Along the Old Katy Mixed Surface Route - 62 Miles - Challenging

One of the few mostly north-south mixed surface routes out of Stephenville, you'll find yourself riding through some classic Erath County roadie routes until the pavement turns to dirt south of Harbin. A quick jaunt through Tarleton State University will get you on the route followed by almost 10 miles of pavement.

Once across FM 913 (Alexander Road), the route turns mostly to gravel as you cross the Bosque River no fewer than three times en route to the historic town and newly-founded gravel city of Hico.

Settled in the mid-1800s, Stephenville will be your home city for this route. As you ride to Hico, imagine what the world was like in antebellum Erath and Hamilton counties. Very much part of the wild west, this area was home to the Comanches until after the Civil War.

While the route doesn't explicitly visit the unincorporated town of Alexander, you'll travel through its neighbor town of Clairette. Both townships came into existence as the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad came roaring through the area in the early 20th century. More colloquially known as the "Katy" Railroad, the MKT singlehandedly allowed the towns between Hico to grow through the height of the railroad's influence in the 1930's. This branch of the Katy ran on a line roughly from Waco to Stamford with over 30 stops between the two points according to the 1932 map.

As you ride through the area, you catch several glimpses of the Bosque River and experience one of the most beautiful roads in the area as you parallel the river into Hico by way of tree-canopied roads. Keep your eyes peeled for abandoned bridges from former roads and even a few signs of the old Katy railroad bed along the route.

Once past Clairette, you'll cross the Bosque and its tributaries on three separate occasions with two picturesque iron trestle bridges weathered red from decades standing guard over the waters below. Enjoy the tree-covered roads on the approach into Hico--a welcome reprieve to summertime rides.

As you enter Hico, be cautious crossing State Highway 6. From there, refuel at the Allsup's convenience store or spend some extra time at one of Hico's new up-and-coming restaurants. I recommend Barbacellis for pizza and Green Canoe Outfitters for a cold beer or refreshment.

This is a great summertime route as you battle headwinds going into Hico only to be rewarded with a tailwind on the way home. Be aware that there are no refueling stops between Stephenville and Hico and cell phone service can be spotty. Be prepared with plenty of food and water, but most importantly, take your time to take in the beautiful, quiet country roads of Erath and Hamilton Counties.