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Canyons and Mountains in North Texas

Ride Rating:

5
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Ride Stats:

  • Distance: 148 miles / 238.2 km
  • Ride Time: 2-4 hours
  • Approximate Fuel Costs: $11.25
  • State: Texas
Submitted by:
Anonymous_Motorcyclist

Other routes on this site miss the one of the best cycling roads within 100 miles of DFW: Hwy 4 from Palo Pinto through Santo and to I-20. Nowhere else this close to DFW can you ride a twisty road through the (Palo Pinto) mountains on a road with sobering cliffs dropping away just on the other side of the guardrails. The ride is mostly plains to rolling hills west through Weatherford and up to Grayford. South on 16 seems like cross-timbered plains until just South of the fishery the terrain opens up into a twisty descent into the Brazos river basin. There is a scenic overlook. Keep going South back to 180, left to Palo Pinto (stop at the cafe if you need a bite)and then South on Highway 4. A few miles down the road you hit the main event. The road falls, twisting, banking, turning in and through a massive canyon. The hills are full of trees and the scenery looks like something out of the Ozarks. The first time stumbled on it in a car I was dumbfounded that such a place exists in North Texas. The roads are narrow, though, and there is no place to stop on the shoulders in some of the most spectacular stretches. After maybe 5-10 miles of bliss the road tempers down and returns to Texas prairie as it treks back to I-20.

This is a motorcycle ride in the state of Texas. This motorcycle route has 10 scenery characteristics and other road conditions to help you plan your road trip. This motorcycle map was created by Anonymous_Motorcyclist in August. Click here to see other Motorcycle Roads by Anonymous_Motorcyclist

Rider Photos:

No Photo's Available

Ride Scenery:

Historic SitesParksFall ColorsLakesForestMountainsRuralRiverFarm LandPlains

Best Time to Go

Spring, Summer, Fall

Road Characteristics:

Sweeping Curves RoadRolling HillsLight TrafficAverageRare Gas StationsAdequate

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Previous Comments from other Riders:

jag_gl1800 says:

Road it with my wife on our Gold Wing. Beautiful ride! Slow down and enjoy... fast will work against you, curves are tight.
Sun Jan 13, 2013 at 9:45 AM

Anonymous_Motorcyclist says:

5 stars due to context - would be less elsewhere. Very scenic, but mostly straights. If you just want curves, only bother with FM4 - there aren't more than 1-2 curves throughout the rest that are worth riding (99% are sweepers at best). FM4 south of Palo Pinto is where it's at. Some nice curves, lets you have some fun. No hairpins or peg grinders though. Curviest road (of any significant distance) I've ridden within 100 mi of the DFW area so far.
Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 9:10 AM

Dragin says:

He's spot on with his description of this wonderful route!!!Any time you can ride HWY 4 do it!!!


Dragin'
Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 9:10 AM

dtmammen says:

This was an awsome ride, beautiful countryside, plenty of scenery, and haunted hotels. Whoever submitted this one thankyou very much. Had a blast.
Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 9:10 AM

rishrn says:

Took this ride last week-end and its true, its one of best kept secrets in the area. This was a great ride, lots of countryside, beautiful lake views and curvy roads. Took pix, if I can figure how to upload I will.

Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 9:09 AM

TGE says:

I've ridden this route a few times, and its always a blast. As far as the scenery and overall ride quality are concerned, the first 30-50 miles (depending on where you're starting from) aren't the greatest, just superslab on I-20, then US-180, neither one of which are anything to write home about. The good part actually starts once you pass Mineral Wells (good gas stop) and turn onto TX-337, which has wonderful scenery and wide-open road with passing lanes. It is mostly straight, but hilly and does not usually have much traffic, so you can open up the throttle a bit. After turning on TX-16 S, the scenery stays nice, although I feel inclined to try and keep straight on TX-16 N to Graham and then take the Farm-to-Market-Rds around Possum Kingdom Lake, and hook back up with TX-16 in Brad via US-180 E. Palo Pinto (on US-180 & Farm-to-Market-Rd 4) has a neat small general store with a diner that makes some tasty burgers. Just beware that it may not necessarily have gasoline available. My favorite part of this route is the stretch on Farm-to-Market-Rd 4 S from Palo Pinto to Santo. Its only about 14 miles, but they are full of twists and turns that make for some fun lean angles, if you're so inclined. After a brief stint on Farm-to-Market Rd 2201, its back on the superslab. While this is a really fun ride (excellent for N TX standards!), I'm withholding the fifth star for excessive superslab on the first and last 30-50 miles. To fix that issue, I might try to continue S on Farm-to-Market-Rd 4 through Santo and towards Lipan, then meet up with TX-337 and head E back to the DFW area. If anyone else has any suggestions on how to turn this already great ride into the ultimate route in North Texas, please fire away.
Fri Jan 11, 2013 at 9:09 AM






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