Caprock Canyons

Caprock Canyons /texasparksandwildlife #TxStateParks www.texasstateparks.org/socialmedia Park Reservations: (512) 389-8900 texasstateparks.org State Park and Trailway 287  Estelline No motorized vehicles on Trailway. Current negative Coggins required. N @TPWDparks Terminal Parnell Station 86 Tampico Siding Estelline Plains Junction Trail 10 Miles MM 259 70 Trailhead Access/ Parking (no parking at Quitaque East) Bridge MM 247 657 256 MM 237 LEGEND MM Mile Marker (approximate) Town Public Telephone Comfort Station Silverton Caprock Canyons State Park Grundy Canyon Trail 12 Miles Turkey Depot 86 Quitaque East Mullin’s Rise MM 278.5 MM 275 207 Quitaque Quitaque Depot MM 279 MM 283 689 MM 284.5 South Plains Terminal 689 689 While at the tunnel: • Do not touch bats – alive or dead! 70 • Do not make loud noises. • Do not shine lights or throw objects at bats. • Do not linger inside tunnel. MM 301.5 Clarity Tunnel South Plains Los Lingos Trail 5 Miles 1065 BATS The tunnel lies approximately 13 miles east of the South Plains parking lot and 4.5 miles west of the Monk’s Crossing parking lot. A colony of Mexican free-tailed bats inhabits the tunnel, with the largest bat populations occurring from April through October. The bats are very sensitive to traffic, noise, light and human presence. Los Lingos Creek Monk’s Crossing Clarity Tunnel Turkey Kent Creek Trail 10 Miles Water (availability of drinking water is not dependable) Oxbow Trail 10 Miles MM 269 Camping John Farris Station MM 289 Quitaque Canyon Trail 17 Miles • Raise as little dust as possible as you pass through. • Wear long sleeved outerwear and hats while traveling through tunnel. • Please walk your bicycle through the tunnel. MM 295 TPWD receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies and is subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and state anti-discrimination laws which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any TPWD program, activity or facility, or need more information, please contact Office of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church VA 22041. © 2015 TPWD PWD MP P4506-079K (4/15) P.O. Box 204 3 miles north of Quitaque on F.M. 1065 Quitaque, TX 79255 (806) 455-1492 Regulations • NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES PERMITTED. • It is an offense to operate an unauthorized vehicle, including a motorcycle, motorbike, mini-bike, all terrain vehicle, golf cart, etc. • ALL Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Rules and Regulations apply. • Please do not trespass. Creek beds and side roads off trailway lands are private. • Defacing or removal of plants, rocks and artifacts prohibited. • No open ground fires. • No hunting or firearms. • Public consumption or display of an alcoholic beverage is prohibited. Completion times are only estimates. Actual completion times can take much longer and vary according to weather, surface conditions, user’s physical condition and luck. Estimated Completion Time: Hikers: 5–7 hours Bikers: 1–1.5 hours Horseback Riders: 3 hours Trail Information: Western end: Parnell Station, MM 247 Eastern end: Estelline (US HWY 287), MM 237 Comfort Station: MM 247.5, MM 237.5 Recommended backcountry site: Parnell Station (MM 247) Estimated Completion Time: Hikers: 2–2.5 hours Bikers: 30–45 minutes Horseback Riders: 1.25 hours 10 miles — access trail at Parnell Station or Estelline. Trail Information: Western end: Monk’s Crossing Trailhead, MM 284.5 Eastern end: Quitaque Depot (TX Hwy 86), MM 279 Comfort Station: MM 284.5, MM 283 Telephone: MM 284.5, MM 279 Recommended backcountry site: Los Lingos Creek (MM 283) PLAINS JUNCTION TRAIL Estimated Completion Time: Hikers: 6.5–9 hours Bikers: 1–1.5 hours Horseback Riders: 3.5 hours Trail Information: Western end: Tampico Siding (FM 657), MM 259 Eastern end: Parnell Station, MM 247 Comfort Station: MM 259, MM 247 Recommended backcountry site: Parnell Station (MM 247) 12 miles — access trail at Tampico Siding or Parnell Station. GRUNDY CANYON TRAIL Estimated Completion Time: Hikers: 5–7 hours Bikers: 1–1.5 hours Horseback Riders: 2.5 hours Trail Information: Western end: Turkey Depot, MM 