Road	Length	High point
Contrabando Movie SetStop An abandoned 1985 film set constructed for the movie 'Uphill All the Way' and subsequently used in nine productions including John Sayles' 1996 film 'Lone Star' and the Lonesome Dove prequels 'Dead Man's Walk' and 'Streets of Laredo.' The cluster of adobe-style buildings — including a cantina — sits on the south side of FM 170 (El Camino del Rio / River Road), 9.5 miles west of Lajitas within Big Bend Ranch State Park, between the highway and the Rio Grande. A closed gate with the 'Contrabando' name marks the entry; the ruins are visible from the road. The surrounding stretch of FM 170 offers some of the most dramatic scenery in Texas: volcanic canyon walls, Rio Grande bends, and Chihuahuan Desert formations.	—	—
Davis Mountains Scenic Loop (TX-118 + TX-166) Fort Davis loop, ~75 mi. Highest public highway in Texas. Rider Magazine: "possibly the best motorcycling stretch of road in Texas." McDonald Observatory, Wild Rose Pass.	77 mi	—
Devil's Backbone OverlookStop A signed roadside rest area at approximately 5299 FM 32 in the Comal County hill country, north of Canyon Lake. The overlook sits atop the narrow limestone ridge known as the Devil's Backbone, offering sweeping panoramic views of the Texas Hill Country — rolling oak and juniper-covered valleys extending in every direction. A small paved pullout and picnic tables allow riders to stop safely. FM 32 itself is one of the premier motorcycle roads in the Hill Country, with technical curves, elevation changes, and minimal traffic between Wimberley and Medina.	—	—
Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop & Bent Rim GrillStop A motorcycle-stop store (opened 2002) with the attached Bent Rim Grill — "Ride to Eat, Eat to Ride" — at the Ranch Road 337 hub in Leakey.	—	—
Luckenbach General Store & Dance HallStop Luckenbach, Texas (pop. 3) is an unincorporated community at 412 Luckenbach Town Loop, 13 miles southeast of Fredericksburg in Gillespie County. The general store and 1887 dance hall were made legendary by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Jeff Walker, and remain one of the most storied roadside stops in the Texas Hill Country. Live music runs daily; the dance hall hosts ticketed shows on weekend evenings. The store sells cold beer, t-shirts, and Texas kitsch. Hours are Mon–Wed 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Thu 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 9 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sun 9 a.m.–9 p.m.	—	—
River Road (FM 170) Presidio to Study Butte/Terlingua via Lajitas, ~118 mi total (~50 mi premier twisty section). The most scenic road in Texas, along the Rio Grande through Big Bend Ranch SP — steep climbs ("the Big Hill"), tight roller-coaster curves, Mexico across the river.	116 mi	—
RM-1431 Lake Travis Corridor Ranch to Market Road 1431 stretches 47 miles from Cedar Park west to Marble Falls (and continues to Kingsland), running along the north shore of Lake Travis through the Balcones Canyonlands of the Hill Country. The section between Lago Vista and Marble Falls is the most prized motorcycle stretch: after Lago Vista, RM-1431 narrows to two lanes and delivers sweeping elevation changes, long high-speed curves, and broad Edwards Plateau views with minimal development. The road passes the edge of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Speed limits are 55 mph and are actively enforced. The Cedar Park to Lago Vista section is wider and busier but still scenic.	68 mi	—
RM-473 Sisterdale to Comfort Ranch to Market Road 473 is a 39-mile road in Kendall and Blanco counties linking US-281 south of Twin Sisters in the east to US-87 at Comfort in the west, passing through the small settlement of Sisterdale on the Guadalupe River. The western portion from Sisterdale to Comfort follows easy sweeping curves through cedar-and-live-oak hill country before dropping into Comfort, a community with nearly 100 documented historic buildings and a well-preserved 19th-century business district. The road sees light traffic and is suitable for all skill levels. Comfort offers food stops at multiple cafes and a walkable historic downtown for a mid-ride break.	28 mi	—
Skyline Drive Trailhead OverlookStop The paved trailhead for the Skyline Drive Trail in Davis Mountains State Park, located at the end of a short spur off Park Road 166, approximately 4 miles west of Fort Davis on TX-118. At 5,503 feet elevation, the overlook provides a broad panorama across the Davis Mountains — the highest range in Texas — with views of Limpia Canyon and the surrounding high-desert basin. The Davis Mountains Scenic Loop (TX-166 and TX-118) is a 75-mile circuit renowned as the best touring loop in West Texas. The trailhead parking area accommodates motorcycles, and the ridge is accessible on foot for wider views.	—	—
The Three Twisted Sisters The Texas Hill Country's most-loved motorcycle road — Ranch Road 337 between Camp Wood and Vanderpool through Leakey, with RR 335 and 336 forming the larger 100-mile "Twisted Sisters" loop. Imported geometry covers the iconic RR 337 spine.	57 mi	—
Three Tepee Rest AreaStop A roadside picnic area on FM 170 (River Road / El Camino del Rio), approximately 30 miles west of Lajitas and 13 miles west of Redford, TX. The stop is named for three concrete tepee-shaped shade structures, each sheltering a picnic bench, that are visible from the highway. A short walk from the parking area reaches a Rio Grande river overlook with views across to the Mexican bank of the canyon. The area lies within Big Bend Ranch State Park. Riders on the FM 170 route between Study Butte and Presidio (~70 miles) use it as the primary shade and rest break on the most remote section of the ride.	—	—
TX-16 Bandera to Kerrville Texas Highway 16 between Bandera and Kerrville covers approximately 38 miles of Hill Country riding through the Edwards Plateau. Leaving Bandera northward, the road climbs into the cedar-oak highlands of the Medina River watershed, then ascends Medina Mountain — a section of tight hairpin turns and steep inclines with a posted 15 mph on the sharpest curves — before descending into the Medina River valley near the town of Medina. North of Medina the road opens to sweeping curves through limestone terrain, crossing the Guadalupe River before arriving in Kerrville. Experienced riders recommend the stretch; the Medina Mountain section has loose gravel after rain.	220 mi	—
TX-39 Guadalupe River Road Texas Highway 39 follows the Upper Guadalupe River for approximately 36 miles between Ingram (west of Kerrville) and the junction with US-83 north of Leakey. The road traces the river corridor through shaded cypress and oak stretches, crossing the Guadalupe at several 90-degree bridges and passing through Hunt, a small community known for summer camps and polo grounds. The terrain is rolling and curvy but not technically demanding — a relaxed alternative to the nearby Twisted Sisters. A 2/3-scale Stonehenge replica stands in Ingram at the eastern end. Low-water crossings can hold water after heavy rain.	35 mi	—
TX-87 Sabine National Forest Texas Highway 87 traverses East Texas through the Sabine National Forest between the Louisiana border at Logansport and the town of Hemphill, then continues south toward Jasper — a total corridor of roughly 60 miles through dense East Texas pine forest. The road follows the western shore of Toledo Bend Reservoir for several miles, offering water views through the pines. Traffic is light, pavement is well-maintained two-lane, and the road presents gentle curves through timber and bottomland terrain. It is a pronounced contrast to Hill Country riding — green, humid, heavily forested — and suits riders touring the eastern half of the state. The Sabine National Forest boundary is signed along the route.	161 mi	—

