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The
Western High Plains Gallery
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The Great Plains in Texas is the southernmost extremity of the continental Great Plains. The northernmost ecoregion of the Great Plains in Texas is the Western High Plains (4D), or more commonly called in this state as the
Texas High Plains.
This northern most ecoregion in the Texas Great Plains includes population center of Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland and Odessa.
Caprock Excarpment
This escarpment stands as the geographical transition point between these high elevations of the Texas High Plains and the lower elevations in the rolling terrain of the
Interior Lowlands below. In Texas, the escarpment stretches for about 200 miles from the northeast corner of the Texas Panhandle near the Oklahoma border in a south by south-southwest direction.
The top edge or caprock of the escarpment is made of caliche, a composite of calcium carbonate that resists erosion. The canyon features below the escarpment have been carved by the erosion of rain flowing into both the Canadian River and the Red River together with their tributaries as the water flows as much as one thousand feet in elevation down to the Interior Lowlands below.
The arroyos and other diverse terrains include the large Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon on the continent, and which is only partially contained within the state park of the same name. Another state park, located a bit further east is known as Caprock Canyon state park.
The Ancients
First Wayƒarer
The Earth
The Modern Man
The Steps
Steps Afoot
Steps Afield
The Appendixes
Pathway Journeys:
Footpath Journeys
Roadpath Journeys
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The 2024 Journey,
Texas High Plains
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(Day
79 TS) 49°F. 7:00 am, sunny
Journey On, Day 79
Dumas RV Limited-free Campground
Texhoma Park
Awake, rise, step out of the jammer and do my morning walk to the restroom. Then I return to the jammer, take a few last photos of this park, unplug and exit Texhoma Park, turn right onto US 87 and drive west tweny-four miles to Hartley, Texas where I take the southbound exit onto US 385 amd drive another eighty miles to Hereford, Texas.
When I arrive at US 60, I turn left and immediately arrive at the w-mart where I pull in, park, carry my computer bag inside and order a cup of coffee. I plan on staying at this location for a couple of days before I more northbound again.
(Day
78 TS) 50°F. 7:30 am, sunny
Journey On, Day 78
Stinnett RV Limited-free Campground
Awake, rise and dress in my summer blues. Upon looking out the side window, I see that Stewart is packing out and drives away. Then I work on and finish the update to my
Tommy Michel Wayƒarer page, after which, I upload the page to the website server. Next, I unplug my electrical cord, stow it in its place and get the jammer ready for travel. Once everything is back in its place, I climb into the drivers seat and drive two blocks to the c-mart for a cup of coffee.
(m2cont-nam-geog-09-tx-9d-2024-0429.0959) Texas High Plains, Limited-free Campground
Next, I drive out of town west on SH 152 towards Dumas, Texas for my next overnight stop. The drive west is a thirty mile route through some very flat north Texas panhandle lands along oil field operations and plenty of center pivot irrigation systems with bright green growing crops.
(m2cont-nam-geog-09-tx-9d-2024-0429.1131) Texas High Plains Center Pivot Irrigation
(m2cont-nam-geog-09-tx-9d-2024-0429.1131) Texas High Plains Center Pivot Irrigation
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The 2021 Journey,
Texas High Plains
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(Day
183 TN) 60°F. 6:00 am, early sun glow
Journey On, Day 87
I continue northwest on US 287 through Vernon, Quanah, Childress but right before arriving at the Prairie Dog Fork of the
Red River, I turn west onto SH 86 and continue west along the Caprock Canyon Trailway, a sixty-four mile point to point trail along an old railroad grade, while during this route, I leave behind the Interior Lowlands and climb up onto the Western High Plains.
Once on the high plains, SR 86 takes me right into the north side of
Turkey, Texas where I turn west on Main street and stop at Goldsby′s Philips 66 station to take a couple of photos.
(Day 932 TG) 50°F. 6:30 am, sunny
Awake, walk into the d-mart to use the mens room, then to the produce department to purchase apples, avocados, and celery, Then, I drive back into town, turn left on SH 217 and drive the 12.5 miles to
Palo Duro Canyon state park.
At the entrance building I see a sign stating Campgrounds Full, so I only ask for a day pass and then drive into the park, down into the canyon and then to the first camping site to stop at the restroom for a hot shower but find it only medium warm. Along the way there and back, I stop for photos of the
Palo Duro Canyon.
