BBNP Old Ore Road Logistics

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The Longer and the Shorter rides both meet at the north end of the Old Ore Road at 10 am, Thursday, Feb. 15. Keep in mind that the ENFORCED speed limit inside the National Park is 45 mph so it will likely take 90 minutes to drive from Lajitas to the meet point. Old Ore Road is inside Big Bend National Park: so every car that drives into the park must pay its appropriate entry fee. Vehicle permits are valid for a week.

The Longer Ride (30+ miles) is ONE-WAY, all the way to bottom. [map to the right] The Old Ore Road ends at the paved road and the guided ride turns LEFT to ride down and finish in Rio Grande Village (RGV). At RGV folks can get supplies at the store, head over to the Hot Springs for a dip, or, if folks remembered their passports, they can once again cross the river in a rowboat and travel up to visit the lovely, historic Mexican village of Boquillas. (We recommend the tacos at Falcones!)
The Shorter Ride (18 miles) is out-and-back to McKinney Springs.

Logistics for riding the Old Ore Road are significant; but the ride is SO SPECTACULAR, in so many ways, that the arrangements required are well worth it. 

The big logistical challenge is how to get your vehicle from the north end of the road (start) to RGV (finish). The best (and simplest) way to make this happen is to have a rider in your vehicle that is doing the Shorter Ride. Once that rider returns to the start point they can drive your vehicle around and meet the rest of your group (the long riders) at Rio Grande Village. This is the easiest and best way to get your vehicle to end of the ride. 

SHUTTLE DRIVERS: Local sponsor Big Bend Resort & Adventures (of the Big Bend Motor Inn), are sponsoring a shuttle service for the Old Ore Ride again this year. A limited number of drivers are available to meet folks at the start of the ride and transport their vehicle to RGV while the ride is happening. Click here to book a Shuttle Driver for the Old Ore Road Ride on Thursday