I admit I am a fan of this kind of place, but I really enjoyed coming up here and looking out over the two cities. We were just passing through El Paso, and I heard about this scenic drive. It was a lot of fun getting up here, and once we got to the parking area with the monuments and such, we spent a good half an hour looking down on the city. It was fun trying to pick out the border with Mexico and trying to identify other things. It was especially nice because we could see for 50 miles. Two days later I was in Los Angeles and couldn't see a thing.See more..
The drive is a peaceful getaway from the city where there is more of a likelihood of seeing wildlife than people. The road meanders for miles and the views are breathtaking. There is a north entrance and one from the town. Entering from the north the elevation gradually increases. Just before reaching Willow City there are some places to stop and take scenic pictures of the countryside. A nice 1/2 - 1 hour trip and easily accessible from Fredericksburg or Llano.See more..
We really enjoyed the drive today. The cacti and assorted shrubs were just beautiful and many were bursting with blooms. There is so much to see in all directions. Be sure and stop and read the plaques along side the road. We saw a rattlesnake stopped on the road- we watched the creature for quite a while. Loved it!!!See more..
4.5Bluebonnet Trail(164 reviews) - Still Pretty even at the end of April Hiking Trails • Scenic Drives
You absolutely must stop in the Visitor Center (on Main st) before starting out. They will show you the best places to see bluebonnets, where to park, etc, and give you a good map to follow. Trying to follow the signs without the map is challenging - better to get instructions from a Visitor Guide. We came on the last day of the trail (April 30) and there was still plenty of flowers to see. IMO, the best place for photos was near the lake. That area had the most Indian Paintbrush mixed in with the Bluebonnets. Keep an eye on the little ones so they don't fall off the edge into the water. Saw lots of families with their dogs.See more..
4.5River Road Park(141 reviews) - Thoughtful use of land adjacent to creeks that run thru Boerne. Parks • Scenic Drives
Enjoy spectacular scenery along River Road, a drive not for the faint of heart.See more..
Coming up from Marfa, we made a left turn onto Texas 166, which winds first west and then north. A right turn at Texas 118 sends you back to Fort Davis. The loop is roughly 75 miles in length, and at a leisurely pace with occasional stops for taking photos will take about 2 hours. If you plan on having a picnic or taking a hike, add more time accordingly. The scenery is majestic, and as is always the case in the desert, best viewed in the early morning or late afternoon, when the play of light and shadow across the landscape is at its most dramatic. Of course, you will want to take the usual precautions when traversing a barren stretch of real estate: start out with a full tank of gas, and have plenty of water on hand.See more..
5.0El Camino Del Rio(75 reviews) - Had no idea it’d be THIS pretty! Spent 2-3 hours Scenic Drives
Lived in TX for 28 years before moving and had never been to this part of the state. I read this drive was pretty from other reviews but I seriously had no idea Big Bend Ranch State Park was THIS pretty. The road itself was a fun drive of hills, twists and turns as you wind through canyons, sprawling landscapes and down to the river. Lots of great spots for a snack or lunch along the way if you planned ahead. Not much going on in Presidio so we opted to wait until Marfa for lunch (we were heading to El Paso). If we were going the other direction we would’ve stopped for lunch in Lajitas. If we had more time I would recommend hiking Closed Canyon or Hoodoos and then packing by a lunch and stopping at one of the pullouts along the river - so peaceful! See more..
4.5Bluebonnet Trail(39 reviews) - WOW - what a hidden gem Scenic Drives
A 16-mile self-drive trail to view wildflowers.See more..
4.0Big Creek Scenic Area(4 reviews) - A beautiful area in the San Houston National Forest with hiking possibilities Scenic Drives
This place offers a parking spot and short hiking trails around a creek that meanders through the forest. The views are beautiful and inspire peace of mind. This is definitely one of the prettiest corners of Sam Houston National Forest. If you find the hiking trails to short you could for example follow the lovely Lone Star trail that’s passing through the area to Double Lake and back. That would be a good 10 miles of very nice forest trail hiking. I spotted some interesting flora and fauna there, and attached a few of my photos.See more..
4.5Texas Mountain Trail(4 reviews) - Very scenic drive, easy and great view Spent More than 3 hours Hiking Trails • Scenic Drives
This Texas Mountain trail includes much more than route 62 and 54 that we were on. We drove for an hour on Texas route 54 and only saw two other cars! I have posted pictures of the views we encountered. There were also historical markers but we did not stop to read them.See more..
4.5The Twisted Sisters(3 reviews) - My new favorite roads Spent More than 3 hours Scenic Drives
I heard about the Twisted Sisters and decided to take a run down there (I live in DFW, about 5.5 hours away). I have to say this route is incredible. For being back roads they are in great shape. Fast sweepers, sharp curves, elevation changes, sheer cliff faces... this route has it all. And has 100+ miles of it! Compare that to the world-famous Dragon's Tail which is 1/10th the size. The only downside is cell reception is gone most of the route so only the brave need apply. If you break down out there you might be waiting for someone to come upon you. For myself, I was there in my MX-5 which doesn't even have a spare tire...See more..
