About This Trip
The Twisted Sisters — also called the Three Sisters — is a 100-mile loop through the western Texas Hill Country combining Ranch Roads 335, 336, and 337. Starting and ending in the tiny town of Leakey (pronounced LAY-kee), the loop crams in more elevation change, tight corners, and sheer drop-offs than any other paved road in Texas, and is widely regarded as the best motorcycle route in the southern United States.
Each sister has a distinct personality. RR 337 runs about 21 miles southwest from Leakey to Camp Wood — the most graceful of the three, with broad sweepers and several scenic overlooks above the Frio and Nueces river valleys. RR 335 then runs about 28 miles north from Camp Wood up to a remote junction in the Edwards Plateau, with the longest sustained straight on the loop and big-sky views across the canyon country.
RR 336 is the gnarliest of the three: a 30-mile run back south to Leakey with the steepest grades, the tightest corners, and the most consequential drop-offs. The infamous '15-mile section' near the southern end is reputed to contain 65 curves — riders who've been around the South for a while consistently rank it above Deals Gap (the Tail of the Dragon) for pure technical riding pleasure.
The towns on the loop are tiny — Leakey, Camp Wood, and Barksdale together have fewer than 800 people — and fuel is sparse. Top up in Leakey before starting and again in Camp Wood. The Frio Canyon Lodge in Leakey is the most established motorcycle-friendly base.
Best for: riders looking for a Texas equivalent to Deals Gap — the curves are similar in character but the road is far less crowded.
Best time to ride: March through May (wildflowers, mild temperatures) and October through November. Summers in the Hill Country regularly exceed 100°F and the asphalt gets greasy. Avoid after heavy rain — the low-water crossings can be impassable. Allow 4 to 6 hours for the full loop.
Stops
Leakey, TX — Hill Country Base Camp
A tiny town on the Frio River that has become the unofficial capital of the Twisted Sisters. Frio Canyon Lodge is the long-running motorcycle-friendly base; Mama Chole's Cocina does the best breakfast in town. Fuel here — gas stations on the loop itself are unreliable.
Ranch Road 337 to Camp Wood
The most graceful of the three sisters — 21 miles of broad sweepers, two scenic overlooks above the Frio River canyon, and a steady climb to the Nueces divide before descending into Camp Wood. The warmup stretch of the loop.
Camp Wood, TX — Mid-Loop Stop
A general store, a gas pump, and not much else — but a critical mid-loop fuel and water stop. The 2 Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop has cold drinks, snacks, and a scoreboard wall where riders sign their names.
Ranch Road 335 North
28 miles of high Edwards Plateau riding, with the longest straight on the loop and big-sky views across the canyon country. The road climbs steadily, opens into rolling ranchland, then drops back down into the Nueces drainage.
Ranch Road 336 — The Final Sister
The gnarliest of the three sisters and the climax of the loop — 30 miles back south to Leakey with the steepest grades, tightest corners, and the famous 15-mile section reputed to contain 65 curves. Sheer drop-offs, no guardrails. Ride within your limits.