Welcome to the border! A land of two cultures, dark skies, blazing sun and dizzying views. The last place where the West is still being won.

After creating the Earth, placing the birds in the air, the fish in the sea and the stars in the sky, the great Creator gathered all of the leftover rocks and placed them in the Big Bend.

-Native American Legend

The Ten Bits Ranch is situated in the high Chihuahuan Desert in far west Texas within the heart of the great bend of the Rio Grande River. The landscape of Big Bend is the result of millions of years of mountain building, volcanism, faulting and erosion. Desert flats give way to yawning canyons, lofty peaks and the winding Rio Grande River. At an elevation of 3200’, the Ten Bits Ranch is situated deep within this rugged, desert mountain country. From a low of 1800’ along the Rio Grande, elevations exceed 7000’ within the high Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park . Daytime temperatures at the Ranch average around 60 degrees in winter but can exceed 110 during the hot summer months. Spring and autumn temperatures can fluctuate dramatically but highs are usually in the 70’s and 80’s with lows from the 30’s to 50’s. Annual rainfall averages a scant 8 inches but luckily, desert storms do produce intense, nourishing cloudbursts, mostly during the summer months. For the latest weather and additional travel information check out the: Big Bend National Park Official NPS Website

The Ten Bits Ranch is located only15minutes north of the Big Bend National Park west entrance. Also within easy driving distance are Big Bend Ranch State Park, the annual Terlingua Chili Cook-off (held in November) and the historic Terlingua Ghost Town along with conveniences such as fuel, groceries, banking, and postal facilities. Other regional attractions include the town of Alpine and Sul Ross State University, McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis historic site and the Marfa Mystery Lights. All are within an hour’s drive or so from the Ranch. The nearest official U.S./Mexico border crossing - at the town of Presidio - is also only an hour’s drive away along State Highway 170, considered to be the most scenic route in Texas.

“Somewhere…Out There" may seem like the truth during your visit, however the Ten Bits Ranch is easily reached via North County Road just 2.3 miles west of Texas State Highway 118 approximately 65 miles south of Alpine, Texas. North County Road intersects Hwy. 118 approximately 1 mile south of the Longhorn Ranch Motel along with Tvo's Restaurant, so watch for them! Although a public thoroughfare, North County Road is unpaved but is regularly maintained and will provide access to almost any normal automobile.

If you are driving North on Hwy 118 from the Big Bends West Park entrance or from Highway 170 from Presidio/Lajitas, go approximately 15 miles North on Hwy 118 from the intersection of Hwy170 (look for the blue adopt-a-highway trash clean up sign sponsored by Ten Bits Ranch while going up a large hill), 2 miles past that sign is North County Road on your left hand side. If you past the Longhorn Ranch Motel/Tivo's Restaurant then you have gone too far and need to turn around.

Ten Bits Ranch is not allowed to put a highway sign marking the turn off on to North County Road due to Lady Bird Johnson's highway beautification law. Therefore, it is best to find the Road and our Ranch during daylight hours. Also, if it is raining when you arrive at the Longhorn Ranch Motel/Tivo's Restaurant please give us a call using their pay phone to see how the road conditions are on North County Rd (cell phones do not work from Alpine until reaching Study Butte/Terlingua). Cell phones should work in Study Butte/Terlingua. Therefore, if coming in from the West Park entrance and it is raining please give us a call to see how the road conditions are on North County Rd. Rain is very rare in the Desert and this is just precautionary advise. If for some reason we fill the road is unfit for your vehicle, we will have you park at the Longhorn Ranch Motel and pick you up in our 4x4 vehicle.

For travelers wishing to incorporate commercial air travel in their plans, the nearest airports are located in El Paso (a 4 hour drive) or Midland - Odessa ( a 3 hour drive) from the Ranch. Automobile rentals are available in most of the larger towns and in Alpine at Alpine Auto Rentals. The Big Bend is remote, distances are great and the traffic is light, so enjoy the view! For printable directions click HERE! Please use our directions. Map Quest, Google Maps, vehicle navigation systems and other computerized system send you in the wrong direction.