Backcountry Discovery Routes Announced Big Bend Texas Loop

After posting on the EagleRider tour through the Mojave, here’s another one aimed at motorcyclists but with even better UTV crossover appeal. Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) is a nonprofit whose mission is to stitch together multiday backroad treks across a state or a region for dual sport and adventure bikes. So far, there are 13 full-fat routes that run north-south, point-to-point, like the 575-mile Washington BDR through the Cascade Mountains or the 1,080-mile Mid-Atlantic BDR from Virginia to New York. And there are six shorter BDR-X loop routes, like this newest one in Texas, a 618-mile rollick through Big Bend National Park and surrounds.

BDR reveals the details of each route by releasing a travel documentary. The Big Bend Texas doc isn’t due until the end of this month, so we’re not privy to all of the destination secrets yet. We know Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park are on the loop, as are the Texas towns of Marfa and Terlingua. Riders can walk over the border to Mexico at a designated foot crossing, and the film trailer reveals mules will be a third transportation option.

When it comes to UTVs getting in on the fun, BDR routes incorporate public roads, so the laws of a particular state decide how much of the full tour you can do. Texas, for instance, doesn’t allow UTVs to use public roads except in special cases, but UTVs can cross public roads. With 618 miles to play with, we suspect the BDR-X route will offer some lengthy stretches where a driver can send it.

We’ll find out when BDR debuts the documentary and route, which happens on YouTube on Saturday, October 26, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Until then, check out some of BDR’s other backcountry films for a taste of what’s coming.

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