Caprock Canyons

Caprock Canyons SP&TW https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caprock-canyons https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caprock_Canyons_State_Park_and_Trailway Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is located along the eastern edge of the Llano Estacado in Briscoe County, Texas, approximately 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Amarillo. In 1993, a hiking, biking, and equestrian rail trail opened that stretches through the park through Floyd, Briscoe, and Hall counties. The trailway was created after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired 64.25 miles (103 km) of right-of-way from the abandoned Fort Worth and Denver Railroad's lines between Estelline and South Plains.

For assistance using this map, contact the park. Caprock Canyons Home of the Official Texas State Bison Herd State Park Caprock Canyons is a fragile place. Please stay on the trails. Park B ary TEXAS Lower North Prong Trail (Trail NL) 2.9 mi. mi Ro ad Park Store Restrooms #2 9 (d Wheelchair Accessible Showers Gate ir t ) Chemical Toilet . 2200 ft. Elevation .5 mi. Mesa Spur Trail Gate ch Primitive Sites ad Ro Gate Ol d North Prong Spur Trail (Trail NS) 2.5 mi. ty . mi Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail (Trail HR) .5 .5 Extremely Steep & Rugged 2500 ft. Elevation North Prong Primitive Camping Area un Mesa T ra il Headquarters According to Texas state law, it is an offense (Class C misdemeanor) to harm, harass, disturb, feed or offer food to any wildlife. Ra n Extremely 3100 ft. Steep & Elevation Rugged Co T) il M ra (T mi. 0 1. 1 0 . mi Picnic Area Wild Horse Camping Area Canyon Rim Trail (Trail CR) 3.0 o hR Swimming c an dR Ol . mi N Gate k ee Rim Canyon 2 mi. l .6 Spur Trai st ule Cr M (d ir t ) Lo Lake Theo Visitor Center Park Boundary © 2023 TPWD PWD MP P4506-079L (2/23) This publication can be found at tpwd.texas.gov/spdest/parkinfo/maps/park_maps/ #2 9 Ro ty un Co Historical Marker Scenic Overlook Interpretive Center Parking Park Boundary Residence Caprock Partners Store FM 1065 TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Fishing Pier Amphitheater Books, T-shirts, caps, walking sticks and one-of-a-kind gift items are available at the park store located in our park headquarters building. Folsom Historical Site Boat Ramp Playground Markers on trails are approximately 1/2 mi. apart. ad k ee Cr 32 35 33 31 30 29 28 34 26 27 25 23 24 22 21 19 20 17 15 13 1 11 18 3 5 79 16 Honey Flat 2 14 12 4 Camping Area 6 8 10 Group Picnic Pavilion R ail (Tr ad lm es Park Boundary Dump Station dary Park Boun Little Red Tent Camping Area Dry Creek Lake Water and Electric Sites Lodge 2.1 . i. Water Only Tent Sites Equestrian Sites R) il Tra Rim ) on CR ny ail Ca (Tr • CHECK OUT time is noon or renew permit by 9 a.m. (pending site availability). • Public consumption or display of any alcoholic beverage is prohibited. • A maximum of eight people (total of eight people and horses in combination for equestrian camp sites) permitted per campsite. Guests must leave the park by 10 p.m. Quiet time is from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. • Campsite must be kept clean; all trash must be picked up before leaving. Dumpsters are located across from Honey Flat rest rooms. • GRAY WATER AND BLACK WATER MUST BE DISCHARGED ONLY AT DUMP STATIONS. • Gathering firewood prohibited. • All pets must be on a leash less than six feet long. • Equine must have proof of a negative EIA (Coggins) test within the past 12 months. The form VS 10-11 is proof of testing. • When hiking, biking or riding on the trails, TAKE A GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON and pack out what you pack in. ed Riv er Gate Natural Bridge il ra tT in ) Po EP i. e il 2 m gl ra Ea (T PLEASE NOTE 16% Grade 56 65 57 64 58 5960 62 63 61 Private Property No Trespassing r ve Ri Camping Area Little R Park Boundary i. Private Property No Trespassing .5 m mi er Little Red Riv 2.2 m g 38 37 36 4 39 41 0 55 South P ro 42 n 54 43 5152 53 49 5 44 45 46 47 48 0 South Prong Tent ) Ho i. 72 73 74 75 71 76 69 70 68 77 67 66 2442 ft. Elevation .7 Lo Pr wer (Tr ong Sou ail Tra th SL il ) 5m rse Tra il W i l d Ho (T ra il W 1.0 mi. H i. m South Prong Primitive Camping Area 1.2 Extremely Steep & Rugged 1. i. m Climb cliffs & bluffs at your own risk. Upp Pro er Sou (Trang Tra th il S il U) 1m i. i. .2 m Park Boundary h r Nort Uppe g Trail Pron NU) (Trail i. 2.5 m 2500 ft. Elevation #BetterOutside LEGEND • Never surround, crowd, approach or follow the bison. • Do not feed the bison. • If other visitors are putting you in danger, leave the area and notify a park ranger. ound 256 Gate #TexasStateParks TexasStateParks.org/SocialMedia BISON SAFETY • Stay at least 50 yards away from bison. Park Boundary Fern Cave TexasStateParks.org/App PARK RESERVATIONS TexasStateParks.org ParquesDeTexas.org (512) 389-8900 Maintenance 3 miles N of Quitaque on FM 1065 P.O. Box 204 Quitaque, TX 79255 (806) 455-1492 Proud Sponsor of Texas State Parks 

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

For assistance using this map, contact the park. For a web version of the map text, visit our Trails Information page. For information on #TexasStateParks, visit texasstateparks.org Sign up today for free email updates: texasstateparks.org/email /TexasStateParks @TPWDparks @TexasStateParks Sponsor: Whole Earth Provision Co. 

