Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caprock Canyons State Park |
|
|---|---|
View from Haynes Ridge
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Briscoe County, Texas |
| Nearest city | Quitaque |
| Area | 15,314 acres (6,197 ha) |
| Established | 1982 |
| Governing body | Texas Parks and Wildlife Department |
| Caprock Canyons Trailway | |
| Length | 64 miles (103 kilometres) |
| Location | Texas |
| Use | Hiking |
| Elevation gain/loss | 2,776 ft (846 m) |
| Difficulty | Medium |
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is an amazing Texas state park! It's located in Briscoe County, Texas, right on the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado. This park is about 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Amarillo.
The park first opened in 1982. It covers a huge area of 15,314 acres (6,197 ha). This makes it the third-largest state park in Texas. It's a great place to explore nature and see some incredible wildlife.
Contents
Explore the Caprock Canyons Trailway
In 1993, a special trail opened for hiking, biking, and even horseback riding. This trail is called the Caprock Canyons Trailway. It goes right through the park and stretches across Floyd, Briscoe, and Hall counties.
The trailway was created from an old railroad line. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department bought 64.25 miles (103.40 km) of land from the abandoned Fort Worth and Denver Railroad. This old railway used to run between Estelline and South Plains.
-
An isolated butte, a tall rock formation left by erosion.
-
A side canyon carved out by erosion over time.
Weather at the Park
Caprock Canyons State Park is in West Texas. It has a semi-arid climate, which means it's pretty dry.
In January, the average low temperature is about 19°F (-7°C). In July, the average high temperature is around 91°F (33°C). The park gets about 20.4 inches (518 mm) of rain each year.
Plants and Animals You Might See
The park has unique landscapes called badlands. Here you'll find plants like mesquite trees, different kinds of cacti, and juniper bushes. In the canyons, you can see tall grasses, plum trees, hackberries, and cottonwood trees.
Meet the Texas State Bison Herd
One of the most exciting things about the park is that it's home to part of the Texas state bison herd! These aren't just any bison. They are special.
Long ago, a man named Charles Goodnight saved some plains bison from being hunted. He did this because his wife really wanted to protect them. These bison became the ancestors of many bison herds we see today. The bison at Caprock Canyons are pure plains bison, meaning they don't have any cattle DNA.
Other Animals in the Park
Besides bison, you can spot many other animals here. Look for African sheep, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. You might also see coyotes, opossums, raccoons, bobcats, and foxes. There are porcupines, many types of snakes and lizards, and over 175 kinds of birds. Keep an eye out for majestic golden eagles!
Lake Theo, inside the park, is a great spot for fishing. It has bass, catfish, and rainbow trout. In 2012, black-tailed prairie dogs were brought back to a 200-acre (81 ha) area within the park.
-
A Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus).
-
A Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus).
-
Texas plains bison (Bison bison bison) grazing.
