There are quite a few “roads to nowhere” here in Texas, but none as remote as this. Pinto Canyon Road out near Marfa weaves through towering mountains, expansive plains, and a tiny, remote village before continuing on to who knows where. It’s one of the most quiet, peaceful journeys you’ll ever take, and you’ll truly appreciate the beauty of being fully immersed in your surroundings with absolutely no distractions.
The drive begins by the Texaco station in Downtown Marfa, the final sign of civilization before the tall, mangled stalks of grass and thick coverage of cacti swallow your vehicle and beckon you to discover what lies ahead.
Flickr/mattybravo
From here, your only guide will be the looming Chinati Peak that slowly draws nearer as you ascend the steadily-climbing road. You won’t find any signs or traffic lights - just the desolate, uncharted territory the West Texas desert is so famous for.
Flickr/memarieme
The real fun doesn’t start until the pavement becomes dirt and the road narrows pretty significantly. You’ll pass some eerie abandoned mining equipment hidden in the mountains before embarking on a downward slope that extends all the way into the Rio Grande floodplain if you were to follow its entirety.
Flickr/Georgia Harper
As soon as the road forks, stay to the left. This takes you to the remote village of Ruidosa while bearing right will lead you to the abandoned Kingston Hot Springs, a resort scheduled for reopening soon if all goes according to plan.
Flickr/mattybravo
About two hours will pass before you reach your destination, but it’s sure to be the most relaxing, transformative two hours of your life. Deep soul-searching is really the only available activity when you’re in the middle of nowhere with no cell service or even roadside attractions to marvel at.
Flickr/mattybravo
When you finally arrive in Ruidosa, you might honestly be underwhelmed by the few dilapidated buildings and trailers that may or may not be inhabited. Even so, there’s a certain beauty about communities this small and isolated from the rest of society. You can keep driving from here if you wish, but nobody knows where the road will lead you…
Flickr/mattybravo
Have you ever driven down Pinto Canyon Road? What about any of these scenic drives in Texas?
Flickr/mattybravo
Flickr/memarieme
Flickr/Georgia Harper
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