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Looking for the best back roads in Texas

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TexZilla

TexZilla

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Joined
May 13, 2004
Messages
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Location
Kilgore, Texas
First Name
Kenneth
Last Name
Brown
I am trying to get a list of some of the best back roads/dirt roads, little known roads in Texas. I only ride interstate when I have to make time.Paul Harvey once stated the the best way to go coast to coast in our country without seeing anything is to take interstate highways. Some of the best rides I have ever had were due to wrong turns or just trying to avoid the major highways. I'm looking to avoid chain restaurants and truck stops. I'm looking for the mom and pop places to get gas and eat. Although my Super Tenere has adventure roots, I'm not an off road rider so the makers of my bike would be embarrassed by my lack of off road tires. I am located in Longview and am looking for any great back roads in the state or across the eastern border. Thanks for the input.
 
Not sure about back roads but some of the primary ones around DFW are West side around Possum Kingdom. Down around the HIll country in Austin there is the area around Lime Creek road and then down by Medina and Leakey there is FM 377 which is also referred to as Twisted Sisters because it combines with some great riding roads that spring off it. There are a lot of FM roads and county roads all over so back roads are sometimes what those are considered but some also turn into more major thoroughfares. Down around the HIll Country Baker has a map that has categories of types of roads for types of riding. If you have a DS or something there are category codes for that type of bike as well as pavement or whatever.
 
I know the roads in my neck of the woods, but if I am traveling somewhere I use Rever to help locate and then string together the best roads in that area. Rever is a pretty good app and I've found it easy to use.
 
Already mentioned are the Hill Country roads; they are hands down the winners inside of Texas. Buy a Butler motorcycle map to help you find the very best. Once you get south of Lampasas & west of I-35, you've got hundreds & hundreds of miles of Texas two-lane blacktop with various degrees of curviness. The Hill country is boundaried roughly with Junction to the west and the northern edge of San Antonio to the south. Everybody has their favorite roads within the area; I personally like the roads around Inks Lake. Take a camera; there's lots of great scenery. If you go in the springtime, you get to watch the wildflower show.

And since you're already in east Texas, it's an easy run north to Oklahoma. You can pick up the Talimena Scenic Highway in the little town of Talihina OK and wind your way eastward for 60 miles to Mena AR. And you'll be smiling every inch of the way.
 
The part of E TX you are in is actually a great base to start exploring in a circular fashion. Many many little 2-lanes to lead you to plenty of smiles and country cafes. From Longview down to about Jasper will have many an interesting ride in all directions.
 
Strava and other such services will have heatmaps and KOM's for your area which will usually reveal the best roads. You can usually choose to turn gravel on or off. Just don't use the cycling services to record motorcycle rides lol
 
Texas Hwy 16 runs N and S with many great FMs that spin off this route. Bonus: Mary's Cafe in Strawn has the best chicken fried steak that I have ever tried. Hwy 183 also forms a stem to many good FMs. Of course, Terlingua to Presidio on Hwy 170 in far west Texas is great.
 
TexZilla said:
I am trying to get a list of some of the best back roads/dirt roads, little known roads in Texas. I only ride interstate when I have to make time.Paul Harvey once stated the the best way to go coast to coast in our country without seeing anything is to take interstate highways. Some of the best rides I have ever had were due to wrong turns or just trying to avoid the major highways. I'm looking to avoid chain restaurants and truck stops. I'm looking for the mom and pop places to get gas and eat. Although my Super Tenere has adventure roots, I'm not an off road rider so the makers of my bike would be embarrassed by my lack of off road tires. I am located in Longview and am looking for any great back roads in the state or across the eastern border. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
Texas hill country....draw a circle from San Antonio to Austin to Lampasas to Brady to Junction to Uvalde to San Antonio....almost anything that is not interstate highway will be very entertaining....stop in Luckenbach, Fredericksburg, Wimberley, Brady, Bandera, Medina....you could spends weeks just in the hill country....
 
tshelfer said:
Already mentioned are the Hill Country roads; they are hands down the winners inside of Texas. Buy a Butler motorcycle map to help you find the very best. Once you get south of Lampasas & west of I-35, you've got hundreds & hundreds of miles of Texas two-lane blacktop with various degrees of curviness. The Hill country is boundaried roughly with Junction to the west and the northern edge of San Antonio to the south. Everybody has their favorite roads within the area; I personally like the roads around Inks Lake. Take a camera; there's lots of great scenery. If you go in the springtime, you get to watch the wildflower show.

