Wildlife of the Wild West at Caprock Canyons
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Caprock Canyons is located in the Panhandle. Visit this unique park to see some unusual wildlife, including prairie dogs, a bat colony and wild bison.
Prairie dogs dig a lot of burrows, so you may also see burrowing owls in the park's prairie dog town.
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There are about 300 free-ranging wild bison in the park. Stay safe by keeping 75 feet between you and a bison.
This herd was started in the 1800s with rescued orphaned calves. Read their touching story in the magazine article Icons of the West.
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Camping Basics: Planning Tips
 Doing a little planning before an overnight camping trip means you'll enjoy your park visit a lot more. Here are a few tips:
- Check the weather forecast and bring appropriate clothes and bedding.
- If you want a campfire, check if there's a burn ban using the park locations and alerts map. Bring fire starters and plan to buy firewood at the park.
- Bring supplies for quick, no-cook meals like peanut butter sandwiches.
For an in-depth look at planning, including an essentials pack list, basics for tent camping and much more, read the Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine story Let's Go Camping! If you'd like help from the pros to kickstart your camping career, try one of our very popular Texas Outdoor Family workshops in May or June.
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Centennial Time Capsule Starts Its Tour
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A centennial time capsule containing objects from every Texas state park was created by our exhibit shop. We can't ruin the surprise and list what they all are, but here's a few:
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 Goose Island is located on the coast near Rockport. It's famous for the Big Tree, and lately, the endangered whooping cranes that spend winters there. Spring brings wildflowers and more birds, and there's always the sound of waves. Take a couple of minutes to experience what its like with our video Spring by the Bay.
Spring Flooding and Your Parks
Recent heavy rains in parts of the state have flooded and closed some parks.
Currently closed state parks include Huntsville (see photo), Lake Whitney and Brazos Bend. Once the floodwaters recede, areas of affected parks will remain closed until cleanup and repairs have finished and they're safe for you to use.
For a current list of affected parks, see the park locations and alerts map. For assistance with current and future reservations, contact the State Parks Customer Service Center at 512-389-8900. For more information, see our press release Flood Impacts to TPWD. Stay safe out there.
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