A well-liked state park within the Texas Panhandle, recognized for its roaming bison inhabitants, is getting a serious growth after latest land acquisitions by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division (TPWD).
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, positioned at 850 State Park Rd. in Quitaque, roughly an hour and a half north of Lubbock, has added roughly 2,200 acres. It should now embody 17,500 whole acres of the Caprock Escarpment in Briscoe County, in line with a press launch.
TPWD first expanded the park with the acquisition of the 1,066-acre Rocking W Ranch in 2024, after which the division acquired the 1,120-acre Hawkins Ranch in January 2026.
“The Hawkins Ranch is the final piece of property to the west [of the park] that protects our viewshed of the canyon and impacts our watershed,” mentioned Superintendent Donald Beard within the launch. “The Rocking W Ranch was additionally necessary as a result of it expands the park to the northwest, permitting the Texas State Bison Herd potential entry to the excessive plains.”
The discharge mentioned a 5,000-square-foot, totally furnished “barndominium” was included within the buy of the Rocking W Ranch property, and it will likely be used for “future family-style retreats for actions like mountain climbing and horseback driving.”
Caprock Canyons has 2,200 extra acres to discover. In style Texas state park expands with huge 2,200-acre acquisition
Park guests have entry to greater than 90 miles of trails at Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway for mountain climbing, biking, horseback driving, and bison-watching. Lake Theo, a 120-acre lake on the south facet of the park, is open for swimming, fishing, and no-wake boating.
Wildlife fanatics can seek for bats roosting within the Readability Tunnel, an deserted railroad tunnel that 500,000 Mexican free-tailed bats name residence from late April via mid-October. TPWD mentioned much more native wildlife might be discovered by guests with the acquisition of the Hawkins Ranch, resembling quail, mule deer, coyotes, bobcats, and extra.
The park can be a chosen Worldwide Darkish Sky Park, which means in a single day campers have unobstructed views of the celebs within the sky because of gentle air pollution discount and prevention efforts.
“At evening, Caprock Canyons transforms into one of many darkest and most awe-inspiring skies in Texas,” the Worldwide Darkish Sky Affiliation mentioned. “Removed from city gentle air pollution, the park’s distant location permits guests to expertise an distinctive view of the Milky Manner, numerous constellations, and celestial occasions of their purest kind.”
