing to worry about as long as your bike is legal and up to date. Worst case (usually) you'll go home with a ticket if something is out of date.

dedhed

12-18-2009, 10:11 AM

you are not only legal on a plated bike, but welcome and encouraged to come out and ride, camp, and exlpore...take lots of pictures and encourage others to come out and ride at "your" largest state park (300000 ac)

do your homework in advance and be prepared to fix your own problems/mishaps yourself with what you brought- supplies and assistance are limited.

poser

12-18-2009, 10:27 AM

I thought Colorado was our largest state park

landman650r

12-18-2009, 03:53 PM

I just got back from riding Big Bend State Park...or Ranch...whatever you wanna call it

Its an awesome ride and we have a ride report on ridedualsport.com. Sorry I'm too lazy to link to it.

Its a great ride....spent 4 days there and rode 5 hours a day at least with tons more riding left. Many unmaintained roads havent been rode on in years. nice.

Voni

12-18-2009, 07:33 PM

maps here:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/big_bend_ranch/visitor_info.phtml

It is an amazing unspoiled place!
Voni
sMiling

Jbay

12-18-2009, 07:54 PM

WoodButcher

12-18-2009, 09:12 PM

For the main roads, plated and park pass. For 4x4 roads, OHV sticker too. That is as I remember it.

landman650r

12-19-2009, 02:26 AM

For the main roads, plated and park pass. For 4x4 roads, OHV sticker too. That is as I remember it.

I never needed a sticker. You sure you need one? Noone I rode with(20 bikes) had one. The park rangers went over everything we needed on day one and they never told us that. Again, this is Big Bend Ranch State Park I'm talking about. The park pass you just pick up at the Visitors Center and it basically gives the park rangers your itinerary. I think it costs a 2 or 3 bucks for park pass per day.

Teeds

12-20-2009, 06:42 AM

I never needed a sticker. You sure you need one? Noone I rode with(20 bikes) had one. The park rangers went over everything we needed on day one and they never told us that. Again, this is Big Bend Ranch State Park I'm talking about. The park pass you just pick up at the Visitors Center and it basically gives the park rangers your itinerary. I think it costs a 2 or 3 bucks for park pass per day.

TPWD OHV stickers should be required in TPWD BBRSP, but not in NPS BBNP.

That is not to say that the local folks know, or enforce the sticker issue.

At $8.00 for the stickers, it is still a bargain and with the last legislature we actually got a fair chunk of money back. $300K plus ...

Zugg Zugg

01-25-2010, 01:34 PM

Spent several days at BBRSP November 2009. We stayed in the "Big House" rather than the bunkhouse. Accomadations were awesome. The riding was spectacular.

Link to BBRSP Videos and Pictures:

http://s522.photobucket.com/albums/w345/jeffhough/Big%20Bend%20Ranch/

Good stuff, can't wait to do it again this year!!

CBAT

01-25-2010, 01:39 PM

Just called to try for reservations for the week in April I have vacation. DENIED. Some sort of Photog conference has the place booked solid. Working on Plan B.

Zugg Zugg

01-25-2010, 02:12 PM

Just called to try for reservations for the week in April I have vacation. DENIED. Some sort of Photog conference has the place booked solid. Working on Plan B.

Big House and Bunkhouse only, or camping (trailer) spaces too?

CBAT

01-25-2010, 02:25 PM

Big House and Bunkhouse. Didn't ask about camping. It was just the week of 12-19 that they have this conference annually.