Overall Route Rating
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3.5 out of 5 Rider Rating 3.5
5 Reviews

Motorcycle Route Author

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Dec 31, 2006

Rider Reviews

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Guest
April 27, 2011
Interesting... I've been riding FM4 for the last…
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Guest
July 27, 2009
An addition to the Tadpole Camp road route. West…
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Written Directions

Start in Palo Pinto, TX which lies about 60 miles west of Ft. Worth. From Palo Pinto simply take Santo Hwy (AKA Route 4) south down to and through the town of Santo, TX. Continue a short while past to Interstate 20.

Scenery

Sort of short but worth the gas. Excellent scenery set in rolling hills with tree lined 15 mile stretch of "real purty" starting in the town of Palo Pinto. The best scenery ends at junction of Interstate 20. Overall it's a "mini" version of some great hill country type cycling.

Drive Enjoyment

All paved, smooth single lane road with winding roads and some fairly nice turns and inclines. Keep in mind there is almost no shoulders and limited pull offs for camera ops

Tourism Opportunities

No parks or attractions other than scenery. Small "quick" type store w/gas in towns of Lone Camp and Santo. For example in Lone Camp you can find cold drinks, restrooms and hot snacks/food at a small store (approx 10 miles in) or continue on another 4-5 miles to Santo for the same amenities.

You will also pass by Palo Pinto Reservoir and may want to stop by and take in the lake scenery or some fishing. There are also some bed and breakfast type places on the reservoir.

By the way, if you are heading out to this route from Ft. Worth, you'll pass through Mineral Wells, TX. If while in Mineral Wells, you find yourself hungry, I would recommend Pulidos Mexican Restaurant or any of the many other "eateries" in that area.

Motorcycle Road Additional info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .
 

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Guest
April 27, 2011
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Sport
Interesting... I've been riding FM4 for the last 15 years and never heard it called "Santo Highway"! If you're only riding from Palo Pinto to Santo, that certainly is the best stretch of the road, but you're missing out on the other 75 miles of FM4. Start in Cleburne at Hwy 67 and follow FM4 north from there (or in Graford and go south). Follow it through downtown area of Granbury, through Lipan and then into Santo (that's about 55-60 miles). Not real technical twisty roads but loads of fast sweepers that are very entertaining. The next 15 miles into Palo Pinto are among the more fun roads in north TX and I'll often ride out from the DFW area just to do this stretch a few times. But keep going north on FM4 from Palo Pinto - the first few miles are more of the same before the road really straightens out a lot (good for high speed runs... traffic is very sparse!), ending in Graford. 90+ miles of continuous fun on the same road... Turn around and repeat going the other direction :)
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Guest
July 27, 2009
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
An addition to the Tadpole Camp road route. West from Tadpole Camp about 1/2 mile. Left turn under Palo Pinto Lake Dam and follow very windy, twisty (go slow) road through beautiful country to Gordon, TX. West from Gordon to Mingus, South to Smokehouse Restaurant for a meal. WK Gordon museum across I-20. This area is an old coal mining town and full of history. Many other back roads are accesible from here. Great ride. If you need bike repairs in this area Smitty's Cycles is available 940-325-3253 in Mineral Wells'
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Guest
June 8, 2009
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
About half way between Santo and Palo Pinto is tadpole camp. Take the road to the west and then the first right to go below the dam spillway. The county road becomes narrow and the bends and cutbacks are tight, continue on to FM 108 and follow the signs to take you completely around Palo Pinto lake and back to tad pole camp. Not many signs be prepared to use dead reckoning! Just keep to the right.
A straight shot to Lone Camp once you go over bridge by the power plant.
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