The bison that call Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway home are growing their range thanks to recent land acquisitions in Briscoe County. The westward additions grow the park to about 17,500 acres of the unique rugged plains and red-walled canyons of the Caprock Escarpment.
The Hawkins Ranch property of 1,120 acres was acquired most recently, in January 2026. In 2024, TPWD acquired the Rocking W Ranch on the northwest corner of the park, sitting at 1,066 acres.
“These are two beautiful pieces of property,” said Superintendent Donald Beard. “The Hawkins Ranch is the last piece of property to the west [of the park] that protects our viewshed of the canyon and affects our watershed. The Rocking W Ranch was also important because it expands the park to the northwest, allowing the Texas State Bison Herd potential access to the high plains.”
In addition, the Rocking W property included a 5,000-square-foot, fully furnished “barndominium,” which will allow for future family-style retreats for activities like hiking and horseback riding.
Located in the heart of the Texas Panhandle, the Hawkins property is unique and features more than 4.1 miles of Holmes Creek and Dry Creek, as well as panoramic views of the iconic Caprock Escarpment. Additionally, many native Texas wildlife can be found throughout the property including quail, mule deer, coyotes and bobcats, just to name a few.
Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, shaped by wind and water over the eons, features the rugged plains and canyons of the Texas Panhandle. Park visitors can explore the park’s 90 miles of trails while viewing bison roaming the plains and bats roosting in Clarity Tunnel. As the latest Texas State Park designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), Caprock Canyons features an untainted view of the Texas stars at night that’s unmatched for campers.
When notified of available properties, TPWD conducts a due diligence review to determine the property’s feasibility as public land. In this case, TPWD determined the outstanding natural and recreational features of the properties made them an excellent candidate and addition to Caprock Canyons.
Now that the sale is complete, agency teams will work together to conduct natural and cultural resource surveys to help guide park planners with management plans and future visitor interpretive exhibits.
TPWD will develop a plan with input from the public to determine recreational opportunities for the property, which may include camping, hiking and biking. This plan may take many months to complete, but TPWD will communicate upcoming milestones, including a potential opening date.
More information can be found on the TPWD website or at TexasStateParks.org .
Article source and photo credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife
