Hi y'all,

I'm taking my family to S. Padre Island in May and I was wondering: Is there any beach front riding down there? I think I remember seeing one beach on the bay-side of the island w/lot's of ATVs and dirt bikes. Any suggestions for riding down there? Or should I leave the bikes in Dallas?

Thanks,
JonathanXR

I heard that the bikes had to be street legal to go on the beaches.

SOUTH PADRE IS NOT OFF-ROAD FRIENDLY!!! I just called the Park's department, and the local police. They said their beaches are considered public roads, so dirt bikes, ATVs, sand rails etc. are forbidden. Unless you have a green sheet from your local bike shop, you don't ride in S. Padre. This is yet another instance of discrimination against off-road riders.

Let me vent a little: I was in Padre last August and the things I saw on the beach just blew my mind. RVs, BBQs, open fires, all kinds of cars/trucks/vans and SUVs driving all over the place, people tossing their trash in the sand. Yet they say dirt bikes are a menace? EVERY rider I associate with is friendly, courteous, rides safe, and RESPECTS the land. There are a few who give some of us a bad name, but I am willing to wager 99.999% of us are good honest riders. Yet we are banished to overcrowed "off-road" parks, or must drive 50 miles in any direction before we can ride.

REPLIES are encouraged!

The beach is a state road.....have to be street legal if you are a bike, or 4x4...the only atvs are the turtle patrol.
offroad usage on the Island was stopped many many years ago....they couldn't keep folks out of the Dunes...if the vegetation is destroyed...the dunes dissappear...and so does the entire island. They have a hard enuff time with just plan old everyday natural errosion the island really dosen't need man made errosion. btw....you have to be street legal to ride anything in Big Bend National Park also.

Hey there, dennis from South Padre here ....... true, riding on the beaches is fast becomming a thing of the past. I can tell you how and where to ride at the beach, but I'd do that privately. We do have a great riding area at what we call "the port" off of Hwy 48 heading towards brownsville and then we have our local motocross track in los fresnos.
Check out the website I maintain : http://losfresnosmotocrosspark.com and you can get my email address from there if you have anymore questions. dennis