Pinto Canyon: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

Ranch Road 2810 leads out of Marfa and you will see miles of open grassland with golden and green swaying grazing cattle scattered about. The rolling hills seem endless—but drive far enough, and the landscape shifts. 

Around 32 miles southwest from Marfa the pavement abruptly ends. The gentle plains are replaced by craggy rock and dramatic mountains. Continue driving and you will descend into Pinto Caon along the Pinto Canyon RoadOne of the most beautiful drives in Texas. 

David Keller is the author of the book “In the Shadow of the Chinatis,” A book chronicles the history and development of the canyon. You can see all the way to Mexico from that point. You’re descending into a gigantic chasm. It’s almost otherworldly.”

Pinto Canyon is the result of an ancient volcano, which was more powerful and bigger than Mount Saint Helens. It erupted with fire and magma. The volcanic eruption created the rough volcanic peaks that have been shaped over millennia by erosion and tectonic movement. 

It winds past geological wondersPinto Canyon Road passes by evidence of the canyon’s human history. Ranchers settled the land after it was a stronghold among Native American tribes (especially the Apache), and the Eight Section Act of 1905, which doubled how much land could be homesteaded. 

Families struggled in the harsh environment to survive. They experienced both generations of success and tragedies straight out of a TV show. Keller’s book states that “a landscape can never be a backdrop to history. Here, aridity, and toppled terrain are the main players.” [conspired] “Force it centre stage”

The state of Texas, which owns the property near the Chinati Range, is working to turn it into a park. Chinati Mountains State Natural Area.

Pinto Canyon Road offers the best view of this amazing country for the time being. For the road to be passable, your car must have high clearance and four-wheel drive. Hairpin turns and gravelly washes make the road slow. The trip from Marfa Hot Springs to Chinati Hot Springs is likely to take two hours. Before you drop into the canyon, download the map onto your phone. Stock your car with water and a map. 

Pinto Canyon Road is not suitable for driving in rainy or bad weather. Be alert to flash floods if you are driving in the rainy season, between July and Septembre. You should not cross a flooded stream. Just wait until the water drops and then proceed to cross. 

You should be aware of the following before you plan a trip along Pinto Canyon Road.

Start your journey in Marfa.

Over the years, the small town of Marfa This is a favorite of artists looking for solitude in the desert. The historic Hotel is a great place to stay before you drive. Hotel Paisano The posh Hotel Saint George. Enjoy a leisurely morning exploring the town. Donald Judd’s gallery features large-scale art. Chinati FoundationCheck it out! Moonlight Gemstones You can purchase (or at least see) this feathery, creamy wonder. Set out for your scenic drive in the mid-to late afternoon when the light is perfect.

Look down into the canyon. 

You can access Pinto Canyon Road—a 60-ish mile stretch of Ranch Road 2810—by driving south out of Marfa on South Hoover Street. You will drive 32 miles across the Marfa Plain, before you reach Pinto Canyon. After entering the Pinto Canyon, you can stop at a pullout to enjoy the views of the volcanic landforms crisscrossed with livestock trails before continuing down the canyon.

See the remnants of ranching’s past.

You’ll see old fences, ruins and adobe homes as you drive along the road. Several families settled in the canyon—one, the family of goat-herd-turned-successful rancher Jose Prieto, stayed the longest. Prieto was a Mexican-born immigrant who began living in a mountain dugout before establishing a ranch of 12,000 acres. He endured devastating droughts, financial instability during the Great Depression and a series family tragedies which would ultimately devastate his home and lead to them leaving the canyon.

Keller says that “Jose Prieto’s house can be seen from the road.” There are many physical signs of Pinto Canyon’s past that reveal that it was once a small town. It was more populated then than today.”

Take pictures of the Chinati Mountains.

Chinati Peak can be seen on the left as you progress further into canyon. The mountain, which is 7,728 feet high, is the highest point of Presidio County. The Apache word for the Chinati Mountain Range is most likely to have inspired its name. ch’íná’itíhThe word “gate” is a synonym for “mountain pass.”

Enjoy a relaxing soak at Chinati Hot Springs. 

Towards the end, there is a fork in the road. The path on the left will lead you to a beautiful desert hot springs resort, Chinati Hot Springs. Water from the deep earth surface is around 113 degrees Fahrenheit. The steaming water of the tiled pool is a relaxing place to relax under a cottonwood grove. You can reach a cool pool with a nice view by walking uphill. Chinati Hot Springs doesn’t have day passes, and they book up fast. 

See the Ruidosa Parish Church. 

Pinto Canyon Road ends at Ruidosa, where it meets FM 170. This tiny riverside community has a piece of history that is worth exploring. El Corazón Sagrado de la Iglesia de JesúsThe Sacred Heart of the Church of Jesus. The Ruidosa church was constructed in 1915. In the 1950s the building began to fall into disrepair as Ruidosa’s population decreased. Friends of the Ruidosa Church, along with preservation experts, is now working to restore the historic building. 

Drive the River Road

The River Road is a section of FM 170 that offers scenic views. Following the Rio Grande’s contours through Big Bend Ranch State ParkThe River Road is a winding road that passes by hoodoos, and an eerie overlook known as the Big Hill. Closed Canyon is a slot-canyon with smooth, high walls that can be accessed from the road. The road will be lined with tall, lanky trees in the spring. Big Bend bluebonnets.