I've never been up there and only heard that there is some alterna habitat, but to my knowledge from others remember that road from where to where after leaving Presidio not being paved highway in part or whole. If that is true, and the article suggest it is, there are plans to pave it soon. I've only heard of several herpers trying this road up to. What is the country off road on easement like and will herpers try it once it is safer of pavement. I guess the only other thing would be fuel and where to get it since there are only 2 towns , Indio and Candelaria with no doubt a population like Red Ford that no longer has a gas station and distance from Presidio to Candelaria being about the same on map as Terlingua to Presidio ( well over 50 miles ? ). What do some of you think ?..........
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Candelaria paved road ?
Replies (5)
Con, Mike. Get your aging carcass down there and check it out for us.
I drove it maybe 15 years ago, can't remember much about it other than I don't remember seeing many hills close to the road and the only snake I can remember seeing was a suboc on the dirt portion.
John
that should be "Come on, Mike"
The pavement ends outside of Candelaria. From there you have approx. 70 miles of dirt aka Chispa Road which if you follow to the end comes out near Lobo. It's been a while since I was there myself but I do remember some really nice spots along the dirt. I don't remember them being close or easy to get to. If you get stuck out there I'm pretty sure you could die easily.
armed i heard ? I just wonder how much attention that road going up there is getting from the border going ons ? The 2 people that i know that went up there years and years ago stated that the very necessity of necessities was water, some food, 2 vehicles and guns ? Not necessary in that order though. LOL !
Separate off topic note and probably a post by itself. The tourism of the Big Bend region is off at 50 % at this time in which I'm sure due to the show of force of agencies and now military as the El Paso paper reported, the drought being more serious than I even thought, of course gas prices, and the increase of lodging. Got to admit herping reports are coming in very slow or almost non existing from there compared to years past. ( could be my observation scenario though ).
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gas prices put a big dent in tourism this year.
Back to Chispa Road, it's one of the chief smuggling routes in Presidio county. The border patrol has sensors along the road so expect a visit if you go that route. I'd be one step ahead and let them know you're heading that way in case you don't come back 
Just do a google search on "Chispa Road" and you'll find a couple articles that will illustrate clearly what goes on out there.
Forky