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The 2020 Journey,
Texas High Plains
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(Day
552 TG) 36°F. 7:00 am, sunny
Overnighting in a parking lot
Awake, dress in my winter blues, and after orienting myself, I drive east along the feeder road of IH 20 to SH 70, which I turn north on and drive thru mostly flat cotton fields, that have been plowed and await the seed in the spring. I can tell that the fields have been growing cotton because there are remnants of cotton all around the edges.
After driving north all morning, I arrive in Turkey, Texas turn west on SR 86 and see an amazing restored 1920's gas station. It is a Phillips 66 station with very early style fuel pumps and, I believe the original bus for Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys band. I stop and take several photos. I then pull into the station to gas up, but for some reason, the pumps are not working.
(m2cont-nam-geog-09-tx-9d-2020-0224.1048) Gassing Up, Turkey, TX. Home of Bob Wills
Leaving Turkey, Texas, I continue west on SR 86 and soon arrive at my first destination for today:
After exploring the park, I decide to take a new route to Amarillo, Texas.
Palo Duro Canyon, Crossing on SR 207
I return to SR 86, continue west for another twenty mile to SR 207 and then turn north. This highway, SR 207 first drops off of the High Plains to cross the Tule Creek branch of the Red River, then along Mackenzie Reservoir after which the highway climbs back up to the High Plains.
SR 207 next travels some sixteen mile due north on entirely level land and just after passing the caprock, I descend to a Hamblen Lookout Point where I stop to look at the view and take some photos.
A marker here tells that the SR 207 highway was dedicated in 1930 as Hamblen Drive, paved in 1954, and named after William Hamblen (1878-1952) who ranched nearby and pioneered this road along old Indian trails in order to shorten by some 120 miles, the route to the courthouse in Claude.
I continue down into the canyon and soon after, I cross the Prairie Dog Fork of the Red River, the same fork that is in Palo Duro Canyon state park further northwest. In fact, even here it is called the Palo Duro canyon. I continue north by northeast climbing back up out of the canyon until I summit the caprock once again, at which time, SR 207 turns due north once again.
In Claude, Texas, I turn west and drive into Amarillo.
(Day
553 TG) 35°F. 7:00 am, sunny
Overnighting in a parking lot
Awake, dress in my winter blues, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. I work on my journal and upload the several web pages and the associated photos. Then, late in the morning, I pack out and drive to the state park. I notice that there is a very strong wind blowing out of the north, which make it feel much colder than the current 40 degrees.
I drive into Palo Duro Canyon state park at about eleven this morning and stop first at the visitors center on the rim above the canyon. This building is right on the edge of the canyon and overlooks some remarkable canyon features.
Then, I drive down into the canyon hoping to be able to photograph a formation called the
Lighthouse.
I do find the trail to the lighthouse which is three mile out and three back but I only have to walk about a quarter mile before I sight it. Upon returning to the parking lot, I am able to see and photograph the formation from near where the jammer is parked.
Driving back westward through the Palo Duro canyon, I then drive up to the caprock and upon arriving at the entrance station, I notice a couple of longhorns, standing at a hay feeder eating. This they do to keep warm and well fed in inclement weather such as it is today.
The Texas High Plains
Upon summiting the Caprock Escarpment, I drive southwest on US 60, now on the high plains to Hereford, Texas for a meeting and to overnight at a d-mart.
(Day
554 TG) 16°F. 7:00 am, sunny
Overnighting in a parking lot
It drops down to 16 degrees before seven this morning and that beats my coldest overnight temperature in the jammer, which is 17 degrees. I rise, start the jammer, turn on the heater and wait for it to warm up inside before I rise and dress in my winter blues. Then, I drive out of the parking lot and immediately head south on US 385. Once I get going, the jammer warms up nicely and I take off my hooded sweater. I continue south until I arrive in Seminole, Texas where I turn west on US 180 and continue across the Great Plains into New Mexico.
Methinks as I drive southwest across the Texas High Plains and into the New Mexico High Plains, who would have known that the land here is as flat as the Coastal Plains where I was reared.
I continue through Hobbs and then cross the Pecos River at Carlsbad, New Mexico
At one stop where I pullout for photos, I see a Meadowlark and take photos of this creature along side the highway.
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The Wayƒarers Journal.
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See Ya above the Treeline!
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This Page Last Updated: 31 March 2026
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