//Rallies & events

Rally

Rally · June, ~4 days

Republic of Texas Biker Rally (ROT Rally)

Texas

The largest ticketed-admission motorcycle rally in the United States, held annually since 1995 in Austin, Texas. The main event grounds are at the Travis County Exposition Center, 7311 Decker Lane, Austin, TX 78724. In 2026, the rally ran June 11–14. The event draws approximately 35,000 paying attendees to the venue and an estimated 200,000 spectators to the Friday-evening downtown parade on Congress Avenue — a Guinness World Record-certified 'Longest Parade of Motorcycles.' The grounds host bike shows, stunt exhibitions, vendor rows, camping, and live music. General admission to the downtown street party is free; venue entry is ticketed. The rally is sanctioned by the Austin City Council and Travis County.

NextDates TBA

Official site ↗

By Switchback · Updated 2026-06-05

Best season

Oct–Apr (spring & fall ideal)

Helmet law

Partial — required under 21

Lane splitting

Illegal

Signature terrain

Hill Country canyons & West Texas desert

Texas is too big and too varied to fit a single riding narrative. The Hill Country delivers dense limestone curves and canyon drops within a few hours of San Antonio or Austin. West Texas offers the opposite: long, exposed desert highways interrupted by mountain passes and river canyons where you can ride for an hour without seeing another vehicle. The routes here span both worlds — from the famous Three Twisted Sisters loop to the remote River Road along the Rio Grande — and each demands a different kind of preparation. What unites them is pavement quality, genuine scenery, and the kind of solitude that gets harder to find.

