Caprock Canyons State Park RV & Campground Guide
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Caprock Canyons State Park once had Paleolithic hunters inhabiting the land about 9,000 years ago. Francisco Vázquez de Coronado, a Spanish explorer, passed through the area in 1541, but it wasn't until the 1800s that European settlers established homes here. Texas purchased the land in 1975 and opened it as a state park in 1982. Caprock Canyons State Park includes the Caprock Escarpment, a tall, narrow rock formation that provides a transition between Llano Estacado and the Rolling Plains. The Texas State Bison Herd, among the last remaining Southern Plains Bisons, live in Caprock Canyons State Park. You have a good chance of spotting the bison during your stay. Nearby cities: • Quitaque, TX • Silverton, TX • Turkey, TX • Clarendon, TX
Spring 37–83 F
Summer 64–95 F
Fall 37–86 F
Winter 26–59 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Caprock Canyons State Park
Honey Flat Camping Area • Water hookup: Yes • Electrical hookup: Yes • Sewer hookup: No • Wi-Fi: No • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 40 feet • Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, shade shelters, lantern posts, restrooms, hot showers, amphitheater, dump station Wild Horse Camping Area • Water hookup: No • Electrical hookup: No • Sewer hookup: No • Wi-Fi: No • Pet-friendly: Yes • Max RV length: 63 feet • Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire rings, two horse corrals, water for horses, generator use allowed
Palo Duro Rim RV Campground
The adventure-seekers in your family will love staying at this campground near Amarillo. There are two zip lines inside the park that give you a great view of the canyon as you sail across the sky. You can also take part in a half-day outing of team-building while rappelling down 13 stories of natural rock. You can camp at designated sites with full hookups and electricity or utilize their free-range parking sites. While at the campground, explore various walking trails into the canyon and the surrounding areas.
• Number of sites: 50
• Rates: $29/night
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical amps: 30
• Wi-Fi: No
• Pool/Hot tub: No
• Cell reception: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: Yes
Lubbock KOA
The Lubbock KOA is a little north of Lubbock and is near many popular attractions, including the Lubbock Lake Landmark, the Buddy Holly Center and the National Ranching Heritage Center. There is also a small amusement park in Lubbock. The RV park is family-friendly and has several outdoor games, a playground and a snack bar.
• Number of sites: 75+
• Rates: Call for rates
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical amps: 30 and 50
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pool/Hot tub: Pool and a sauna
• Cell reception: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: Yes
• Additional amenities: Indoor pool, propane for sale, dump station
Fort Amarillo RV Resort
This is a fun and popular RV resort in Amarillo. It has a western theme, and the catch-and-release fishing pond is well-stocked and fed by a stream. The recreation room has a game room for the kids.
• Number of sites: 100+
• Rates: $42/night
• Type of hookup: Full hookups
• Electrical Amps: 30 and 50
• Wi-Fi: Yes
• Pool/Hot tub: Yes
• Cell reception: Yes
• Pet-friendly: Yes
• Showers: Yes
• Additional amenities: Game room, recreational building, lighted walking trails, on-site mercantile
What to Do at
Caprock Canyons State Park
With more than 90 miles of trails and a variety of flora and fauna to see, you can pack a day full of fun during your stay at Caprock Canyons State Park. The trails range in difficulty from easy to difficult and in length from 1 to 15 miles, offering suitable hikes for everyone. Mountain biking and horseback riding are allowed in designated areas. Water for animals is available on some trails, but you need to bring your own drinking water.
Inside Caprock Canyons State Park
The main feature of the park is the Trailway, which is open for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It runs between the South Plains at the top of the Caprock Escarpment at the west end of the trail to Estelline in the Red River Valley at the eastern end of the trail. It traverses three counties, runs through the Clarity Railway Tunnel and crosses 46 bridges. The Clarity Tunnel is the summer home of a large colony of Mexican free-tailed bats. While in the park, you can also fish, swim, and boat in the no-wake Lake Theo, which is a 120-acre lake stocked with many varieties of fish. There are even Junior Ranger activities for the kids that allow them to earn badges.
