Caprock Escarpment

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The Caprock Escarpment is a geographical transition point in Texas (USA) between the High Plains/Llano Estacado to the west and the North Central Plains to the east. The escarpment stretches around 320 km (200 mi) south-southwest from the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle near the Oklahoma border. The escarpment is especially notable in Borden, Briscoe, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, and Motley counties.

Looking north at the Caprock Escarpment.
Looking north at the Caprock Escarpment.

[edit] About

The escarpment is made of hardpan, not rock — a layer of calcium carbonate that resists erosion very well. In some places, the escarpment rises around 305 m (1,000 ft) above the plains to the east. The escarpment's features formed due to erosion from rivers and streams, creating arroyos and highly diverse terrain, including the large Palo Duro Canyon outside Amarillo, Texas.

[edit] Parks

The Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is located near Quitaque and opened in 1982. A large, 105 km (65 mi) trail was developed within the park in 1992. Along the trail is Clarity Tunnel, home to a massive colony of Free-tailed Bats.

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