Directions to Muleshoe Bend from Killeen:
Would you believe it's easiest to get there by going through Copperas Cove, out to Lampasas (on Hwy 190) and taking Hwy 281 south from there, through Burnet to Marble Falls? Continue south through Marble Falls. Get off at the Hwy 71 exit and turn left - south or east, whichever option is available. You'll go several miles, and eventually past a sign pointing toward 'Spicewood'.
Just past that is an Exxon, and 'Kountry Kitchen'. There's an intersection just past there for Hwy 191. At the *next* road, you'll take a left. It's a little county road - blue and yellow sign - 413. There is a sign in the corner of the pasture just on the other side of the road that says "Eagle Nest Ranch Home of Jackpot (picture of bull) Spicewood, Texas". The road only goes to the left, and is within sight of the Exxon. There's not much off that road between 281 and there, so you'll know it when you see it.
Take the left onto County Road 413. The road will curve to the right, and another road comes in from the left. Traffic coming from that direction have a stop sign. Both that road coming from the left and the one you curve right on is County Road 404. The next road to the left is County Road 414. Turn left. You'll see a big sign in front of you for the Kountry Kitchen Exxon that's behind you, and on the left, a brown ranch sign that says "www.minidonk.com" and proclaims George Jones the herd sire. No joke. There is also a green sign with an arrow for "Spicewood Airport" and a brown sign for "Windermere". Turn left onto County Road 414. This is the road that will take you into the park.
Follow that road as it twists and turns (ignore subsequent airport and 'Windermere' signs - at the Ridge Harbor sign, just past a low water crossing, curve right). You'll end up at Muleshoe Park! :)
There is an honor system payment box at the gate. $5 per car load. Park in the open area just past the guard shack (it was boarded up when we were there) to the left of the road. Ride out of the parking lot as if you were going to ride down the road you drove in on, and turn immediately left onto the singletrack... and get ready for a ride that you'll agree was worth the drive!
The trail is 6.75 miles long, and I'm sure you'll concur, not nearly long enough. Go on, go for that second lap. You'll be glad you did. There aren't many climbs (novices might find these tricky - we've passed a few people walking), and there aren't many screaming descents, and there aren't a plethora of technical tight-spots. But picture this: there are more curves than that centerfold you've got pinned above your bed. There are trees with leaves that actually fall in autumn and litter the trails with gold that shine in the dappled sunlight. There are cacti to avoid, cedars to brush by and rocks enough to let you know you're in Texas. And, sections of trail smooth as glass and fast as you can pedal that machine you call your baby.
The trail crosses the gravel park road several times, always preceded by a warning sign. The road goes to the lake, which is an extension of the Colorado River and Lake Travis. There must be some great fishing, for the big ole bass boats I saw coming and going while we were at the trailhead!
You can ride down the gravel road and take any of the roads toward the three different camping areas. They'll take you to the lake shore. If you head west, you'll eventually come to a fence at the edge of the park property. There's an inviting doubletrack climb that heads up to the left. If you're just out for a joyride, follow it. If not, don't worry about it: it goes up and around and deadends. But you can get some speed coming back down. Heading back the way you came, if you turn right onto the next red-gravel road, it will bring you back out at the base of the hill you initially came down, that will lead you right back up to the trailhead.
Enjoy the ride!
Contact the Austin Ridge Riders for more info. They put all the great work into the trails out there!