INTERPRETIVE GUIDE The harsh, yet beautiful terrain at Caprock Canyons is distinguished by steep escarpments, exposed red sandstones and deep, highly eroded and rugged canyons. THE PARK WAS PURCHASED IN 1975 IN ORDER TO PRESERVE A LARGE AREA OF RUGGED CANYONS ON THE EASTERN MARGIN OF THE HIGH PLAINS AND FOR PUBLIC RECREATION IN THE SCENIC, RUGGED CANYON COUNTRY AT THE EDGE OF THE CAPROCK. VISTAS OPEN UP ALL AROUND YOU, WITH VIBRANT RED EARTH TONES AND VEGETATION IN ALL DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN. EXPLORE THE PARK’S 15,313 ACRES AND EXAMINE CLIFFS AND RAVINES FOR A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT GEOLOGY IN ACTION. In 1992, TPWD acquired a donation of 64.25 miles of a 1920s era railroad right-of-way stretching from the western trailhead at South Plains atop the Caprock Escarpment to the eastern trailhead of Estelline in the Red River Valley. The Caprock Canyons Trailway opened in 1993 as part of the national Rails-to-Trails program converting abandoned railroad rights-of-way to hiking, biking and equestrian trails. The multi-use trail stretches through Floyd, Briscoe and Hall counties, crossing many original railroad bridges. The most impressive bridge spans more than 200 feet over often-dry Los Lingos Creek. The trailway also runs through the 742-foot-long Clarity Tunnel, one of the last active railroad tunnels in Texas and now home to a population of Mexican free-tailed bats. Erosion is a concern because of the park’s unique geology. Visitors can protect this park by hiking on designated trails and trailway users are reminded to respect the rights of neighboring private property owners. For more information about programs, volunteering or joining the friends group, contact the park or visit our website. CAPROCK CANYONS STATE PARK AND TRAILWAY PROVIDES A STARTLING CONTRAST TO THE FLAT PLAINS THAT MAKE UP MOST OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE, OFFERING ADVENTURES DEEP Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway P.O. Box 204, Quitaque, TX 79255 (806) 455-1492 • (806) 995-3555 www.tpwd.texas.gov/caprockcanyons/ INTO ROCKY CANYONS AND ONTO MAJESTIC RIDGES WITH BEAUTIFUL VIEWPOINTS. © 2019 TPWD. PWD BR P4506-0079N (7/19) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. CAPROCK CANYONS STATE PARK AND TRAILWAY C A P R O C K C A N Y O N S S T A T E P A R K A N D T R A I L W A Y GEOLOGY IN ACTION The rugged beauty of Caprock Canyons State Park has been created over millions of years, shaped by wind and water. The park is located along the Caprock Escarpment, a long, narrow rocky formation as high as 1,000 feet that forms a natural transition between the flat, high plains of the Llano Estacado to the west and the lower Rolling Plains to the east. Streams flowing east from the Llano Estacado flow onto the lower plains through the Caprock Escarpment, then into the Red, Brazos and Colorado rivers. With a downcutting action, tributary drainages of the Little Red River have exposed geologic layers in the park down to the Permian age Quartermaster formation, formed approximately 280-250 million years ago. These layers are commonly referred to as “red beds” because of the red coloration of their constituent shales, sandstones, siltstones and mudstones. Each of the geologic ages exposed by this headwater drainage erosion is characterized by different colorations including shades of red, orange and white. The park’s steep and colorful canyons and bluffs are the breathtaking result of this powerful natural process. The geology of the park greatly affects the flora and fauna. Most sites above the escarpment are on the High Plains and are short-grass prairie, which includes blue grama, buffalograss and sideoats grama. The canyons in the western portion of the park support several species of juniper as well as scrub oak. The bottomland sites along the Little Red River and its tributaries support tall and mid-level grasses including Indian grass, Canada wildrye and little bluestem, cottonwood trees, wild plum thickets and hackberries. The park abounds with wildflowers in the spring and has a variety of yuccas and multi-flowering cacti. CULTURAL HERITAGE T Pronghorn antelope are among the many animals

