6 State Parks to Visit for the West Texas Nature Lover
This one's for our Midland and Lubbock fam! When living in West Texas it can be easy to get bogged down in the mindset that “there is nothing to do” especially for the nature lovers. And though there may not be mountains as our view and dust storms are par for the course, there is still nature to enjoy around…it might just take a day/weekend trip to immerse yourself in it.
Texas as a whole has many varied regions both economical and geographical. For the duration of this blog, and for simplicity's sake, when I speak of West Texas I am including the High Plains area as well. If there is one thing that Texas is not lacking in, it’s state parks, and as much as I would love to let you know about all of them, I’m only focusing on six that are on the west side of Texas.
Big Bend
Big Bend really lives up to its name. Located in southwest Texas and bordering Mexico, it’s 1,252 square miles that includes the Chisos Mountains and a large portion of the Chihuahuan desert. It’s like stepping into another world, one untouched by human machinations and a topography that seems to be painted by the same brush that paints the sunset. It's astonishing and the perfect place to get lost in, both physically and metaphorically, so make sure that you are well prepared before you step into the 150 miles of hiking trails that run through the park.
Big Bend is 3 hours from Midland and nearly 5 from Lubbock. Though it is possible to make it a day trip from Midland (speaking from experience), it's hard to really take in the grandeur in only one afternoon. Terlingua and Study Butte are great places to stay for a weekend getaway.
Guadalupe Mountains
About as far west as you can go and still be in Texas are the Guadalupe Mountains. This national park is on the border with New Mexico. The closest community is Dell City, Tx, but if you’re looking for lodging or restaurants then you’ll have to go to Van Horn, TX (62 miles south) or Carlsbad, NM (56 miles northeast). It’s also about a 3 hour drive from Midland, so if you’re really gung-ho about it, it could even be a daytrip!
The Guadalupe Mountains contain the four highest peaks in Texas as well as the “world’s most extensive Permian fossil reef.” It’s perfect for those looking for an intense hiking experience
Davis Mountain
Davis Mountain, near Fort Davis, TX, is the perfect spot for camping or trail riding (nothing will make you feel more Texan than a trail ride down the rugged terrain of the park). It’s also a favorite spot for stargazers.
In the heart of Davis Mountains is the McDonald Observatory. This is definitely a weekend getaway where you can hike in the day and be part of a star party at night.
Monahans Sandhills
Not much of a hiker? Maybe the Monahans sand dunes catch your interest. With no marked trails the dunes truly offer a look at the “wild” part of the desert west. You can rent a sand disc and ride down a newly created dune. The wind can create a completely new landscape overnight!
This is the perfect spot for a day trip–only 55 minutes away from Midland and 2 hrs and 40 minutes from Lubbock. Although, if you would like to make it a weekend trip there are campsites available for the full experience.
Caprock Canyon
Moving northward to the Texas Panhandle is Caprock Canyon. It’s a snapshot into the past, where the plains were filled with bison. The chance to see these amazing animals should be enough to make you plan a trip to Caprock in a heartbeat, but remember that the bison are wild animals and should be handled with the utmost care.
Beyond hiking, trail riding, and bison viewing, Caprock also has Lake Theo, a 120-surface-acre lake, perfect for swimming, fishing, and no-wake boating. You can spend a full weekend camping or have a full day trip. From Lubbock it’s only 1 hr and 40 min and 3 and a half hours from Midland.
Palo Duro
Further north from Caprock Canyon and near Amarillo, is Palo Duro Canyon (the second largest canyon in the country). Palo Duro is definitely a sight to see. If camping is your bread and butter, it offers a myriad of camp sites to choose from, whether you want to glamp or rough it. It’s also a great place to geocache and bird watch. Or if you’re a fan of entertainment merged with history the TEXAS Outdoor Musical at the Pioneer Amphitheater is always a fun time.
Like all the other Parks on this list, Palo Duro can be as intense as you choose. For our Lubbock friends, it can make for a great day trip (I love a Palo Duro day trip) being only 1 hr and 40 min away, but fully immersing yourself in the park for a full weekend is an unforgettable experience.
There is so much more to do than you think!
It’s so easy to discount West Texas as uninteresting and dreary, but that’s just not the case. The Rockies may not be right at our front door, but the beautiful thing about nature is that it is vast and varied. From stargazing, to sand dunes, to sun streaked canyons, the west of Texas has many beautiful things to offer.
Author: Ally Rankin
Ally is a beloved part of the Flying Cow Fam. She manages our Lubbock, TX store with her BFF Atlas (shop pup!), who is usually found snoozing in the back. She got her Bachelors degree from Texas Tech where she majored in English and minored in Technical Communications. And when she’s not creating content, managing her team, or writing blogs, she can usually be found making a new cup of coffee–she promises it’s not a problem.