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Texas Hill Country Epic

Dates: ~~April 7 – 15, 2013~~ *Closed*
October 20-28, 2013

547 miles – 61 miles daily average
$2050 (single)
$1550 (double)

Price includes hotel on night of arrival day (Saturday), but not on the final day back in New Braunfels. Shuttles can be provided to/from San Antonio airport at both ends of the route for a small fee.

Since the founder of BikeQuest grew up in San Antonio, he’d like to lead bicycle tourers on a marathon through his old stomping grounds of the Texas Hill Country that he enjoyed for over 25 years. The tour will start and end in the historic German town of New Braunfels, which is 25 miles NE of San Antonio.

New Braunfels serves as one of the gateways into the hill country region. The Texas Hill Country is well known in spring for it’s expansive sea of bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush nestled among the live oaks and prickly pear cactus. We’ll ride through the German Hill Country on the eastern portion, known for large lakes, gorgeous rolling hills with live oaks, and historic German settled towns of New Braunfels and Fredericksburg. The western portion is the River Region consisting of soft, green canyons, and the Guadalupe and Frio Rivers.

You can enjoy local food favorites such as Tex-Mex, BBQ, German, and sample some Texas wines & biergartens.

Terrain will be rolling, longest climbs will gain about 325 feet over 1.75 miles on a 3% grade. The route will consist mostly of smooth, lightly traveled ranch roads, with an occasional busy road (such as around Canyon Lake, Marble Falls) that has good shoulders. Lodging will be arranged in clean hotels each town provides.

View route photos of Texas Hill Country food and scenery!

Arrival day: Shuttle will be provided from San Antonio airport to starting hotel in New Braunfels. The earlier the better as you get settled, assembling your bike if necessary, orientation, and a group dinner at a local favorite.

Day 1 (Sunday): 58 miles – We’ll head towards Dripping Springs, TX cycling through the quaint town of Gruene (pronounced “green”) where you can eat, antique shop, visit the old fashioned general store and dance hall, plus wine tasting. Then we’ll pedal along the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake Dam, and hill country ranches. Take a breather in Wimberley enjoying some shops, cafes, and maybe stop in at the Wimberley Pie Co. before heading in to Dripping Springs.

Day 2: 60 miles – On to Burnet, TX (jewel of the Highland Lakes) by way of many small, rural ranch roads, passing through Marble Falls.

Day 3-5: 65 miles – We’ll continue to the beautiful German town of Fredericksburg where you can view buffalo and Texas longhorn cattle at the LBJ Ranch which sits along the Pedernales River. We’ll spend days 3 & 4 in Fredericksburg as our base and you can do a choice of loops averaging 55 miles:

• Willow City Loop – Texas most famous ride during bluebonnet season
• Enchanted Rock State Natural Area ride
• Sawickis Hill Country Challenge Loop
• Luckenbach, TX, Wildflower Seed Farm, LBJ Ranch

Fredericksburg serves as the hill country hub, consisting of many wineries, breweries, shops, and restaurants to enjoy as well as friendly locals and beautiful scenery in and out of town. Take a ride on 4 optional loops viewing hill country ranches, free roaming livestock, live oak, prickly pear cactus, wildlife like whitetail deer, turkey, and armadillos.

Ride to and hike Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, which is home to one of the largest pink granite domes in the country. The Willow City Loop is the most popular Texas ride for viewing the blooming bluebonnets in spring. You can also take a ride to Luckenbach, TX, population 3, which was made famous by Willie & Waylon. Today the town maintains a ghost town feel with its small population and strong western roots. One of its two main buildings houses a post office, saloon, and general store. The other is the dance hall. Here, the saying goes that “Everybody is somebody in Luckenbach”, and you can even get a tshirt saying so.

Day 6: 64 miles – to Junction, TX on the outskirts of the hill country, getting a small taste of west Texas scenery.

Day 7: 79 miles – We’ll say goodbye to Junction and head to Kerrville. We’ll ride past the Kerr Wildlife Management Area and through well known spots of Hunt (home of Stonehenge II) and Ingram that are ideal for rest stops along the Guadalupe River.

Day 8: 66 miles – Kerrville to Boerne, hitting Bandera about lunch time, which is nicknamed “The Cowboy Capital of the World” and home for country singers and Hollywood actors.

Day 9: 45 miles – Our last riding day back to New Braunfels on this smooth route. Done! You just got a big taste of the most scenic lands in Texas!

Shuttle will be provided to San Antonio airport for any late afternoon departures and one shuttle the following day.