Caprock Canyons State Park is located three and a half miles north of State Highway 86 in Quitaque, Texas and is 100 miles southeast of Amarillo in Briscoe County. The 15,313 acre park opened in 1982 after the state bought the land seven years earlier and contains attractions such as the Trailway and a 64 mile Rail-to-Trail conversion, acquired by donation in 1992 from a Railroad entrepreneur. Gates open at the park 8am to noon, 1pm to 5pm Sunday to Thursday and 8am to 6pm Friday to Saturday.
There are 13 trails at the park for hikers, bikers and horse riders covering almost 90 miles, including six along the Trailway, which are each approximately 10 miles long and provide parking lots at each trailhead. The trails vary in difficulty with some parts containing very rugged terrain or steep climbs with approximately 25 miles along cliffs and drop-offs, with steep climbs and descents that are recommended only for the experienced equestrian and mountain bike riders. It is recommended that visitors carry water with them although there are areas available with potable water.
The trailway was created after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department bought the 64 miles of right of way from the abandoned Forth Worth and Denver Railroad's lines between Estelline and the South Plains. It opened in 1993 and stretches through Floyd, Briscoe and Hall counties crossing 46 bridges and running through Clarity tunnel, one of the last active railroad tunnels in Texas. The tunnel is also home to thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats.
Nature lovers can enjoy the scenery at the park featuring sparse badlands with juniper, mesquite, and cacti, and the bottomlands with tall grasses, cottonwoods, plum thickets, and hackberries. Numerous species of wildlife can be found here too such as African aoudad sheep, mule and white-tailed Deer, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, opossums, porcupines, foxes, as well as over 175 species of birds. The largest herd of bison in any state park can be found at Caprock Canyons and visitors may also catch a rare sight of the Golden Eagle.
Various campsites are available including 40 back pack sites with organic restrooms and primitive camping is available along the trailway. There are a further 40 walk-in developed tent sites and 12 equestrian developed campsites with corrals, tables, grills, water for horses and parking. Nine campsites in the Lake Theo area have a shade shelter, picnic table, fire ring and lantern post, with good fishing to be found in the lake for bass and catfish.
In the Honey Flat Area there are 25 sites contain a shade shelter, picnic table, fire ring, lantern post, water, and a 30 amp electrical outlet. A further 10 sites in this area have these facilities but with a 50 amp electrical outlet. There is also an overflow camping area as well as two group picnic pavilions for up to 50 or 100 people, and an amphitheater for hire with a capacity of 40 people.
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