Bat Etiquette Bats are wild animals and are sensitive to human disturbance. Please remember that this is the bats’ home and you are a visitor here. Mexican Free-tailed Bat Facts h h h Caprock Canyons Trailway h h h S T A T E h P A R K The Bats of h Clarity Tunnel h h h Adults winter in Mexico and possibly further south. h Males and females migrate north separately and roost separately in the summer. h Bracken Cave in Central Texas is home to 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the largest known colony in the world. h Mother Mexican free-tailed bats nurse their own pups, not just any pup. h Pups are born in June and begin flying in August/September. h Southern migration occurs primarily in October. 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 www.tpwd.texas.gov PWD BR P4506-079M (11/19) Dispersal of this publication conforms with Texas State Documents Depository Law, and it is available at Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd. texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Q u i t a q u e , T e x a s Denizens of the Dark! Tread softly when you travel through Clarity Tunnel. You are passing beneath the summer residence of a large colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. These bats migrate from Mexico every year to spend the summer at Clarity Tunnel giving birth and raising their young. The tunnel is also home to a fascinating diversity of life. Thousands of invertebrates live their lives in this tunnel in near darkness, scavenging on bats that fall to the tunnel floor. Even though bats have few natural predators, the presence of a large colony attracts many other animals, including birds, mammals and reptiles that come to the tunnel looking for an easy meal. Mexican free-tailed bats have remarkably acute hearing and can pinpoint the location of flying insects in the dark. They do this by echolocation, emitting high frequency calls that are inaudible to humans and then using their large ears and wrinkled skin flaps as sonar receivers. Clarity Tunnel Burlington Northern built this railroad as part of the Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway in the early 1920s. Clarity Tunnel was named for a railroad official at the time, Frank E. Clarity. The railroad was completed and began regular freight and passenger service between Lubbock and Estelline in 1928. Clarity Tunnel was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This rail line was in continual use until 1989 when Burlington Northern closed it. With the help of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Texas Parks and Wildlife acquired the 64 miles of line in 1992. Funding for development of visitor information and interpretation was provided by the Department of Transportation by a federal transportation enhancement grant. Biologists believe that bats began occupying the Tunnel after the last trains traveled through the Tunnel. However, a long-time resident of the immediate area suggests that bats occupied the Tunnel before the railroad stopped running. No matter when the bats began occupying the Tunnel, we know that the bats’ numbers have increased since 1992. Clarity Tunnel’s bat population is estimated from a few hundred thousand to up to a half a million! Beneficial Bats Mexican free-tailed bats play an extremely important role as insect predators and can consume thousands of pounds of insects each night. One insect these bats prey upon is the cotton bollworm moth, which is an agricultural pest. Threats to Mexican Freetailed Bats The number one threat to Mexican free-tailed bats is probably habitat destruction. Other threats include disturbance at roost sites, vandalism and pesticide poisoning. Diseases Bats are known to transmit only two diseases to humans: rabies and histoplasmosis. Like most mammals, few bats contract rabies. Those that do contract it rarely become aggressive. Transmission of rabies usually occurs through a bite. Therefore, bats should never be picked up. Bats that are easily captured are more likely sick and will bite in self-defense. Histoplasmosis is caused by a common ground fungus that lives in soil enriched by bird or bat droppings. Very few individuals may become ill when inhaling large quantities of spore-laden dust. 

TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE BIRDS OF CAPROCK CANYONS S T A T E P A R K A FIELD CHECKLIST 2018 INTRODUCTION C aprock Canyons State Park is located approximately 5 miles north of Quitaque on Hwy 1065 in Briscoe County. The park consists of 13,916 acres of canyon and prairie landscape including Lake Theo. The park contains a mixed-grass prairie with mesquite and juniper scrub along the breaks of the Caprock escarpment. Many birds make their home here and water sources like creek beds or Lake Theo are great spots for observation. Prairie wildlife including quail are common in the park and their presence helps to measure the health of the prairie ecosystem. Dry Creek Lake is a small pond surrounded by cottonwood, hackberry, and various scrub plants that provide wildlife cover. A wildlife viewing blind is available at this location for visitor use. Bald eagle, golden eagle, and osprey are infrequent visitors, but it is not uncommon to see a few individuals during the fall and winter. Many song birds and birds of prey make their home in the park year-round. Look for red-tailed hawks soaring overhead and American kestrels hovering over the prairie grasslands. Seed eating birds such as the colorful painted bunting are seasonal visitors. The park hosts a monthly bird walk on most every last Saturday of the month. Please check the online events calendar or ask a staff member in the Visitor’s Center for more information. Please help us protect the natural avian communities in our parks by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Frequent use of these tapes disrupts normal avian activity patterns and essential territorial behavior, and may lead to nest failure. Thank you for your cooperation. 1 LEGEND Abundance c – Common (Present, easy to find) f – Fairly common (Present, should see or hear) u – Uncommon (Present, harder to find) r – Rare (Present, hard to find, or may not occur every year) x – Accidental (not usually present, lost, result of an event) Seasons Sp – Spring (March, April, May) S – Summer (June, July, August) F – Fall (September, October, November) W – Winter (December, January, February) Cover: Illustration of American Kestrel by Rob Fleming. 2 CHECKLIST Sp S F W ____ Snow Goose.......................................................f f f ____ Ross’ Goose.......................................................r f f ____ Greater White-fronted Goose.............................r r u ____ Cackling Goose..................................................u u u ____ Canada Goose....................................................c c c ____ Wood Duck.......................................................u u u ____ Green-winged Teal.............................................f f c ____ Mallard.............................................................f c f c ____ Northern Pintail.................................................u r f u ____ Blue-winged Teal...............................................f f ____ Cinnamon Teal..................................................u u ____ Northern Shoveler.............................................c f f ____ Gadwall.............................................................u f f c ____ American Wigeon..............................................f r f c ____ Canvasback.......................................................r r u ____ Redhead............................................................r f u ____ Ring-necked Duck.............................................u f u ____ Greater Scaup.................................................... r r ____ Lesser Scaup.....................................................c u c ____ Common Goldeneye..........................................u u u ____ Bufflehead.........................................................f u u ____ Hooded Merganser............................................r c c ____ Common Merganser..........................................r r c ____ Ruddy Duck......................................................c c u ____ Northern Bobwhite............................................c f 3 c f Sp S F W ____ Scaled Quail......................................................u u u u ____ Ring-necked Pheasant.......................................u u u u ____ Wild Turkey.......................................................u r u u ____ Pied-billed Grebe..............................................f f c c ____ Eared Grebe......................................................u u u ____ Western Grebe................................................... x ____ Rock Pigeon......................................................f u u u ____ Eurasian Collared-Dove.....................................c f c c ____ White-winged Dove............................................u f f r ____ Mourning Dove.................................................c c c c ____