Why Texas Rewards the Rider Who Plans Ahead

Texas doesn't have one riding identity — it has four or five. The limestone ridges of the Hill Country, the Chihuahuan Desert plateaus of West Texas, the Davis Mountains, and the Rio Grande canyon corridor each require different timing, gear, and expectations. The routes on this page cover the best of all of them, but a single trip can't do justice to the whole state. Better to pick a region, ride it well, and come back.

Choosing Between the Hill Country and West Texas

If you're based near San Antonio or Austin, the Hill Country routes are the obvious starting point. The Three Twisted Sisters loop is the state's most-discussed motorcycle road for good reason — the density of curves along RM 337 is genuinely unusual for Texas. The Devil's Backbone on RR 32 is a shorter, more accessible alternative that works well as a warmup or a day ride from either city. Both roads carry real traffic on spring and fall weekends; weekday visits are quieter.

West Texas is a different commitment. River Road (FM 170) and the Davis Mountains Scenic Loop sit 5–7 hours from San Antonio. The distances between services are real — not a suggestion to top off fuel, but a practical necessity. For the Texas BDR-X, plan around the October–April window specifically; summer heat along the Big Bend corridor is not a comfort issue, it's a safety one, and monsoon season adds flash flood risk from July through September.

Real Hazards Worth Knowing

RM 337 corners: TxDOT data points to this as Texas's most fatal motorcycle road. The hairpins are posted at 15–20 mph for a reason — canyon walls and minimal guardrails leave no margin.
Sparse fuel in West Texas: Gas stations on FM 170 and the BDR-X are 50–80 miles apart in places. Carry a plan, not a hope.
Deer and livestock: Active on Hill Country roads at dawn and dusk year-round. Reduce pace in low light.
Summer heat: Big Bend Ranch State Park temperatures can exceed 100°F by late morning. Riding through that zone in July or August without extra water and an early start is a medical risk.
Flash floods: The Big Bend corridor can experience life-threatening flash flooding during summer storms, sometimes with little warning.

Logistics at a Glance

Hill Country base towns: Leakey, Camp Wood, Medina, Vanderpool — all small; lodging books out on popular weekends.
West Texas base towns: Fort Davis (Davis Mountains), Presidio or Terlingua (River Road).
Cell service: Essentially absent on FM 170 through Big Bend Ranch State Park. Download offline maps before you leave pavement behind.

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// Frequently asked

Texas has a partial helmet law (Transportation Code § 661.003). All riders under 21 must wear a helmet with no exceptions. Riders 21 and older may ride without one only if they have completed an approved motorcycle operator training and safety course OR are covered by a health insurance plan that provides medical benefits for injuries from a motorcycle collision. If you meet neither condition, a helmet is legally required. Regardless of the exemption, wearing a DOT-approved helmet is the safest choice on every ride.

No. Lane splitting — riding between lanes of moving or stopped traffic — is illegal in Texas. Riders must stay within a single lane.

Spring (March–April) and fall (October–November) are the sweet spots. Spring brings wildflowers and mild temperatures; fall offers cooler air and less traffic than peak summer weekends. Avoid mid-summer heat if possible, and always watch the forecast for afternoon thunderstorms from May through October.

Summer is the most challenging time for FM 170. Temperatures in the Big Bend area regularly exceed 100°F by mid-morning, and monsoon season (July–September) brings flash flood risk to the low-lying road corridor along the Rio Grande. October through April is the recommended window — cooler temperatures, less flood risk, and better overall conditions for a long day in the saddle.

Very remote. There is no cell service for most of the drive through Big Bend Ranch State Park. Services are extremely limited between Presidio and Study Butte/Terlingua — top off fuel and water at every opportunity. Carry a physical map or download offline navigation before you leave.

TxDOT data identifies RM 337 as Texas's most fatal motorcycle road, with the vast majority of crashes being single-vehicle incidents in corners. The hazards are specific: steep canyon descents, 15–20 mph posted hairpins, dramatic drop-offs with minimal guardrails, and sections where canyon walls block sightlines. Ride at a pace that leaves margin for loose gravel, deer, and oncoming vehicles crossing the centerline.

//Sources & references

Texas Motorcycle Helmet Law Guide — CPM Injury Law ↗Texas Motorcycle Helmet Laws — The Wilhite Law Firm ↗Texas Motorcycle Laws Every Rider Should Know — Law Tigers ↗Best Scenic Motorcycle Rides in Texas — GothRider Magazine ↗Discover the Best Motorcycle Roads in Texas — REVER ↗Big Bend Ranch State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department ↗River Road FM 170: Scenic Drive Through Big Bend Texas — TexploreVibe ↗Texas Transportation Code Chapter 661 — Protective Headgear for Motorcycle Operators and Passengers ↗