So, my girlfriend an I have planned a trip to Marfa in Texas for some desert camping/hiking/checking out the town and we leave in a few days.. I know a couple of you guys are from around the state. I was wondering if anyone has been around the area and has any tips or advice about what to do around town there. So far we've found an old bar called The Lost Horse that offers $1 pints! So I'll be checking that out for sure!
Trip to Texas.
- Thread starter ulrich
- Start date
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
- Status
Marfa is a cool place, been too long since I've been.
Of course, you can always look for the Marfa lights, theres a rest area on hwy 90 thats supposed to be an ideal spot to see them. They never appeared while I was there.
Alpine is a cool little city with a few good bars.
Take a drive up to Ft. Davis for sure, you can check to see if the Observatory is open but its a beautiful drive from Alpine to Ft Davis and north of Ft Davis. Theres a reconstruction of the old fort there if you're into that and a very cool old hotel from the late 1800's thats still open.
Definately make the drive down to Big Bend while your there even if you dont spend time in the park itself.
A very cool drive is to take 67 south from Marfa all the way down to the border in Presidio. Then head east along the river road that follows the Rio Grande through Terlingua and catch 118 north back to Alpine and 90 west back to Marfa. That is a beautiful drive, river road runs through Big Bend State Park and the whole trip is just outstanding views.
If you're not hiking in Big Bend itself a drive through is pretty amazing too but I think you'll end up paying for a park pass even if you just want to drive it.
Lots of cool stuff, but its BIG country out there. When you see a town on a map, remember there is NOTHING in between one town and the next... Carry a gallon of water and snacks in the car everywhere you go and dont run the tank down to empty. People die out there when the car breaks down and they try to walk out.
Also if you've never been, you will learn fast that everything out there sticks stings pokes bites hooks or cuts. The flora fights back in the desert ! If you're doing much hiking, a pair of tweezers will make pulling cactus spines out of you much more pleasant.
That region is the most beautiful I have seen anywhere, I hope you have a good time.
Where are you guys going to be hiking ?
Of course, you can always look for the Marfa lights, theres a rest area on hwy 90 thats supposed to be an ideal spot to see them. They never appeared while I was there.
Alpine is a cool little city with a few good bars.
Take a drive up to Ft. Davis for sure, you can check to see if the Observatory is open but its a beautiful drive from Alpine to Ft Davis and north of Ft Davis. Theres a reconstruction of the old fort there if you're into that and a very cool old hotel from the late 1800's thats still open.
Definately make the drive down to Big Bend while your there even if you dont spend time in the park itself.
A very cool drive is to take 67 south from Marfa all the way down to the border in Presidio. Then head east along the river road that follows the Rio Grande through Terlingua and catch 118 north back to Alpine and 90 west back to Marfa. That is a beautiful drive, river road runs through Big Bend State Park and the whole trip is just outstanding views.
If you're not hiking in Big Bend itself a drive through is pretty amazing too but I think you'll end up paying for a park pass even if you just want to drive it.
Lots of cool stuff, but its BIG country out there. When you see a town on a map, remember there is NOTHING in between one town and the next... Carry a gallon of water and snacks in the car everywhere you go and dont run the tank down to empty. People die out there when the car breaks down and they try to walk out.
Also if you've never been, you will learn fast that everything out there sticks stings pokes bites hooks or cuts. The flora fights back in the desert ! If you're doing much hiking, a pair of tweezers will make pulling cactus spines out of you much more pleasant.
That region is the most beautiful I have seen anywhere, I hope you have a good time.
Where are you guys going to be hiking ?
Yes, fill up your cars gas tank....OFTEN. It's a bad feeling to be out in Texas and watching your gas tank needle creep towards Empty and see the sign " Next Gas Station-75 miles
take plenty of pictures for us too.
take plenty of pictures for us too.
Watch for rattle snakes and did I mention watch for rattle snakes . A country boy walks around with his head down , a city boy walks with his head up . The country boy is looking for rattle snakes . Oh and red and yellow will kill a fellow ,coral snake , and there are also copper heads . Also every bush will have thorns . But you have a good time anyway . :rofl:
So much to do so little time. Well we're staying mainly on the outskirts of Marfa at a small campground there. It's within walking distance to the city. Other than that, we've got a couple routes planned around Persimmon Gap and Dagger Mountain in Big Bend. I've got a pretty excellent first aid kit so I'm pretty well prepared in that department. I'm fairly experienced with hiking and camping in most climates but this will be my first desert trip (aside from the day I spent in the mojave desert with a broken down car). Thanks for the tips! I'm sure it will be a blast!
Igloo you forgot the scorpions and the tarantulas. 8O
I went camping one night and heard a couple of mosquitos talking.
"You want to eat him here or take him back to the creek?"
"Are you nuts?! We take him back and the big guys will take him away from us."
:D
I went camping one night and heard a couple of mosquitos talking.
"You want to eat him here or take him back to the creek?"
"Are you nuts?! We take him back and the big guys will take him away from us."
:D
No Necesitas. That region is a very sleepy stretch of border. Its not very well connected to the interior of Mexico and its never been an area of much trafficking or violence. If the border crossing was still open I'd even say its one of the few spots I would still cross, at least at Terlingua. Presidio is a little rougher but nothing like other border towns.
As for the rattlesnakes in the area, I can personally vouch for their upstanding gentlemanly character... Having collected several hundreds of them from the region, I have never met a mean one south of highway 90...Now north of Marathon towards New Mexico you end up in Crotalus Viridus country, prairie rattlers, and those guys have a mean streak !
Technically speaking, the Chihuahua is a "semi-desert" but don't tell the cactus that.
And Lawrence, you forgot to add "foot long centipedes, tail-less whipscorpions and Solfugids".
I would not, repeat WOULD NOT cross into Jaurez if you paid me to ! That is literally the murder capital of the world... Very much advise against visiting Mexico at El Paso (Juarez). If you make the drive to Del Rio (which you probably dont have time for), I would say Cuidad Acuna could be safe but Acuna was always more like an American city across the border.
To be honest with you, theres not much reason to go to Mexico at all unless you are looking for cheap tequila/prescriptions/women. If those 3 are not on your list, the only thing to see is what a dirt poor world looks like.
Stay on the safe side !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZRdVv8CJSc
Chris I grew up in west Texas I kill everything that crawls or breaths before I look at it. I also carry a garden hoe to pick things up . Never ever pick something up off the ground with my bare hands.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgHE7q7rvJc&feature=related
I'll never forget the first time I ate snake, was a Sidewinder if I remember correctly, my brother killed it inches from my leg, skinned it and thru it on a brush fire we had going, once done he told me I had to eat some, I said I didn't want to and I'll never forget him saying "he wouldn't have had a problem biting you"...I think i was 6
- Status