Three of us did the ATV tour with Randy. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the magnificent scenery. The guide was extremely helpful and patient and let us stop and take pictures along the way. We were unsure about this trip initially but are so glad we did it.
Nothing fast, furious, or “Dukes of Hazzard.” Just a neat, guided ride into the wilds of Big Bend on agile all-terrain vehicles.
Trip details
Price
Driver price: $170/person (this person actually operates the ATV)
Rider price: $85/person (this person rides behind the driver)
This tour requires a $20/ATV non-refundable deposit with the balance due 5 days prior to the date of the trip.
Meeting point
Far Flung Outdoor Center. Click here to see how to find us.
Departure times
Summer departures (May 15-October 1): Once a day at 9:00 a.m.
Fall departures (October 1 – December 1): Twice a day (9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.)
Winter departures (December 1 – February 28/29): Once a day at 1:30 p.m.
Spring departures (March 1 – May 14): Twice a day (9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.)
Check your time zone against FFOC’s time zone here.
Availability
Daily – we are closed Christmas Day
Duration
3 hours
Difficulty
This tour is a beginner to slightly intermediate ride; all guests will be required to participate in a pre-trip safety briefing. Folks, this is a guided tour with the objective of showing you the Big Bend in different way. It is not a high speed, slide around the curves, cut across the desert type of experience. If you are looking to test the limits of an ATV, you will be sorely disappointed in this tour. This tour travels on private land and does not enter the national park.
Required minimum age
You must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate an ATV alone. Riders must be at least 8 years of age.
Maximum capacity
Our trips are intentionally small with only 5 ATV’s going out at one time. Our maximum is 5 single riders or 10 guests riding double.
Included
- Naturalist guides
- Safety equipment (helmet and eye protection gear)
- Ice water; guests should bring their own water bottle
- Pre-trip safety briefing
Not Included
- Texas sales tax at 8.25%
- Energy surcharge of $5/ATV
- Gratuities
About the vehicle
The Polaris Sportsman 570 ATV seats two guests very comfortably. Boy, are these babies fun to drive! But take your choice – ride with a friend or try one for yourself. Either way, you’ll experience the desert in a very unique way!
Frequently asked questions
Spring (March – April) Day: 75-90°F, night: 45-60°F
Summer (May – September) Day: 85-100+°F, night: 70-80°F
Fall (October – December) Day: 70-85°F, night: 45-60°F
Winter (January – February) Day: 55-75°F, night: 30-50°F
Rainfall averages 10-12 inches per year, with the majority of rainfall during the months of July – September.
Because the trip will take us through primitive areas of Big Bend, bathroom facilities are limited. Our guides will carry a basic toilet system, but your choice of restroom will be “pink or blue” bushes or large rocks. You will have access to the Far Flung Outdoor Center restrooms before and after the trip.
Many guests ask us whether tipping the guides is appropriate. If you believe the guide exceeded your service expectations, please feel free to leave a tip (10-15% of the trip price is normal). Tipping is by no means required.
ATV tours require a $20/ATV non-refundable deposit with the balance due 5 days prior to the date of the trip. Cancellations 5 days prior to departure forfeit the deposit amount. Cancellations (including no-shows) within 5 days of the trip departure forfeit the entire cost of the trip.
It is rare for Far Flung to cancel a tour, but in the event that we do, you will receive a full refund (including deposit).
Trip participants must understand and appreciate that riding or driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) involves some risk. These risks include, but are not limited to:
- Forces of nature, including extreme heat, cold, hail, rain, and lightning
- Possible roll-over or loss of control of an ATV driven by you or others related to excessive speed, rough, steep or narrow trails and collisions with other vehicles, boulders, vegetation, wild animals, livestock or other man-made or natural objects
- Accident or illness without access to immediate evacuation or availability of medical supplies and the inadequacy of medical attention once provided.
Participants agree to abide by all rules related to ATV safety as outlined by Far Flung Outdoor Center and/or its guide staff.
Safety notes
- All guests will be required to sign an Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability agreement prior to participating in the tour.
- All guests will be required to wear helmets and some sort of eye protection. Gloves and goggles are recommended and will be available at no additional charge.
- Anyone operating an ATV must be at least 16 years of age with a valid driver’s license.
- Pregnant women will not be allowed to ride or operate an ATV.
- Alcoholic beverages are not allowed on the tour.
- A safety instruction and briefing will be conducted by an FFOC staff member prior to the tour.
We were on the 9am ATV tour on 3/15/2021. Our tour guide was awesome!!!! We loved our tour so much we didn’t want it to end and we’re ready to sign up for another one (but they were sold out). If there is an option to make the ATV tour longer, we’d sign up. We will be back and have already recommended Far Flung to multiple friends.
Your guide Randy was fabulous. He was knowledgeable, friendly, accommodating. He was everything we had hoped for.
Amazing…beautiful sights…and FUN! My wife and I did the ATV tour and Terry was a FANTASTIC guide. We could tell safety was his #1 priority and our group having fun was a close 2nd! He had great stories to tell along the way, his personality was perfect and it was such a great experience! The ATV’s were very comfortable, easy to run and were new. My wife and I are not skinny people and we were both able to comfortably ride together. Our only regret? That we didn’t have the chance to go back and do another tour 🙂 I would 100% recommend this company to ANYONE and if you have the chance to splurge on an activity, this would be it!
This was my second time in Terlingua and my friends first time coming down, but this was all our first time on ATV’s. We couldn’t have chosen a better activity and company than Far Flung! Our guides Randy & Eden were SO friendly, funny and most importantly knowledgeable! The 3 hour ride was beyond worth the price and such an experience! If you can make it through the training course they take you on prior to actually hitting the road, you have nothing to worry about! We had such a great time and will 100% be booking again with you guys in the future for ATVS and the other activities you all have! Thanks so much!
Fantastic experience. Will highly recommend ATV tour to others( in fact already did!!). Loved it!!
A Preview of Your Trip
Get out & explore
Fresh coffee & merch
While you’re at the Far Flung Outdoor Center, start your day off right by indulging in a fresh cup of coffee, homemade muffins, bagels, and kolaches at our on-site coffee shop. Once you’re recharged and ready to go, head on over to our retail shop, pick up some merch, and head out into Big Bend wearing your new threads!