Antony Boshier
Canyon,” Ferris says. Another excellent attraction for hiking in The High Ground is Caprock Canyon, which stretches six miles and features a challenging 720-foot elevation gain along the way. Caprock officials say the ideal time for hiking along the scenic canyon in Briscoe County is from fall through spring. The hiking paradise is situated in a rural area that isn’t near any large towns, and arguably the most spectacular section is just southeast of Amarillo, where the steepest cliffs and the narrowest transition from high to low are located. Monahans Sandhills, home to six miles of sand dunes, draw more than 65,000 campers and hikers annually to the 3,840-acre park in Ward and Winkler counties. The park is open seven days a week throughout the year, with peak times from March through May, when the weather is warm but not terribly hot, says Glen Korth, Monahans Sandhills State Park manager. “The middle portion of the trail can be especially hot with little shade, so hikers should take plenty of water,” he says. Korth says Monahans Sandhills attracts many visitors who stop by to spend the afternoon and evening, then head into nearby national parks the next day. “We are considered the gateway to Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park,” he says. “People who visit us are true outdoor enthusiasts.”
some facts
759,610
Visitors per year to Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
3,500 feet
Palo Duro Canyon’s elevation above sea level
400
Years ago that Spanish explorers were the first to report the vast hills of sand at Monahans Sandhills State Park Sources: wolframalpha.com, palodurocanyon.com, tpwd.state.tx.us
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area near Fritch i m ag e sh i ghgrou n d . co m
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