CAPROCK CANYONS SP BIRD CHECKLIST This checklist is a list of common and specialty birds seen in the park. Staf and volunteers have used previous checklists as well as eBird data to compile these lists. This list should not be used as a comprehensive list of birds seen in this park. Please help us protect the natural avian communities by refraining from using playback tapes of bird songs. Thank you for your cooperation. Waterfowl ___ Snow Goose ___ Canada Goose ___ Blue-winged Teal ___ Northern Shoveler ___ Gadwall ___ American Wigeon ___ Mallard ___ Northern Pintail ___ Green-winged Teal ___ Redhead ___ Ring-necked Duck ___ Lesser Scaup ___ Bufehead ___ Hooded Merganser ___ Common Merganser ___ Ruddy Duck Grouse, Quail, and Allies ___ Northern Bobwhite ___ Scaled Quail ___ Ring-necked Pheasant ___ Wild Turkey Grebes ___ Pied-billed Grebe Pigeons and Doves ___ Rock Pigeon ___ Eurasian Collared-Dove ___ White-winged Dove ___ Mourning Dove Cuckoos ___ Greater Roadrunner ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo Nightjars ___ Common Nighthawk ___ Common Poorwill Swifs ___ Chimney Swif Rails, Gallinules, and Allies ___ American Coot Cranes ___ Sandhill Crane Shorebirds ___ American Avocet ___ Killdeer ___ Wilson’s Snipe ___ Spotted Sandpiper ___ Greater Yellowlegs Herons, Ibis, and Allies ___ Great Blue Heron ___ Cattle Egret ___ Green Heron ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron ___ White-faced Ibis Vultures, Hawks, and Allies ___ Turkey Vulture ___ Osprey ___ Golden Eagle ___ Mississippi Kite ___ Northern Harrier ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk ___ Cooper’s Hawk ___ Swainson’s Hawk ___ Red-tailed Hawk ___ Ferruginous Hawk Owls ___ Barn Owl ___ Great Horned Owl ___ Burrowing Owl Kingfshers ___ Belted Kingfsher Woodpeckers ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ___ Golden-fronted Woodpecker ___ Downy Woodpecker ___ Ladder-backed Woodpecker ___ Northern Flicker Falcons and Caracaras ___ American Kestrel ___ Prairie Falcon Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies ___ Eastern Phoebe ___ Say’s Phoebe ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher ___ Western Kingbird ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Vireos ___ Bell’s Vireo Shrikes ___ Loggerhead Shrike Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens ___ Blue Jay ___ Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay ___ American Crow ___ Chihuahuan Raven ___ Common Raven Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice ___ Black-crested Titmouse Larks ___ Horned Lark Martins and Swallows ___ Barn Swallow ___ Clif Swallow Long-tailed Tits and Bushtit ___ Bushtit Kinglets ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet Gnatcatchers ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Wrens ___ Rock Wren ___ Canyon Wren ___ Marsh Wren ___ Carolina Wren ___ Bewick’s Wren Starlings and Mynas ___ European Starling Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers ___ Curve-billed Thrasher ___ Brown Thrasher ___ Northern Mockingbird Thrushes ___ Mountain Bluebird ___ Hermit Thrush ___ American Robin Waxwings ___ Cedar Waxwing Old World Sparrows ___ House Sparrow Finches, Euphonias, and Allies ___ House Finch ___ Pine Siskin ___ Lesser Goldfnch ___ American Goldfnch New World Sparrows ___ Cassin’s Sparrow ___ Grasshopper Sparrow ___ Chipping Sparrow ___ Field Sparrow ___ Lark Sparrow ___ Lark Bunting ___ Dark-eyed Junco ___ White-crowned Sparrow ___ White-throated Sparrow ___ Vesper Sparrow ___ Savannah Sparrow ___ Song Sparrow ___ Lincoln’s Sparrow ___ Canyon Towhee ___ Rufous-crowned Sparrow ___ Spotted Towhee Yellow-breasted Chat ___ Yellow-breasted Chat Blackbirds ___ Yellow-headed Blackbird ___ Western Meadowlark ___ Eastern Meadowlark ___ Bullock’s Oriole ___ Red-winged Blackbird ___ Brown-headed Cowbird ___ Common Grackle ___ Great-tailed Grackle Wood-Warblers ___ Orange-crowned Warbler ___ Yellow Warbler ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies ___ Northern Cardinal ___ Blue Grosbeak ___ Indigo Bunting ___ Painted Bunting © 2021 TPWD PWD CD P4506-0079U (5/21) TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

The Cornerstone of the Prairie Bison are a keystone species within the prairie ecosystem. Bison grazing allows plants to flourish, reduces the amount of dead vegetation, and encourages new growth, which influences the variety of plants and animals of the prairie. Their role in this ecosystem is as important as prairie fire. In fact, even the wallowing behavior of bison creates a unique mini-wetland environment while their waste provides needed fertilizer, all benefiting the prairie ecosystem. Historically, bison were a valuable food source for predators, scavengers, and humans. They provided everything needed for human survival on the plains including food, shelter, clothing, and tools. Bison in Texas At one time, 30 to 60 million bison roamed the North American plains. Early Spanish explorers in Texas, including the Coronado expedition, described them being as numerous as “fish in the sea.” The vast herds were never in danger of extermination until professional hide hunters arrived on the plains. Their superior weaponry allowed over 100 bison to be killed at any one time. Thus began the “great slaughter,” and from 1874 to 1878, the great southern bison herd was practically eliminated. Estimates from the year 1888 verified that there were less than 1,000 head of bison left in North America after this near extermination. Caprock Canyons State PARK & TRAILWAY Modern Day Management The Texas State Bison Herd is a very valuable