Bicycling

Over 100 miles of paved roads and 160 miles of backcountry dirt roads allow street biking enthusiasts as well as mountain bikers of all ability levels to enjoy the park and challenge themselves. If you have a shuttle available the most recommended bike routes are: **Panther Junction to Rio Grande Village** - 20 miles, paved There are a few hills but the trail drops in elevation 1,900 feet so it is mostly downhill. There are a couple spur roads, like the two mile detour to Hot Springs that are worth exploring as well. You can be picked up at either Rio Grande Village or Hot Springs. This ride should take you around two hours without the Hot Springs detour. **Old Ore Road** - 26 miles, unpaved This ride is best when going north to south because of the amazing view of the Chisos Mountains. To access, park on the edge of the Dagger Flat Auto Trail at the north end. It should take you around five hours to complete. If you do not have a shuttle available to you the most recommended bike routes are: **Grapevine Hills Road** - 15 miles, unpaved A moderate ride past cool rock formations. There is an optional two mile hiking loop at the end of the bike trail you can take for variation. To access, park at the intersection of Grapevine Hills Road and the paved road. It should take you around two and a half hours to complete without the optional hike. **Paint Gap Road** - 15 miles, unpaved If the mountain biker in you is looking for some relatively rough terrain then look no further. This quirky ride takes you past rock and sand formations and can be rather rough near the end. It should take you around two and a half hours to complete. To protect the fragile desert environment, bikes must stay on paved or dirt roads. Big Bend is a favorite with bikers because of the lightly traveled roads and varied terrain. Stay alert while biking and watch for the cars and wildlife you may encounter.