269 Eastern end: Tampico Siding (FM 657), MM 259 Comfort Station: MM 259 Recommended backcountry site: Westbound from Tampico Parking (MM 259) 10 miles — access trail at Turkey Depot or Tampico Siding. OXBOW TRAIL 5 miles — access trail at Monk’s Crossing or Quitaque Depot. LOS LINGOS TRAIL Bats are known to transmit only two diseases to humans: rabies and histoplasmosis. Very few bats contract rabies and those that do rarely become aggressive. Bats that are easily captured are more likely sick and will bite in self-defense. Therefore, bats should never be picked up. Histoplasmosis is caused be a common ground fungus that lives in soil enriched by bird or bat droppings. A low percentage of individuals may become ill when inhaling large quantities of spore-laden dust. While at the tunnel: • Do not touch bats — alive or dead! • Do not make loud noises. • Do not shine lights or throw objects at bats. • Do not linger inside tunnel. • Raise as little dust as possible as you pass through. • Wear long-sleeved outerwear and hats while travelling through tunnel. A colony of Mexican free-tailed bats inhabits the tunnel, with the largest bat populations occurring from April through October. The size of this colony varies and is very sensitive to traffic, noise, light and human presence. Day-hikers wishing to see the Clarity Tunnel should access the trailway at Monk’s Crossing and hike west. There are no trailway access points between either South Plains or Monk’s Crossing and the tunnel. The tunnel lies approximately 13 miles east of the South Plains parking lot and 4.5 miles west of the Monk’s Crossing parking lot. Round trip from Monk’s Crossing is approximately 9 miles. PLEASE OBSERVE ALL WARNING SIGNS, ESPECIALLY THOSE REGARDING BATS IN CLARITY TUNNEL! THE CLARITY TUNNEL (MM 289) Estimated Completion Time: Hikers: 5–7 hours Bikers: 1–1.5 hours Horseback Riders: 2.5 hours Trail Information: Western end: Quitaque Depot (TX Hwy 86), MM 279 or Quitaque East (No Parking) Eastern end: Turkey Depot, MM 269 Comfort Station: MM 275 Recommended backcountry site: Mullin’s Rise (MM 275) Estimated Completion Time: Hikers: 12–15 hours Bikers: 1.5–2 hours Horseback Riders: 5 hours 10 miles — access trail at Quitaque East or Turkey Depot. Trail Information: Western end: South Plains, MM 301.5 Eastern end: Monk’s Crossing Trailhead, MM 284.5 Comfort Station: MM 301, MM 295, MM 289, MM 288, MM 284.5 Telephone: MM 284.5 Recommended backcountry sites: Near rest rooms at John Farris Station (MM 295) Clarity Tunnel eastbound (MM 289) KENT CREEK TRAIL Be Prepared • Visitor services are limited and sections of the trailway are remote. • We do not recommend traveling the trailway alone. • Carry all water, equipment and supplies needed for your trip. • Drinking water stations and equestrian water tubs are available at many trailheads and developed primitive camping sites. Please note that availability of water is not dependable. During freezing weather and through the winter, water is usually not available! • Portable phones may be useful for reporting problems and emergencies, however, cell phone coverage is limited. • Beware of falling rocks. Rockslides are common in trailway cuts and near tunnel. • Rattlesnakes are common. Always watch where you put your hands and feet! • Do not touch bats — alive or dead! 17.5 miles — access trailway at South Plains or Monk’s Crossing. QUITAQUE CANYON TRAIL Before Proceeding • All visitors must obtain an entrance permit to use parking area and trailway. • Overnight campers must obtain permits at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway Headquarters. • Day-use fees may also be paid at one of the volunteer pay stations located at each trailhead. • Do not tie animals to man-made structures. Welcome to Caprock Canyons Trailway! This 64-mile-long, multi-purpose trailway offers a unique and exciting recreational experience for hikers, bikers and equestrian trail riders. Day-use permits and updated trailway information can be obtained from Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway headquarters: 3 miles north of Quitaque on FM 1065 (806) 455-1492. CAPROCK CANYONS TRAILWAY