Panhandle Hiking Trip (Caprock Canyons)

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Our second stop on the trip was to Caprock Canyons State Park near Quitaque, TX (pronounced "Kitty Quay"). The town of Turkey is just a bit farther out and that's where the Hotel Turkey bed and breakfast we stayed at was located.

The main street in Turkey, TX. Most of the storefronts have long been boarded up, but the small town really appears to be trying to turn things around.	Country music legend Bob Wills was born in Turkey, TX and the town honors him with a monument and museum.	This old boot shop was next door to our bed and breakfast. Though locked and obviously closed for years, the sign in the window beckens you to come in.
Midway between Turkey and Quitaque is one of the few remaining drive-in theaters in Texas. Aptly named the Midway Drive-In. Unfortunately, they are only open during the summer.	Penny stops on the stairs leading to the second floor of our bed and breakfast, the historic Hotel Turkey. This old hotel was built in 1927 and has an historical marker at its entrance.	The Hotel Turkey was stuffed with interesting antiques, even in the hallways. This photo was taken near the door to our room.
Penny waits for me patiently along the trail. The Upper Canyon Trail starts and ends off flat. But that soon changes.	There were more layers of gypsum in the sandstone than at Palo Duro and more often they formed domes or bubbles like this one.	Pausing for a water break. The trail follows adry streambed up a steep canyon. Sometimes the rocky bed becomes the trail.
Here I am at the grotto beneath Fern Cave. Can you guess why the cave is named that?	After Fern Cave, there's yet more climbing to be done. This may be the roughest hike we've ever done.	Finally near the top. Here I point down toward the canyon we just hiked up.
Penny pauses along a bare rock wash. Caprock Canyon was in general more reddish than Palo Duro.	Now the descent. Here Penny sits on a rock before beginning the ordeal.	And she heads downhill. There were several spots where we had to scramble down sections on our butts.
Cool weather at last. On the Canyon Rim Trail Penny had to don cool weather clothing at the start of the hike.	The views which give the Canyon Rim hike its name. This is actually not at the rim of the larger Palo Duro Canyon itself, but rather a smaller canyon within it.	We saw only one other person on the trail - this rider with two mules.
Caprock Canyon isn't all red. There's also some whiter layers of caliche-like rock.	Caprock Canyons is not the most visited park in the state park system. The trails were a bit overgrown. This slight overgrowth doesn't do the actuality justice.	Penny and I prepare to leave the Hotel Turkey and return home. Despite initial trepedation about the hotel, Penny now looks forward to a return there when we return to bike the nearby trailway.

Penny and I can't say enough at the unique atmosphere of the Hotel Turkey and the graciousness of its owners, Jim and Mona Boles. Highly recommended for anyone who finds themselves in the area.