resource for the great state of Texas as well as for the overall conservation of the bison species. Therefore, the conservation objectives of Caprock Canyons State Park for the bison herd include re-establishing them as a keystone species within the ecosystem, ensuring the genetic integrity of the herd through a selective breeding program, and contributing to the overall conservation of the species of bison in North America. Every winter, DNA testing is conducted to closely monitor the herd’s genetic diversity and each member of the herd receives an overall health check. Vegetation studies, grazing control, and prescribed fire are all part of managing the herd’s habitat. The health and preservation of the Texas State Bison Herd is of the utmost importance. We carefully monitor this herd to help ensure an even brighter future for bison throughout North America. Caprock Canyons State Park Quitaque, Texas • (806) 455-1492 www.tpwd.texas.gov/caprockcanyons Cover image courtesy of Ray Matlack 4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 www.tpwd.texas.gov © 2015 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD BR P4506-079T (6/15) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TDD) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. Texas state bison herd Preservation of an American Icon Towards the end of the great slaughter, a handful of individuals concerned with the fate of the bison began the difficult task of saving them. These individuals took on the care of orphaned calves and started to increase the number of bison by forming their own herds. Mary Ann Goodnight urged her husband Charles to capture some orphan calves from the southern herd in 1878. These bison calves were raised up on the JA Ranch to form the nucleus of the Goodnight Herd which soon grew to over 200 head. The descendants of these animals now constitute the Texas State Bison Herd today. The Goodnight Herd, as well as four other herds started by other concerned individuals, provided the foundation stock for virtually all bison in North America today. The Texas State Bison Herd Following the death of the Goodnights, the herd eventually faded from public awareness until wildlife conservationist Wolfgang Frey learned about the remaining herd of 50 or so bison on the JA Ranch and contacted the state of Texas in 1994. After genetic testing by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a rare genetic marker was discovered within the herd revealing it to be perhaps the last remaining group of southern plains bison. The JA Ranch donated the herd to Texas Parks and Wildlife, and in 1997 they were moved to Caprock Canyons State Park. Unique not only in its historical importance but also in its rare genetic makeup, the herd has been designated the Official Bison Herd of the state of Texas. To this day, the herd remains in a portion of its natural home range on what was once a part of the JA Ranch in Caprock Can

Caprock Canyons STAT E PA R K A N D T RA I LWAY PA N H A N D L E P L A I N S Caprock Canyons STATE PARK AN D TRA I LWAY Visit Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway’s cliffs and ravines for a close-up look at geology “in action” and a 10,000year-old Native American buffalo kill and butchering site. Today the state’s largest herd of bison live in the park. Hikers can explore the many miles of trails that climb up canyons to beautiful viewpoints. Horses are also allowed on some trails. A small lake offers fishing and boating opportunities. Camping: Campsites with water only or water and electricity. Primitive sites for backpackers and equestrians. Group Facilities: Group picnic pavilion (capacity 50). Campground pavilion (capacity 100). Lake Theo Lodge: 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom lodge with full kitchen and fireplace. Swimming: Permitted in the lake. Boating: Permitted in Lake Theo. Fishing: Cast a line in the lake. Trails: Over 90 miles of multi-use trails, including the 64-mile Trailway. Interpretive Pavilion: Exhibits on geology and Native American history at the park. Texas State Park Store: One-of-a-kind items, gifts, etc. Special Attractions: Largest bison herd in state park system. Clarity Tunnel — home to thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats. Tulia 86 Quitaque Plainview 70 87 Silverton 97 Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway 1065 Floydada 27 Lubbock Located in Briscoe County; from Quitaque take Ranch Road 1065. After-hours emergency? Please call 911. Caprock Canyons SP/Trailway 850 Caprock Canyon Rd., Quitaque, TX 79255 • (806) 455-1492 www.texasstateparks.org Rates and reservations: (512) 389-8900. For info only: (800) 792-1112. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. © 2020 TPWD PWD CD P4506-079J (4/20) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. TPWD receives funds from the USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. To request an accommodation or obtain information in an alternative format, please contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915 or by Relay Texas at 7-1-1 or (800) 735-2989 or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, please contact TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. 