And since you're already in east Texas, it's an easy run north to Oklahoma. You can pick up the Talimena Scenic Highway in the little town of Talihina OK and wind your way eastward for 60 miles to Mena AR. And you'll be smiling every inch of the way.
Click to expand...
Ditto on obtaining Butler maps 😎
 
Ive never understood why most folks (including the Butler Map guys) only consider the Texas Hill Country from about Lampasas to the south around San Antone.
There are many...many good FMs & paved County Roads extending to farther northwest of Ft Worth...even up to St Joe & Muenster. Some counties like Coryell Somervell Hood & Parker have almost all their CRs paved. Others like Bosque have more unpaved CRs...but nice FMs.

Ive mentioned this to the Butler folks many many times...but to deaf ears. From west of San Antone up to almost OK west of Ft Worth is a huge riding area chock full o fun stuff
 
TexZilla said:
I am trying to get a list of some of the best back roads/dirt roads, little known roads in Texas. I only ride interstate when I have to make time.Paul Harvey once stated the the best way to go coast to coast in our country without seeing anything is to take interstate highways. Some of the best rides I have ever had were due to wrong turns or just trying to avoid the major highways. I'm looking to avoid chain restaurants and truck stops. I'm looking for the mom and pop places to get gas and eat. Although my Super Tenere has adventure roots, I'm not an off road rider so the makers of my bike would be embarrassed by my lack of off road tires. I am located in Longview and am looking for any great back roads in the state or across the eastern border. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
I don’t know east TX at all, live in Austin and many positive remarks about Hill Country roads. If you want to get truly lost in never ending changing remote scenery and lore….get to west TX
 
Cycledelic Relic said:
Ive never understood why most folks (including the Butler Map guys) only consider the Texas Hill Country from about Lampasas to the south around San Antone.
There are many...many good FMs & paved County Roads extending to farther northwest of Ft Worth...even up to St Joe & Muenster. Some counties like Coryell Somervell Hood & Parker have almost all their CRs paved. Others like Bosque have more unpaved CRs...but nice FMs.

Ive mentioned this to the Butler folks many many times...but to deaf ears. From west of San Antone up to almost OK west of Ft Worth is a huge riding area chock full o fun stuff
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I see alot of places advertise Dripping Springs as Hill Country. Not even close!!!!
 
Cycledelic Relic said:
Ive never understood why most folks (including the Butler Map guys) only consider the Texas Hill Country from about Lampasas to the south around San Antone.
There are many...many good FMs & paved County Roads extending to farther northwest of Ft Worth...even up to St Joe & Muenster. Some counties like Coryell Somervell Hood & Parker have almost all their CRs paved. Others like Bosque have more unpaved CRs...but nice FMs.
Click to expand...

No. Those roads are all terrible. Terrible I say.
 
A few others for your consideration:
  • East Texas - Ratcliff Lake area (Centerville to Lufkin area). Further north around Caddo Lake is interesting.
  • North Texas - if you can stay close to Lake Texhoma in the fall you can pick up some colors. If you cross over to Oklahoma to do Tallamina and the winding stair take the back way through Antlers and go up by Sardis Lake in Pushmataha county.
  • Central Texas - Bosque County, Erath, and Somervell County (in my opinion) as pretty as the hill country without as much traffic.
  • Hill Country - everyone has covered it. But, on your way from east TX swing by this place: Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill.
  • The Armpit - I don't really know what this area of Texas is called. But, where TX hooks up from the Rio Grande Valley on the way -but not quite to - Big Bend. There is a state park called Devils River State Natural Area. It's way out there, and the road to it is 20 miles of fist size gravel. And it is totally worth the drive. Watch for snakes, scorpions, and tarantulas. Serious on the snakes out there ....
  • The Rio Grand Valley - Roma and Falcon Lake are interesting. I liked San Ygnacio the best. Mcallen to Harligen is high traffic, but the farms are cool.
  • The Beach - Port Isabell all the way up to Matagorda Bay is nice if you like flat roads. Can be sparse in certain sections. Get gas often and don't eat the gumbo - save that for Louisiana.
  • Start of West Texas - Fort Davis for the win! The road that runs from Balmoreah to Fort Davis is great, watch for big horn sheep. Really. Fort Lancaster and Highway 349 are worth your time.
  • Big Bend - Of course river road, and the Big Bend (State and Federal lands). But, give The Marfa/Alpine/Marathon some thought too. Each town a little different and some cool history out there.
  • Actual West Texas - El Paso has a hidden gem in the Franklin Mountains and Hueco Tanks. If you are out that far go to both you will be amazed that is still Texas. Also, the hike called "McKitrich Canyon" in Guadelupe Mountains (in my opinion) is the best hiking in the state.
  • The Panhandle - Ok this is really just how you get to Colorado. BUT - just outside of Quitaque is Caprock State Park. Home to wild buffalo and crazy rocks. It's cooler than the Cadilacs in Amarillo.
  • Honorable mention from Oklahoma Panhandle - Black Mesa State Park. It's the backway to Colorado if you don't want to go through Raton, NM. Watch for tractors and antelope.
Hope that helps ya.
 
Bodark said:
A few others for your consideration:
  • East Texas - Ratcliff Lake area (Centerville to Lufkin area). Further north around Caddo Lake is interesting.
  • North Texas - if you can stay close to Lake Texhoma in the fall you can pick up some colors. If you cross over to Oklahoma to do Tallamina and the winding stair take the back way through Antlers and go up by Sardis Lake in Pushmataha county.
  • Central Texas - Bosque County, Erath, and Somervell County (in my opinion) as pretty as the hill country without as much traffic.
  • Hill Country - everyone has covered it. But, on your way from east TX swing by this place: Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill.
  • The Armpit - I don't really know what this area of Texas is called. But, where TX hooks up from the Rio Grande Valley on the way -but not quite to - Big Bend. There is a state park called Devils River State Natural Area. It's way out there, and the road to it is 20 miles of fist size gravel. And it is totally worth the drive. Watch for snakes, scorpions, and tarantulas. Serious on the snakes out there ....
  • The Rio Grand Valley - Roma and Falcon Lake are interesting. I liked San Ygnacio the best. Mcallen to Harligen is high traffic, but the farms are cool.
  • The Beach - Port Isabell all the way up to Matagorda Bay is nice if you like flat roads. Can be sparse in certain sections. Get gas often and don't eat the gumbo - save that for Louisiana.
  • Start of West Texas - Fort Davis for the win! The road that runs from Balmoreah to Fort Davis is great, watch for big horn sheep. Really. Fort Lancaster and Highway 349 are worth your time.
  • Big Bend - Of course river road, and the Big Bend (State and Federal lands). But, give The Marfa/Alpine/Marathon some thought too. Each town a little different and some cool history out there.
  • Actual West Texas - El Paso has a hidden gem in the Franklin Mountains and Hueco Tanks. If you are out that far go to both you will be amazed that is still Texas. Also, the hike called "McKitrich Canyon" in Guadelupe Mountains (in my opinion) is the best hiking in the state.
  • The Panhandle - Ok this is really just how you get to Colorado. BUT - just outside of Quitaque is Caprock State Park. Home to wild buffalo and crazy rocks. It's cooler than the Cadilacs in Amarillo.
  • Honorable mention from Oklahoma Panhandle - Black Mesa State Park. It's the backway to Colorado if you don't want to go through Raton, NM. Watch for tractors and antelope.
Hope that helps ya.
Click to expand...
Impressive, (looked up a few of these). I think I’ll add a couple of these routes to my to-do list.
 
TexZilla said:
I am trying to get a list of some of the best back roads/dirt roads, little known roads in Texas. I only ride interstate when I have to make time.Paul Harvey once stated the the best way to go coast to coast in our country without seeing anything is to take interstate highways. Some of the best rides I have ever had were due to wrong turns or just trying to avoid the major highways. I'm looking to avoid chain restaurants and truck stops. I'm looking for the mom and pop places to get gas and eat. Although my Super Tenere has adventure roots, I'm not an off road rider so the makers of my bike would be embarrassed by my lack of off road tires. I am located in Longview and am looking for any great back roads in the state or across the eastern border. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
I had fun doing this one... kinda like a crazy 8...

www.google.com

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
www.google.com www.google.com
 
Look at any county maps and the smallest squiggly lines are the ones you are looking for , a gps does not like them and wants you to spend all your time on the freeway .
 
TexZilla said:
I am trying to get a list of some of the best back roads/dirt roads, little known roads in Texas. I only ride interstate when I have to make time.Paul Harvey once stated the the best way to go coast to coast in our country without seeing anything is to take interstate highways. Some of the best rides I have ever had were due to wrong turns or just trying to avoid the major highways. I'm looking to avoid chain restaurants and truck stops. I'm looking for the mom and pop places to get gas and eat. Although my Super Tenere has adventure roots, I'm not an off road rider so the makers of my bike would be embarrassed by my lack of off road tires. I am located in Longview and am looking for any great back roads in the state or across the eastern border. Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...
Download the app REVER, and you can find some amazing routes in texas.
www.rever.co
We try to ride every week in the Hill country area, we have a FEW dirt roads, but A LOT of back roads
 
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