Fishing
You can fish from Lake Theo, a 120-acre lake at Caprock Canyons State Park, via an engineless boat or the pier. Fish species that you may catch include largemouth bass, white crappie, yellow perch and bluegill.
Nature Watching
You can observe bison in the plains and Mexican free-tailed bats in the Clarity Tunnel. There's a bison overlook to give you an excellent vantage point for watching the herd. The Texas State Bison Herd was formed in 1878 and is one of the five herds that saved the species from extinction. Other wildlife that you may spot at Caprock Canyons State Park include bobcats, gray foxes, jackrabbits, coyotes, pronghorn antelope, mules, white-tailed deer, collared lizards and prairie rattlesnakes. You might see a golden eagle if you're lucky. Roadrunners and red-tailed hawks are other birds to see at Caprock Canyons State Park.
Stargazing
Caprock Canyons State Park is among the top locations for stargazing in Texas because of its dark night skies. It ranks as Class II on the Bortle Dark-Sky Scale.
Flora and Fauna
In the short-grass prairie, you'll find buffalo grass, sideoats grama and blue grama. Juniper and scrub oak are commonly found in the canyons. Flora near the Little Red River include little bluestem, Indiangrass, Canada wild rye, wild plum thickets, cottonwood trees and hackberries. Wildflowers bloom in the spring, and you can also find multi-flowering cacti.
Hiking
Mesa Trail is an easy 3-mile trail around a flat-topped hill that has views of the southeast section of the park. Canyon Rim Trail is a moderate 3-mile route along a rim and through a prairie with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. Challenge yourself with the Haynes Ridge Overlook Trail to be rewarded with the highest vantage point in the park. Upper South Prong Trail is another top hike in Caprock Canyons State Park, as it features rock fins and exposed geological formations that are 4 million years old and stunning canyon views.
Boating
Boating is allowed on Lake Theo if your boat doesn't have a motor.
Swimming
The afternoon is often hot at Caprock Canyons State Park during spring, summer and fall. You can take a dip in Lake Theo. There's a swimming area at the lake with restrooms and a playground nearby.
Biking
Caprock Canyons State Park has difficult mountain biking trails for experienced bikers who want a thrill. There are also easy trails for the less experienced bikers.
How to Get to
Caprock Canyons State Park
You can access Caprock Canyons State Park from the north or south, although the most common entry point is the south where the main entrance is. A visitor center is also at the southern entrance. From Turkey, travel west on TX-86 W, and turn right when you reach Ranch Road 1065/Geisler. After about 3 miles, you need to stay left to continue onto Caprock Canyons State Park Entrance, which leads you to the park. You'll see the visitor center on the right-hand side.
Entering Caprock Canyons State Park
All the park roads and roads leading to the park are paved. RV parking is available in the lot by the visitor center and other areas of the park, such as Theo Lake.
Caprock Canyons State Park Per adult : $5.0
Entry is free for children 12 and under.
Frequently Asked Questions About Caprock Canyons State Park
The best time of year to visit Caprock Canyons State Park is in spring and fall when the weather isn't so hot, and the plants are still full of life. If you visit in the summer, bring extra water and don't skip on the sunblock.
The Texas State Bison Herd is one of the main attractions of Caprock Canyons State Park. Other wildlife in the park includes bats, gray foxes, roadrunners, bobcats, coyotes, prairie rattlesnakes, collared lizards and pronghorn antelope.
Caprock Canyons State Park has RV camping spots available with some of the sites including electric and water hookups. RVs are also able to camp in the equestrian campground although there aren't hookups available.
Caprock Canyons State Park doesn't require reservations at the on-site campgrounds, but it's a good idea for you to reserve a spot. The average cost of an electric and water site is $22 per night.
Pets are allowed in Caprock Canyons State Park if you have them under control and on a leash. Some areas of the park, such as buildings, don't allow pets.