-Official- FACILITIES Get the Mobile App: MAPS ACTIVITIES TexasStateParks.org/app T O Y O T A T U N D R A The Toyota Tundra is built to explore the great outdoors. No matter what the weekend throws at you, your Tundra takes it on with ease. | toyota.com/tundra Official Vehicle of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation CONTENTS 4 100 Years of Texas Parks 6 Parks Near You 8 90 Checklist DIRECTORY TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT 52 68 20 38 60 30 84 68 David Yoskowitz, Ph.D. Executive Director Rodney Franklin State Parks Director Mischelle Diaz Communications Director TPW COMMISSION Arch “Beaver” Aplin, III, Chairman Lake Jackson Dick Scott, Vice-Chairman Wimberley James E. Abell Kilgore Oliver J. Bell Cleveland Paul L. Foster El Paso Anna B. Galo Laredo Jeffery D. Hildebrand Houston Robert L. “Bobby” Patton, Jr. Fort Worth Travis B. “Blake” Rowling Dallas T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman-Emeritus Houston Lee Marshall Bass, Chairman-Emeritus Fort Worth 52 Panhandle Plains 48 State Parks Map Special thanks to Toyota and advertisers, whose generous support made this guide possible. Texas State Parks is a division of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Cover illustration: Brad Woodard, bravethewoods.com Texas State Parks Official Guide, Nineteenth Edition © TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (3/23) TPWD receives funds from DHS and USFWS. TPWD prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin (including limited English proficiency), disability, age, and gender, pursuant to state and federal law. If you believe you have been discriminated against by TPWD, visit tpwd.texas. gov/nondiscrimination or call (512) 389-4800 for information on filing a complaint. To obtain information in an alternative format, contact TPWD on a Text Telephone (TTY) at (512) 389-8915, by Relay Texas at 7-1-1, (800) 735-2989, or by email at accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. If you speak a language other than English and need assistance, email lep@tpwd.texas.gov. You can also contact Department of the Interior Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights, 1849 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20240, and/or U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Mail Stop #0190 2707, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., S.E. Washington, D.C. 20528. In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries. WELCOME from Rodney Franklin, State Parks Director This year is very special for Texas State Parks: We are celebrating our 100-year anniversary in 2023. More and more Texans are discovering the beauty of State Parks and exploring the outdoors in new and adventurous ways. Our teams across the state are incredibly excited to welcome outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who have yet to discover what our parks have to offer. The variety of Texas’ lands is unmatched; from the mountains of west Texas to the Gulf shores, the Texas State Park system celebrates and preserves the natural and cultural treasures that make Texas such a special place. The 640,000-plus acres that make up the state park system are nearly as diverse as the people of Texas. Since 1923, our mission has been to help connect our visitors with the outdoors. As we honor those who have come before us, I invite a new generation to be a part of the story of the lands that connect us all. There is more to enjoy in our parks than you know, so please join us in our celebrations and activities. Every day we look for new and better ways to ensure your state parks are welcoming to every Texan, regardless of their background or experience being outside. I hope you’ll visit soon and often, while bringing your friends and family along. YOU are a natural and we’re looking forward to celebrating the 100-year anniversary of state parks with you! WHAT’S NEW IN STATE PARKS Galveston Island State Park reopened the beachside of the park with a new headquarters, campsites, restrooms, and more. Bastrop State Park unveiled an extensive new group of trails, the “Tree Army Trails,” many of which are ADA-accessible. Improvements and major repairs are planned for Indian Lodge, Tyler, Inks Lake, Cedar Hill, South Llano River, Eisenhower and several other state parks All-terrain “GRIT” wheelchairs are now available at 10 parks with more adaptive equipment on the way to help people of all abilities experience Texas State Parks. Learn more about our accessibility efforts, page 14. More information: TexasStateParks.org/whatsnew 100 Years of Texas Parks The crown jewels of Texas road trips started as an unfunded wish list before the Depression. Back in 1923, Governor Pat Neff realized rising numbers of new car travelers needed places to camp overnight on multi-day trips. Neff convinced the state legislature to create a six-member State Parks Board, half men, half women. Isabella, the Governor’s mother, and her family donated acreage on the Leon

