Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway

The red sandstone walls of Caprock Canyons rise like fortress ramparts from the Texas Panhandle prairie, and this 64-mile rail-trail follows the old Santa Fe Railway bed through the heart of Comanche territory. The route drops 1,000 feet from the Llano Estacado through Clarity Tunnel—the only railroad tunnel in Texas—before winding through mesquite bottomlands where the official state bison herd roams. Primitive camping spots dot the route near Quitaque Creek, and the badlands geology tells 240 million years of geological history in exposed red beds.

This is an easy to moderate high-clearance route suitable for stock SUVs, though sandy washes and rocky creek crossings demand attention. Spring through fall offers the best conditions, with winter ice making the tunnel approach treacherous. No permits required, but bring plenty of water—this is genuine High Plains desert country. The payoff is solitude in one of Texas’ most dramatic landscapes, plus the chance to camp where Quanah Parker’s warriors once controlled the southern buffalo range.