— Of all the roads I have traveled in the state of Texas, I do not believe there is a more scenic road than River Road, or FM 170. This Farm to Market 170 road runs parallel to the Rio Grande on the border of the United States and Mexico. The road is 114.6 miles (184.4 km) of pure Big Bend beauty. I have traveled this road in both directions, but I find that from Presidio to Lajitas is definitely my preferred direction.
Besides the long stretches and views of the Rio Grande, the road goes through vast areas of Big Bend Ranch State Park. You have majestic mountains on both sides as well as great examples of the Chihuahuan Desert vegetation, such as yuccas, ocotillos, and creosote, as seen in bloom in the photo above in the foreground. It is also right off this highway that you can do quick stops to enjoy scenic views of the Rio Grande or venture into Closed Canyon. No matter what you do, just allow yourself plenty of time for sudden stops. And if you happen to be driving during early spring, you can marvel at all the blooming flowers, including very tall Bluebonnets. Nothing says Texas like the River Road.
I made the photo featured here exactly two years ago on March 09, 2019. What would normally be about an hour and half drive took me nearly four hours. There were simply too many irresistible views to appreciate along the way. Why hurry?
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