What is an "Improved Dirt Road?"
An improved dirt road is a maintained gravel road that a standard passenger vehicle should be able to travel. Washboarding and small ruts may be present. However, road conditions are highly dependent on weather; rain often makes these roads more difficult to drive or impassable. Check with a ranger for current road conditions.

Old Maverick Road
The Old Maverick Road runs between Maverick Junction and Santa Elena Canyon. It is a 14-mile improved dirt road that passes through relatively flat desert terrain. A number of historic sites are located near the road.

While usually passable for most vehicles, this road tends to be rough and washboarded; the fourteen miles takes around an hour to drive.

This road is subject to high water and flooding following rainstorms.

Croton Spring Road
The Croton Spring Road is located 9 miles west of the Panther Junction Visitor Center. This is a one-mile road accessing two backcountry roadside campsites.

Paint Gap Road
The Paint Gap Road is located 6 miles west of the Panther Junction Visitor Center along the north side of the park road.

The road is generally in good condition and accessible to all vehicles year-round up to Paint Gap-3 campsite. After that, high clearance is required as the road is very rocky and deeply rutted.

Grapevine Hills Road
The Grapevine Hills Road begins 3.3 miles west of Panther Junction along the north side of the road. The Grapevine Hills Road is generally accessible to all vehicles. After reaching the Grapevine Hills trailhead, the road may become rough and require high-clearance, especially after any rainfall.

The 2.2 mile roundtrip Grapevine Hills Trail is a highlight of this road.

Dagger Flat Auto Trail
This seven-mile road (14 miles round-trip) winds eastward to a small valley where there is a forest of giant dagger yuccas. Allow two hours to complete the drive. The speed limit on this narrow, winding road is 25 miles per hour.

A self-guiding brochure is available that provides a useful key to plants found in the vicinity.

Hot Springs Road
This two-mile gravel road descends a rough, narrow wash to the Hot Springs Historic District. Ruins of J.O. Langford's resort are located nearby, and trails lead to the Hot Spring as well as Rio Grande Village, three miles to the east.

Note: Motor homes and oversize vehicles are prohibited on the one-way sections of the Hot Springs road.