People sometimes ask if I know any good driving roads… Heck yeah I do! Cow Creek Rd is the first in a series of fun to drive roads I’ll be documenting. Fun fact, it follows a creek named Cow! The road is located in Texas Hill Country region 4, about 6 miles west of Lago Vista and 39 miles northwest of Austin. The north entrance is off FM 1174 via Co 328, and the south entrance is off FM 1431. I enter on the south side in the video below.
Cow Creek Rd is 8.4 miles of twists and slight elevation changes. Most of the corners are medium speed, with a few low speed. Visibility around most of the corners is poor. There’s only a couple of short straight sections.
The road surface is well maintained for a road of this type. The main road hazards you have to watch out for are 7 cattle guards and 6 low water crossings. The cattle guards aren’t as rough as some are, but unless you hit them straight they can severely upset your car. The majority of the low water crossings are in good shape and transition smoothly to the road surface. They are higher than on some other roads which means they are usually dry. The 5th water crossing from the south, 2nd from the north, does have a dip on the south side that could damage a very low car. Also, keep an eye out for loose livestock.
If you’re driving for the scenery, it is a beautiful slice of the Texas Hill Country. There’s cliffs and interesting rock formations where the creek has cut through, and the water is usually clear. During the spring, Texas wildflowers can be seen growing on the roadside. There’s only a couple spots where you could pull over to take pictures. Be mindful of private property; pro-tip, the creek itself is public property, so you can stand around in it all you want.
Check out the video below for a virtual drive of Cow Creek Rd. Subscribe for more road reviews!
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Dan is a DIY zealot and autodidact. Real science, pseudoprofessional.
