Texas Ranch Road 170 (River Road)

Thanks to all who responded. I have this in my plan for the end of January or early February this year.

I took this road on my first trip with my motorhome. I was not pulling a dingy. I did used the transmisson to brake on the way down. (the old rule come down the hill in the same gear that took you up). Beautiful sights per the wife, I was too busy to look. Spent the night at a rv park a couple miles east of Presido.

We have driven FM170 in a 36ftMH towing an F150 several times. From Terlingua to Presido it is a 2 lane road, has a 13% grade up a few miles west of Lajitas, then 13% down, with several switchbacks in both directions. There is a short rock wall on the river side. Not nearly as scary as the Bear Tooth highway.

This road is mostly switchbacks, think 35 - 45 mph. With that in mind, it is the main route for trucks between Presidio and the National Park, unless you go up through Marfa and Alpine.

It is very doable with an RV, nice scenery, you are following the edge of the Big Bend Ranch SP and much of the road follows the Rio Grande River, do have to watch for donkeys and horses on the road. Loads of places to pull over and take pictures.

That is one of my favorite places, go and enjoy driving the river road.

Have driven it both ways with our RV pulling our toad. It has a VERY steep grade for about 3 miles, a few miles west of LaJitas and is a mountainous road, with many low water crossings(dips) when closer to Presidio. It is a very scenic road, IMO, but just be aware, it is NOT a flat, straight, road.

Texas does have mountains and in that region, they approach 8000', so be aware it is not ALL flat, as some would make you believe.

I drove it in the toad and decided not to drive it pulling the car when we went north - we took 118 back north.

We stayed at Maverick Ranch in Lajitas for a week last February and enjoyed it.

I've driven it. I thought it was fun. :B Wife did not. :E
I would do it again.

Looks tame here:
http://www.surgent.net/other/fm170.html
http://www.takemytrip.com/11texas/08n_40a.htm

The following was edit to reverse my mistakes re east and west:
The east end of the SP is a little intimidating. We never went all the way out to the west end but I hear it is more tame, like the photos. There is not much traffic, and I think if you take it easy you can do it. I'm sure you won't be the first. We did see folks pulling TTs go past as we were stopped. I can't recall if we saw any Class A's or not. You say you are not a daredevil, but are you timid about driving your MH? Or just normal? If you are timid, I'm going to say you won't like the eastern part. It is mountainous.

I'll be interested to read replies by people who've been there more often or in a bigger rig. We were in our pickup truck.