Off-road Old Ore OHV Road, Big Bend National Park, Texas

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Old Ore OHV Road is a 26 miles (43km) dirt road located in Big Bend National Park between Dagger Flat Road and Rio Grande Village Road. Used in the early 1900s to transport ore from Mexican mines to the railroad station at Marathon, the Old Ore Road generally follows the route used by mule and pack trains a century ago. This road is rough and requires a sturdy vehicle to negotiate. The road has excellent views of the Chisos Mountains across the Tornillo Creek drainage to the west. Ernst Tinaja, five miles from the southern end of the road, is a popular destination. Old Ore Road is maintained for high clearance vehicles only. Following rains and heavy use, the road becomes very rutted and requires 4-wheel drive. Always ask a park ranger for current road conditions. The following campsites are along the road: Candelilla (CA-1) can accommodate 2 vehicles, 8 people, no horses. Candelilla (CA-1) is located 1.1 miles from the southern end near Rio Grande Village, or 25.4 miles from the Dagger Flat Auto Trail. This small cul-de-sac campsite is at the end of a 0.1 mile access road. Camp de Leon (CL-1) can accommodate one vehicle, 6 people, no horses. Camp de Leon (CL-1) is located 3.6 miles from the main paved road to Rio Grande Village. Ernst Tinaja (ET-1) can accommodate two vehicles, 10 people, no horses. Ernst Tinaja 1 (ET-1) is located 4.5 miles north of the paved road. A short, 0.2 mile access road leads to ET-1. A short distance beyond the site is the trailhead. La Noria can accommodate one vehicle, 6 people, no horses. La Noria primitive campsites (LA-1 & LA-2) are located 4.9 miles from the main paved road to Rio Grande Village. The short access road is 0.4 mile north of the Ernst Tinaja turnoff. Ernst Basin (EB-1) can accommodate 2 vehicles, 10 people, no horses. Ernst Basin (EB-1) is located 10 miles from the southern end and 16.4 miles from the northern end. Willow Tank campsite (WT-1) is 0.1 mile north of EB-1. Willow Tank (WT-1) can accommodate 1 vehicle, 6 people no horses. Willow Tank Campsite (WT-1) is located 10 miles from the southern end or 16.4 miles from the northern end. It is 0.1 mile north of Ernst Basin Campsite (EB-1). Roys Peak Vista (RP-1) can accommodate 2 vehicles, 6 people, no horses. Roys Peak campsite (RP-1) is located 9.3 miles from the northern end or 17.0 miles from the southern end. The access road is 0.1 mile in length from the west side of Old Ore Road. McKinney Spring (MS-1) can accommodate 2 people, 6 vehicles, no horses. McKinney Spring campsite (MS-1) is located 7.3 miles from the northern end or 19.0 miles from the southern end. The access road is 50 yards long.

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