Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway

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Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is a Texas state park on the Caprock Escarpment in Briscoe County, Texas, United States, approximately 100 miles (160 km) southeast of Amarillo. The state park opened in 1982 and is 15,313.6 acres (56.5 km²) in size, making it the third-largest state park in Texas.[1]

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[edit] Trailway

In 1993, a hiking, biking, and equestrian trail opened that stretches through the park through Floyd, Briscoe, and Hall counties. The trailway was created after the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired 64.25 miles (103.4 km) of right-of-way from the abandoned Fort Worth and Denver Railroad's lines between Estelline and the South Plains.[2]

Eagle Point near the entrance to the park
Eagle Point near the entrance to the park

[edit] Climate

The park is located in West Texas and therefore has a desert climate. The average January minimum temperature is 19 °F (-7 °C) and the average July maximum is 91 °F (33 °C). The park receives 20.4 inches (518 mm) of precipitation annually.[2]

[edit] Flora and fauna

A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) in the park
A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) in the park

The area contains badlands with mesquite, cacti and junipers with tall grasses, plums, hackberries and cottonwoods in the canyons.[2]

African aouodad Sheep (barbary Sheep), mule Deer, white-tailed Deer, coyotes, opossums, raccoons, Bobcats, Foxes, Porcupines, and over 175 species of birds including Golden Eagles are found within the park. Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is the home of the official Texas State Bison Herd. Lake Theo contains bass and catfish.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Caprock Canyons State Park from the Handbook of Texas Online
  2. ^ a b c d Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Retrieved on April 3, 2006.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 34°24′52.08″N, 101°03′38.70″W