Guía de Parques INSTALACIONES Descarga la Aplicacíon Móvil MAPAS ACTIVIDADES texasstateparks.org/app ¡Los niños entran gratis! La entrada es gratis para los niños de 12 años y menores. Encuentra un parque: parquesdetexas.org Contenido Estero Llano Grande SP 2 Actividades y Programas 4 Parques Cercanos 6 Lugares para Quedarse 8 Tarifas y Pases 9 Directorio 10 Mapa de Parques 18 Instalaciones y Actividades BIENVENIDO Rodney Franklin, Director de Parques Texas tiene algunas de las tierras públicas más diversas del país, con una gran riqueza natural y cultural. La vida silvestre está por todas partes, los paisajes florecen con belleza, y la historia es abundante. Sus parques estatales son parte del legado que nos enorgullece. La gente de Texas ayuda a asegurar ese legado para las generaciones futuras al visitar y ser voluntarios. ¡Gracias! Estos más de 630,000 acres exhiben algunos de los grandes tesoros del estado. Los parques nos ayudan a crear recuerdos con la familia y a encontrar consuelo en la naturaleza. Los parques fortalecen las economías locales y unen a las comunidades. Sobre todo, los parques nos permiten pasar tiempo al aire libre para recargar energías, estar saludables y relajarnos a nuestra manera. Les invito a disfrutar de sus parques estatales, explorando lo mejor de Texas con amigos y familia. Los parques están aquí para todos. Nos pertenecen a todos. ¡Visítelos, diviértase y ayude a protegerlos para siempre! Foto de portada: Estero Llano State Park, Chase Fountain © 2021 TPWD PWD BK P4000-000A (5/21) TPWD recibe fondos del Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU. (USFWS por sus siglas en ingles). TPWD prohíbe la discriminación por raza, color, religión, nacionalidad de origen, discapacidad, edad y género, conforme la ley estatal y federal. Para solicitar un acomodo especial u obtener información en un formato alternativo, por favor contacte a TPWD en un Teléfono de Texto (TTY) al (512) 3898915 ó por medio de “Relay Texas” al 7-1-1 ó (800) 735-2989 ó por email a accessibility@tpwd.texas.gov. Si usted cree que TPWD ha discriminado en su contra, favor de comunicarse con TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, o con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE.UU., Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041. De acuerdo con la Ley de Depósito del Estado de Texas, esta publicación está disponible en el centro de Distribución de Publicaciones del Estado de Texas y/o las Bibliotecas de Depósito de Texas. ACTIVIDADES Y PROGRAMAS ¿Qué puedo hacer en los parques estatales? ¡Disfruta de un día de campo, visita un sitio histórico o elige entre muchas otras opciones! Bicicletas Pedalea a lo largo de los parques a cualquier velocidad, en cualquier estilo, con cualquier grupo. Elige las rutas, el tipo de terreno y las distancias que cumplan con tu zona de confort. Caminatas Empieza con un circuito más corto, avanza a terrenos más difíciles o únete a una caminata guiada. Pescar Puedes pescar sin licencia en tantos como 70 parques estatales. Muchos parques ofrecen equipo para pescar a manera de préstamo y eventos especiales para aprender a pescar. Barcos Renta canoas y kayacs y explora uno de los senderos acuáticos en Texas. Nadar Animales Silvestres Acampar Descubre aves, mamíferos y plantas que tienen su hogar en Texas. Muchos parques tienen señalamientos y listados que te ayudan a aprender más. Encuentra un lugar que cumpla con lo que quieres. Prueba nuevas recetas, comparte historias favoritas y disfruta de las estrellas. 2 Más información y reservaciones: parquesdetexas.org Escape del calor en arroyos, ríos, lagos, manantiales, piletas y playas del mar. Tu seguridad en el agua es muy importante. Lleva el chaleco salvavidas. Aprende a nadar. Guarda a los niños. (512) 389-8900 ¡Pregunta en tu parque cuáles están disponibles! Los niños de 12 años y menores entran GRATIS Cielos Estrellados Escapa de las luces de la ciudad y goza de maravillosas vistas del cielo que no encontrarás en ninguna otra parte. Ven a una fiesta de estrellas o toma una excursión de constelaciones auto-guiada. Familias en la Naturaleza Elige un taller o diseña tu propia aventura. ¡Monta una tienda de campaña, cocina al exterior, prende una fogata y juega al exterior! Nosotros te Toma una publicación gratuita de actividades o pregunta por los paquetes gratuitos con los parques proporcionamos todo el equipo. No es necesario tener experiencia. participantes. Usa los binoculares, lupas, libros de bosquejos y libros de guías para explorar el parque. Mochilas para Exploradores Soldados Búfalo de Texas Descubre la historia con cuentos, vestuarios y herramientas. Sigue la pista de un animal, pesca con caña, cocina sobre una fogata, visita los fuertes y más. Adéntrate en las historias de vida de aquellos que sirvieron valientemente en los primeros regimientos Áfrico-Americanos de las Fuerzas Armadas. ! Seguridad en el Parque Ten cuidado con el agua Pre