Always
take water – we recommend at least one gallon
per person and check your gas gauge! If you are low on either go back
to Study Butte and fill up. From Terlingua House head west on River
Road (TX 170). About 4 miles down the road you will find Badlands
Fossils on the right. If Ken is in, he will be busy cataloging or
assembling dinosaur bones he has excavated from the area. Be sure
to look for him both coming and going as Ken, like many residents
of the area, wear several hats. About 10 miles down the road is the
Barton Warnock Center (BWC) and Lajitas (both open daily). If it is
in the morning I suggest you stop at BWC and leave Lajitas for the
trip back.
At this point you will begin the best part of the River Road, about
10 to 15 miles of the best road in Texas. Be sure to drive as far
as the stop overlooking the river. You won’t miss it. If you
would like to continue up the River Road, you can drive past Redford,
TX and turn right to go into Big Bend State Park (this turnoff is
not marked). If you make this trip up to Sauceda and Big Bend State
Park, you need to have a permit from BWC or you can go on to Ft. Leaton
and buy a permit there and get directions and the combination to the
gate. The drive up to Sauceda is a great drive, but it is all on gravel
roads. Note that there is no food/refreshments provided in
the park area, it is very primitive. If you don’t want
to drive up to Sauceda you might consider going on to Presidio, cross
the International Bridge and go over to Ojinaga, Mexico (OJ). If you
go to OJ you might consider driving another 25 miles to see a fantastic
view of Peguis Canyon on the Chihuahua City highway (no permits necessary).
See Ojinaga.com.
On
the drive back be sure to stop in Lajitas, Clay Henry will be happy
to share a few minutes of his time with you, provided of course you
supply the cold Lone Star. As for myself, I prefer the Thirsty Goat,
the air-conditioned lounge at the resort. There is usually somebody
interesting around there.
Always
take water – we recommend at least one gallon
per person and check your gas gauge! If you are low on either go back
to Study Butte and fill up. From Terlingua House head west on River
Road (TX 170). About 4 miles down the road you will find Badlands
Fossils on the right. If Ken is in, he will be busy cataloging or
assembling dinosaur bones he has excavated from the area. Be sure
to look for him both coming and going as Ken, like many residents
of the area, wear several hats. About 10 miles down the road is the
Barton Warnock Center (BWC) and Lajitas (both open daily). If it is
in the morning I suggest you stop at BWC and leave Lajitas for the
trip back. 
At this point you will begin the best part of the River Road, about
10 to 15 miles of the best road in Texas. Be sure to drive as far
as the stop overlooking the river. You won’t miss it. If you
would like to continue up the River Road, you can drive past Redford,
TX and turn right to go into Big Bend State Park (this turnoff is
not marked). If you make this trip up to Sauceda and Big Bend State
Park, you need to have a permit from BWC or you can go on to Ft. Leaton
and buy a permit there and get directions and the combination to the
gate. The drive up to Sauceda is a great drive, but it is all on gravel
roads. Note that there is no food/refreshments provided in
the park area, it is very primitive. If you don’t want
to drive up to Sauceda you might consider going on to Presidio, cross
the International Bridge and go over to Ojinaga, Mexico (OJ). If you
go to OJ you might consider driving another 25 miles to see a fantastic
view of Peguis Canyon on the Chihuahua City highway (no permits necessary).
See Ojinaga.com.
On
the drive back be sure to stop in Lajitas, Clay Henry will be happy
to share a few minutes of his time with you, provided of course you
supply the cold Lone Star. As for myself, I prefer the Thirsty Goat,
the air-conditioned lounge at the resort. There is usually somebody
interesting around there.