Soon to be a Texan!

Hey ya'll(too soon?), we are closing on a home to the West of Mckinney in the next few weeks and we are super stoked! We would be slowly moving in the span of a year before we are fully situated. I believe Texas is kind of flat but are there any recommendations for where to go offroading? I've been using google earth to get a sense of the area and I got to say...you guys know how to eat for sure!

 

Explore West of Abilene and West of the 100th meridian, that's were you'll find actual "Texas" A lot of county roads qualify as offroading. The terrain is interesting until you get up on the Great Plains - up there the land is flatter than a mule's dick. Anything out there called a "river" might be sand and fun to explore / dig out of. Check the forecast 300 miles upstream of any sand adventures you might plan. FYI, all snakes are rattlesnakes until killed an proved otherwise. Also remove any obvious evidence of your not-from-around-here status and don't attempt to speak to locals.

 

Got it. I will explore a bit more on Google Earth to see what you're mentioning.

I take it that locals aren't too fond of outsiders from what you're saying? But is it to the extent of not interacting with them at all? Can't be that bad....can it?

 

It’s not that bad. Texans are full of hospitality if you aren’t an ass.

I disagree on the snakes bit too. Confirm before kill, many of them are beneficial and harmless.

The think to look for in Texas is off-road parks. Most land is private, so outside of a park you’re pretty much on the goodwill of the landowner or a county road. Lots of fun stuff down in the hill country and out west….like big bend west.

 

Hi, I’m a “local” I guess. I’ve lived in North, west and a short time in central. Almost no public land. You’ll have to either go to an off-road park or make friends. Most of my off-roading has been on a deer lease.

Texans are pretty friendly, but I’ve noticed a decline in recent years, we’re getting a lot of people moving here that don’t know how to just be kind(or drive).

Big bend is awesome, but it’s a long haul from almost anywhere.

Don’t kill snakes just to kill them. If you can’t tell a rattler from a coachwhip then maybe don’t go outdoors…

Barnwell near Gilmer is a nice off-road park, so is the one in Bridgeport.

 

welcome. I'm out in Denton and my brother in law's family is in New Hope right outside McKinney. it's nice out there as far as NTX goes. enjoy.

 

BBQ is the great healer. Eat and praise the BBQ, because it is praise-worthy. I've never heard of a bout of fisticuffs erupting because a mans BBQ was praised too much or too frequently. Just keep the comments positive. This is powerful medicine and the mood will sour if suggestions for improving the BBQ are offered, the BBQ cannot be improved. Locations / Day trips - Check out Palo Duro Canyon (Randall Co.) If you stick to secondary roads you will see some pretty county and get a better idea of the land forms and places to explore.

 

I recommend getting your plates changed to Texas plates.

 

I second Big Bend (both national park and the state park).

 

Welcome. What state are you coming from?

 

Welcome! I’m from East TX. Pine trees, hollers, and lakes with big bass, so I’m probably not much help.

My family and I enjoy visiting southeast Oklahoma, Broken Bow area. They have the western edge of the Ouachita Mountain Range that extends over from Arkansas. Very beautiful country, lots of public land, and lots of places to drive in the hills.

 

It's y'all. And welcome. But you'll be surrounded by cement (kind of) in Mckinney to your south and west. Lake Ray Roberts to escape that madness if you like fishing.

We have it all from flat to mountains (big hills) and everything in between. Hidden falls down this way in central Texas if you like to crawl or ride dirt bikes etc.. And of course south Texas has many, many miles of beach to explore and then we have the desert southwest where you find paradise like Big Bend Ranch. Shoosh on the latter though...send folks to the national park instead. Please and thank you.

 

Thank you for that reminder.

 

From an outdoor recreational perspective Texas would probably be my last choice out of the 50 states. There is a reason I see more Texas plates on trucks in parts of Colorado than Colorado plates. Texas is a good place to work and make money, but Texans go somewhere else to have fun.

 

Amen.

This Louisisana boy, is moving to Utah for the very reasons above, despite the fact we're taking a 50% income hit to do so.

 

Texas has plenty to do, it’s just that in the summer when kids are out it’s hot as balls so they head elsewhere.

 

Welcome to Texas

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bulletproofing-2nd-gen-tacoma.734180/

 

Welcome! they've been mentioned already but Barnwell Mountain, Hidden Falls, Bridgeport and Palo Duro Canyon. Apparently there is a new park right near Palo Duro Canyon that just opened that looks pretty sweet, it's called Merus Adventure Park. Where are you moving from?

 

Merus Adventure Park is a blast! The roads/trails kept me entertained and the scenery is beautiful. We did the Green Tour this past March. I plan to return and stick to the Green trails.
I love Big Bend, both parks, your Tacoma will take you to some remote trailheads and will handle all the roads in the National park. The state park is rougher and I have not done all that much over there. Look into Christmas Mountain in Terlingua Ranch, every Texan who off roads should drive up Christmas Mountain.