Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway

Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is a protected area in Briscoe County, Texas, covering a landscape of canyons and red rock plateaus. The grounds span several thousand acres and are crossed by trails for walking and cycling, partly following old railway routes.

The Texas park authority took over a disused railway line from the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad in 1993 and converted it into walking and cycling trails. This route now connects different sections of the park.

The name comes from the hard rock layer that gives the Caprock Escarpment its shape across the Texas Panhandle. A bison herd lives on the grounds today, and visitors see these animals while walking or cycling along the trails.

Access to the trails is through the town of Quitaque, roughly 3 miles south of the main entrance. Visitors use self-service stations at the entry and should bring plenty of water in warm weather.

A 19th-century railway tunnel cuts through a ridge and now forms part of the cycling route. This tunnel is more than 500 feet long and sits in one of the less traveled sections of the park.

Location: Briscoe County

Inception: 1982

Official opening: 1982

Elevation above the sea: 743 m

Website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/caprock-canyons

GPS coordinates: 34.44360,-101.05200

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:31