Overall Route Rating
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4 out of 5 Rider Rating 4
22 Reviews

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By Guest (0 McR Points) on Apr 30, 2009

Rider Reviews

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Guest
August 1, 2009
I live in Mineral Wells which is just to the east…
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Guest
August 12, 2009
FM4 is one of the best roads in north TX... can…
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Written Directions

We were starting from Granbury on FM 4 and went north thru Santo/Lone Camp/Palo Pinto. This section of FM 4 is mountainous(for Texas) and very twisty, a great ride! Continue FM 4 north and take a left when it runs into Route 254. Take 254 west about 6 miles and you will come to a fork in the road and want to go right and get on Hwy 16 heading northwest. After a mile you will see FM 2353 on the left - take a left there and you'll head south ... this is a ride around the east side of the lake. Don't miss the look out over the dam, its a beautiful view of the lake and the valley below that you will soon be riding in. Continue on FM 2353 until it runs into Hwy 16 where you want to take a right heading south (now back on Hwy 16) to Brad/Metcalf Gap/Strawn. Now take Hwy 108 thru Mingus and continue south on Hwy 108 to FM 1188 turn left over to Morgan Mill and pick up FM 1189 to Lipan, pick up FM 4 in Lipan and continue back into Granbury. Nice excursion for the day.

Scenery

This is the best kept secret motorcycle ride for North Texas views and lies just about 60 miles west of Dallas Ft. Worth. It has lots of mountain views from the roads, you'll drive around Possum Kingdom Lake while taking in some great lake and cliff views.

Hwy 4 heading south from Graford thru Palo Pinto & onto Santo is a really nice ride to do in the fall. There is actually some fall color, not like east Texas, but for a day excursion from the Metroplex, not bad!

Drive Enjoyment

This ride will provide you with both twisties and straight-aways. Overall these are good road and well maintained. There is plenty of room with wide with areas to pull off if needed to take a break or take in the views!

Tourism Opportunities

Lots of small towns with gas stations. Strawn has 2 nice restaurants - Mary's Cafe and a steak house across the road from Mary's, sorry but I can't remember the name. PK Lake has restaurants too, gas stations as well. There are also a couple of restaurants in Thurber just south east of Strawn on Hwy 108 & I20. Great Homemade Brownie Sundae at New York Hill Restaurant in Thurber. Which is a great topping off to the wonderful Chicken Fried Steak at Mary's in Strawn!

Motorcycle Road Additional info

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

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Shaylin
April 23, 2021
24 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
Nice, laid back ride
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Guest
July 25, 2009
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Standard
I grew up in this area and this route is very, very nice. I took my husband on it last year, he thought it was great. There is (was) a little store/bar on hwy 4 in the Tadpole Camp (the little valley between Santo and Lone Camp) that is for bikers, not sure if it's still there. A friend used to live there years ago. Also if you turn off at that little store and head west, you'll find some nice roads back in there that go around Palo Pinto Lake. Ride safe!
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Guest
July 12, 2009
0 McR Points
Motorcycle Type : Touring
You are exactly right about this being great country to ride. But, one correction - it's 60 miles west of DFW, not east.
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