Three ranch roads, one honest reputation

The name precedes the ride. Riders from across Texas — and well beyond — go looking for The Three Twisted Sisters specifically by name, not by region. That word-of-mouth pull is earned. Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 form a roughly 100-mile loop through the western Texas Hill Country, anchored by the town of Leakey, winding through Camp Wood, Barksdale, and Vanderpool. The roads follow canyons, climb limestone ridges, and drop back into river valleys. Corners tighten mid-arc. Drop-offs sit close to the white line. The reward is real: clear rivers, wide Hill Country sky, and pavement that genuinely demands your attention the whole way around.

Why these three roads have a reputation

Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337 were established in the mid-twentieth century to connect remote cattle ranches and small communities — Leakey, Vanderpool, Medina, Camp Wood — to the broader highway system. Their alignments followed the natural contours of the Edwards Plateau, which made them poorly suited for slow-moving farm trucks on grades but ideal for motorcycles once riders started showing up in numbers. Word spread through rider magazines and club newsletters in the 1980s. By the late 1990s the loop was a firmly established destination. The nickname "Twisted Sisters" stuck because it captured both the sibling relationship of the three roads and their sinuous, interlocking character. Today they draw riders from across the state every weekend, spring through fall.

RM 337 was officially designated in 1945 and runs 56 miles from Camp Wood east through Leakey to SH 16 at Medina — the longest of the three sisters by a wide margin. It forms the spine of the loop. RM 336 and RM 335 complete the western and northern sides of the circuit.

Segment breakdown: what each sister actually rides like

No corner on this loop has a published official name, and none are posted on TxDOT signs. What riders talk about are section characters, not named hairpins.

RR 337 — Medina to Camp Wood (approx. 56 miles total, with the western half being the technical core): Starting from Medina, the road opens with relatively straight ranchland before gradually tightening. East of Leakey, sight lines are reasonable and the grades are manageable — this stretch is often used to warm up. West of Leakey toward Camp Wood is where things change: sharper curves, steeper grades, and more frequent elevation change. One well-documented 15-mile section of the full loop contains approximately 65 curves. The Frio River runs alongside portions of the western segment near Leakey, offering brief open views before the road climbs again.

RR 335 — Barksdale south toward Camp Wood (approx. 29 miles): Riders consistently describe this one as the roller-coaster sister. The road rises and falls dramatically over successive hill crests, following Hackberry Creek in its lower section. Corners here tighten unexpectedly and the road narrows in places, with drop-offs on the outer edge and minimal guardrails. Many corners posted at 15–20 mph mean it, and the road surface does not offer recovery room if you enter too fast. This is the section that earns the most respect from repeat visitors.

RR 336 — from US 83 north of Leakey to TX 41 (approx. 14 miles of the tightest action): The topo here is what one Rider Magazine writer described as looking like the folds of the human brain on a map. RM 336 weaves into those ridgeline folds, making it the most relentlessly curved of the three in its most active section. After roughly 10 miles the road straightens and loses intensity before terminating at TX 41.

How to ride it

Skill level: Intermediate to advanced. The roads are not suitable for brand-new riders. Tight corners, steep grades, minimal guardrails, and blind crests demand experience with throttle and brake discipline in curves. TxDOT crash data for this route shows 90 percent of crashes are single-vehicle incidents occurring in corners, with riders frequently entering curves at speeds that exceed their sight distance. Rock embankments are close to the road edge on multiple sections.

Suitable bikes: Middleweight sport bikes, sport tourers, and lightweight adventure bikes are well-matched. Heavier baggers can do it and do — but ground clearance and weight matter more here than on most Texas roads, especially on RR 335. Dual-sport riders can extend the day on a cutoff via RR 3235 connecting RR 336 to RR 335 north of Barksdale.

Recommended direction: Either works. Many riders start the loop counter-clockwise from Leakey — RR 337 west to Camp Wood first, then north on RR 335, then south on RR 336 back to Leakey — arguing that 337's better sight lines make it a good warm-up before the more demanding 335. Others start clockwise from Medina on 337, which places the hardest technical miles on 335 when the rider is most dialed in.

Traffic and hazards: Weekend traffic is real. Deer and unfenced cattle can appear in the road at any point — this is open ranch country. Loose gravel tends to collect in the apex of blind corners. Tourists in cars sometimes stop without warning to photograph the view. Law enforcement patrols have increased on approach roads, particularly SH 16 between Kerrville and Bandera. Ride within your sight distance, especially on RR 335.

Season and riding window

The Sisters are open year-round — there is no high-altitude closure. Spring and early fall are the most consistent windows: temperatures are mild, Hill Country wildflowers (bluebonnets in mid-April) are out, and humidity is manageable. Summer is rideable but the Hill Country heat is serious — start before 8 a.m. if you go in July or August, and carry more water than you think you need. Winter brings cold fronts that can drop temperatures quickly, and occasional ice on shaded curves is a real risk. There is no set closure date, but a freeze forecast is a reason to wait a day.

Fall weekends — particularly October — bring heavy traffic as riders come for the leaf color change along RM 187 near Lost Maples State Natural Area. If solitude matters to you, aim for a mid-week fall ride.

Fuel and where to stop

Gas options on the loop are sparse. The reliable stops are Medina (at the east end of RR 337), Leakey (mid-loop on US 83), and Camp Wood (at the RR 337 / SH 55 junction). Vanderpool has a station but hours vary. If your bike gets under 40 mpg at a spirited pace, plan your fill-ups deliberately — do not assume the next town will have fuel available.

In Leakey, Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop & Bent Rim Grill has been the informal headquarters for Sisters riders since 2002. It sits right on RR 337 at the US 83 intersection, serves food, and stocks Twisted Sisters gear. It is a practical mid-loop stop: fuel up the bike nearby, eat, talk to other riders about current road conditions before you head out onto 335 or 336.

If you want to extend the ride with a detour worth making, Devil's Backbone Overlook on FM 32 sits northeast of the Sisters loop near Canyon Lake — a signed pullout on the narrow limestone ridge with panoramic Hill Country views and picnic tables for a proper break. It pairs well with an approach or departure route through Wimberley or Blanco.

For the full picture of texas motorcycle roads, the Sisters sit within a broader Hill Country network that rewards multi-day exploration.

Plan your ride

Allow a minimum of four hours for the core loop from Leakey; five to six hours is more realistic if you stop for fuel, food, and a few pull-outs to actually look at the country you're riding through. Book lodging in Leakey, Medina, or Kerrville ahead of time on spring and fall weekends — rooms fill early. Top off your tank before leaving any of the three anchor towns. Wear full gear: the rock embankments along this route are not forgiving. The Twisted Sisters have a well-earned reputation, and the road will match whatever level of focus you bring to it.