Grid Field DL

14 locations - Dryden - Ranch to Market Rd - Talley-2 - Chinati Natural Area - DL79-DM70 Grid Line - DL79-DL89 Grid Line - Rancherias - Papalotito Colorado - Yedra 2 - La Mota 2 - Faver Ranch Road - DL88-DL89 Line - Sotol Vista Overlook - Hwy 99

Potential VHF rover sites in grid DL. Be careful.
DL dimensions are 2111.8 by 1623.5 miles.
Hover mouse over a map marker for more about the grid and site.

Dryden, DL89xx74

Near city of Dryden, Terrell County, TX, Altitude 2030
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL89, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-07-11
Comments by: Robert W5AJ

This is a local high spot in the northeast corner of DL89, right off of Hwy 90. My parking spot was 100 feet off Hwy 90 and about 12 feet above it.

First, it's most likely you didn't work me in DL89 in July 2024. Conditions stunk. Only two leaders made it into the log.

The side road is rocky -- if you have low riding auto, this is not the place for you. I took the family car and kept the tires on the high ground. It was difficult to get stakes in the ground and I was happy took a short 16-foot high mast. Future trips may set up little further north and closer to where land elevation decreased.

There is fair amount of traffic on Hwy 90. I saw several DPS, Border patrol vechicles and 18-wheelers on Hwy 90, compared to almost no traffic north of Dryden. If you drive the road between Dryden and Sheffield you'll understand why you don't see 18-wheelers on that road! What a roller coaster.

This was my family car going on a Rover mission (technically, The Boss says it's hers) chosen partly to test how to pack so I can operate 50 Mhz on family trips. A bigger antenna doesn't fit, so The Moxon is the antenna of choice for trips this vehicle. Gasoline cost for the trip was way less than the truck and the car is fairly RF quiet while supplying AC. The rig operates from a 100 Ah battery, not the car battery.

I shut down about 9PM, and by midnight I was eating Whataburger on the south side of Midland. The distance makes this about furthest away I'll operate for a day trip from my QTH.

Read more W5AJ adventures at w5aj.eqth.net

Driving directions: One picture shows a ground view, entrance to site is seen just to right/east. The site is further up at highest area of side road

Restrictions: Don't expect to buy gasoline in Dryden. Not much of anything there.

Ranch to Market Rd, DL79xx75

Near city of Marfa, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4018
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-06-03
Comments by: Robert W5AJ

This is a local high spot slightly south of the DL79-DM70 grid line with a nice wide area alongside the road. Park between the road and the fence.

As is typical for locations that are far south in West TX, you need good Es. We don't recommend going unless you expect GOOD Es.

Fair Cell phone service. No power lines, noise ran S0 to S1 (band noise?). The grass had been mowed. This is out of the way, only two SUVs went by during the morning I was there.

Driving directions: Drive south out of Marfa TX, in a few miles turn left and go south on Hwy 169, continue into DL79.

Restrictions: Don't park near the Red Ant bed.

Talley-2, DL88jx78

Near city of Panther Junction, Brewster County, TX, Altitude 2000
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL88, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-05-24
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Talley-2 is the most favored campsite in Big Bend National Park to activate DL88.

It is 0.19 miles south of the DL88-89 grid line.

There are also Talley-3 and Talley-4 but they are not recommended. They are lower and are deep in a mesquite thicket along the river at the end of the 6-mile long Talley Road. The last mile of the Talley Road (approaching the Rio Grande) is especially rough and mesquite will scratch the hell out of your side panels.

DL88 activations include:

• Dec 2022 John NA6L
• Oct 2022 Dave KG5CCI
• June 2012 Marshall K5QE and Danny N5OMG
• May 2011 Dave NJ0W

In addition to restrictions listed below, we recommend:

• Recommend buying a "Back Country Road Guide" for $4.95 from the Park website.
• Recommend bringing traction boards (like MaxxTrax) for self-recovery.
• Recommend a sat phone for emergencies. There is no cellphone service.
• Recommend StarLink for internet access.

Driving directions: Check in with rangers at the Panther Junction Visitor Center. Ask about the current best route, because it changes with conditions. They will usually have you avoid Elephant Tusk because it's a very bad road.

Expect in-park travel time to be 2.5 to 4.5 hours depending on conditions and your driving speed.

Restrictions: Big Bend has different rules for different types of camping:

1. Primitive Roadside Camping – no reservations, in-person check-in at Ranger Desk. There are sixty-four sites: 23 of the most popular can be booked in advance, 41 are booked only "day of" and includes River Road. (This is Talley-2)
2. Wilderness Camps – can book up to 180 days in advance (get a backup reservation)
3. Back Country Camps – this is for backpackers, not for Talley-2.

• No campfires
• No generators
• You can run your engine to recharge batteries. Limited to 15 minutes at a time.
• Pack out all toilet paper
• Maximum 2 vehicles, 8 people, no trailers
• After rainfall, River Road and Talley Road are muddy and may be impassable to all vehicles.
• A "high clearance 4WD vehicle" which is an SUV or truck type vehicle, with at least 15 inch tire rims or more, with a low gear transfer case, designed for heavier type use than a standard passenger vehicle, with at least 8 inches of clearance or more from the lowest point of the frame, suspension, or differential, to the ground, and including a means to power both front and rear wheels at the same time.

Chinati Natural Area, DL79sx38

Near city of Marfa, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4800
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

A modest ridge line might have a wide spot for camping in the Chinati Mountains Natural Area.

DL79-DM70 Grid Line, DL79wx29

Near city of Marfa, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4862
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Remote back country unpaved road.

DL79-DL89 Grid Line, DL79xl95

Near city of Marfa, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4163
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2025-03-24
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Big Bend State Park Main Road has a wide spot here on the eastern edge of DL79.

Rancherias, DL79xj98

Near city of Big Bend NP, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4131
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

A dry campsite on the grid line DL79-DL89 in Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Papalotito Colorado, DL79xl87

Near city of Presidio, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4167
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Yedra 2, DL79xm61

Near city of Presidio, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 3944
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

La Mota 2, DL89am36

Near city of Presidio, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4127
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL89, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Dry campground, no services, in the Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Faver Ranch Road, DL79uv61

Near city of Presidio, Presidio County, TX, Altitude 4403
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL79, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-26
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Wide spot on a slight hill right on E Hwy 67.

DL88-DL89 Line, DL88jx79

Near city of Castolon, Castolon County, TX, Altitude 2018
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL88, Beam heading
Last update: 2024-03-20
Comments by: Barry K7BWH

Sotol Vista Overlook, DL89hf41

Near city of Alpine, Brewster County, TX, Altitude 4111
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL89, Beam heading
Last update: 2022-12-01
Comments by: John NA6L

Hwy 99, DL99xf18

Near city of Dabney, Uvalde County, TX, Altitude 1020
See Google, Bing, OpenStreetMap, DL99, Beam heading
Last update: 2020-01-10
Comments by: Gary KG5THG