From Temple, go the same way as you'd go to get to Rocky Hill Ranch - take the 363 loop around the east side of Temple and stay on it, going south. This turns into Hwy 95 somewhere... one of those mysterious changes of road name/number that only the highwaymen and Californians really know anything about. Stay on 95 all the way to Elgin, where you'll pick up 290 East (left turn). As you know, in Paige (don't blink!) is the turn-off for Rocky Hill. To get to Bluff Creek Ranch, however, take 290 all the way into Giddings. In Giddings, turn south on Hwy 77. As you come into the thriving metropolis of Warda (I'm KIDDING!), you'll see a sign for Owl Creek Road - turn left on Owl Creek. A mile or so down the road will be a cattle guard on your left that leads into a big, pretty pasture. There's a mph sign on the gate post in yellow. Turn (left) and follow the driveway through the pasture (note and adhere to the posted speed limit!) to the barn. You've arrived!
Dr. Paul and Susan Nolan live in the barn (right side) with their children (I know they have 2 small boys, but I don't know if that's all). Park at the barn and go in to register and pay your $5.50 fee. They'll also give you a map. You can camp there, out beyond the barn (the Nolan's have Arabian horses and Longhorn cattle), but I don't know the fee for that.
Ok, you've got the directions, you know how much money to bring (at least... don't pass up eating a famous Warda Burger on your way out - back at the highway, turn left - you can see the place from Owl Creek Road). Let's get to the riding!
I've ridden the trails at Bluff Creek Ranch 4 times. Once, a few years ago, when I was still riding my rigid Jamis, and went with my roommate, who I saw go right over (still on his bike) while descending Gas Pass (back when it wasn't 'paved', and was a downhill). The next three times were within the space of a weekend, and the last time around was my race. I rode first with Mary Hodge, expert class racer who whupped my ass (like, DUH!), then turned almost right around and rode with ("followed" is more accurate) an expert class racer, a sport, and a guy who, like me, probably should be racing sport, but just doesn't have the training time under his belt. After riding with Mary on the mistaken assumption (purely my own) that I'd at least be able to keep her in sight... and KILLING myself (pant pant pant... why is my vision wavering?), I decided that ok, I'd ride with these guys (they promised to go slow, and I BELIEVED them!) to get more of a feel for the trail. Remember, I hadn't ridden it AT all in, probably at least 3 years, and it was "backwards" then to boot. Then I raced... and although I'd passed all but two women by the time we reached the campground, I kept a consistent but fairly slow pace behind the 2nd place rider for most of the race. I placed 2nd... 2 minutes and some change behind the first place woman. Do you think I rode too hard the day before?? :P Two lessons here: pre-ride your course BEFORE the day before, and don't go out and ride with Mary Hodge the day before your race. ;)
The riding, I thought, was similar to that at Rocky Hill Ranch... and no wonder - take a look at the map, and you'll realize how close these two places are, especially as the crow flies! There's the same tight, twisty singletrack through the pine trees, with up and down dips through creek crossings. The course was wet, but the sandy soil dried quickly, and it actually was pretty good on race day. I thought this course was a tad bit more technical than Rocky Hill, mostly because of the rooty sections going the "up" direction of the dips. There was only one grind of a climb - Gas Pass. This comes after a downhill more tortured by water bars than most trails in California. On my first run with Mary, I made it about 3/4 of the way up, and was happy with that. With the guys and on race day, thank you, no, I think I'll get off and push. I was dismayed later to find that the winner of my race had ridden to the top. One thing I pride myself on is my climbing ability, especially in Texas, having come from California!
Look at the trail map, and you'll get an idea of how much *trail* is packed into the area on this ranch. The loops and gyrations the trail goes through is spectacular. I had no idea where I was while I was riding - sometimes I'd hear the PA system, and know I was close to the main start/finish area... other times I couldn't see or hear squat. The course here was longer than at Rocky Hill, and like Rocky Hill, there are some sections of fire road to unwind on.
I think I would have thought it was a fun course if I'd been able to get familiar with it at my leisure, rather than "racing" around it with Mary & the guys, then *racing* it on Sunday, when I was pretty much spent. When I was tired on race day, there were some ups of the dips that I just didn't have the strength to make... and I fell right off that last cattle guard. :P
It's a fun place to ride - a little far from Central Texas for any kind of regular riding - and the people are friendly. They put on a great race. :)