Texas region guide

Things to do in West Texas

Plan a trip around 30 published destinations in West Texas. Compare parks, waterways, historic places, trails, caverns, wildlife areas, and visitor attractions, then connect the places that fit your route.

Explore West Texas

Use this guide as a starting point for discovering public lands, natural features, heritage sites, and visitor attractions across West Texas. Each destination page brings together location details, activities, amenities, current source information, and nearby stops so you can build a realistic itinerary instead of a disconnected list.

Before leaving, confirm operating hours, reservations, fees, weather, water conditions, closures, and access rules with the destination’s official source. Distances and services can vary considerably across Texas, so allow extra time between remote stops.

Destinations in West Texas

Open a guide for visitor information, things to do, maps, planning notes, and related places.

park

Abilene State Park

Tuscola · Taylor County · West Texas

Shaded Elm Creek recreation with historic CCC structures, trails, camping, fishing, and a seasonal swimming pool.

biking
birding
camping
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national site

Amistad National Recreation Area

Del Rio · Val Verde County County · West Texas

A vast border reservoir known for boating, fishing, paddling, camping, desert scenery, and nearby rock-art sites.

boating
camping
fishing
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park

Balmorhea State Park

Toyahvale · Reeves County · West Texas

A spring-fed desert pool with swimming, camping, and historic CCC structures.

camping
family
swimming
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national site

Big Bend National Park

Big Bend National Park · Brewster County County · West Texas

Texas' largest national park protects Chihuahuan Desert, Chisos Mountains, Rio Grande canyons, dark skies, and hundreds of miles of trails and roads.

backpacking
camping
hiking
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park

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Presidio · Presidio County · West Texas

Texas's largest state park, with rugged Chihuahuan Desert mountains, Rio Grande access, primitive camping, and remote backcountry trails.

biking
camping
hiking
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park

Big Spring State Park

Big Spring · Howard County · West Texas

A day-use park atop Scenic Mountain with panoramic views, CCC-built structures, picnicking, playgrounds, and a loop road.

biking
family
history
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historic site

Bush Family Home State Historic Site

Midland · Midland County County · West Texas

Tour the restored Midland home where the Bush family lived during the formative years of two future U.S. presidents.

guided tours
history
museum
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cavern

Caverns of Sonora

Sonora · Sutton County County · West Texas

Discover an internationally recognized West Texas show cave celebrated for exceptionally dense crystal formations and intimate guided underground tours.

camping
caving
geology interpretation
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national site

Chamizal National Memorial

El Paso · El Paso County County · West Texas

An El Paso cultural park commemorating the peaceful settlement of a century-long border dispute between the United States and Mexico.

cultural programs
history
museum
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park

Davis Mountains State Park

Fort Davis · Jeff Davis County · West Texas

High-desert mountain scenery, Skyline Drive overlooks, extensive trails, camping, birding, and the historic Indian Lodge.

biking
birding
camping
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river access

Devils River Scenic Segment

Val Verde County, Sutton County County · West Texas

A remote, spring-fed West Texas river segment known for clear water, rugged canyons, primitive conditions, and exceptional aquatic habitat.

fishing
paddling
photography
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natural area

Devils River State Natural Area

Del Rio · Val Verde County · West Texas

A remote and exceptionally clear spring-fed river landscape for paddling, fishing, hiking, wildlife viewing, and primitive camping.

camping
fishing
hiking
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national site

Fort Davis National Historic Site

Fort Davis · Jeff Davis County County · West Texas

One of the best-preserved frontier military posts in the Southwest, with restored buildings, exhibits, trails, and Buffalo Soldier history.

hiking
history
museum
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historic site

Fort Griffin State Historic Site

Albany · Shackelford County County · West Texas

Explore frontier fort ruins, military history, archeology, dark skies, and the Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd.

camping
history
stargazing
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historic site

Fort Lancaster and Battlefield State Historic Site

Sheffield · Crockett County County · West Texas

Walk the ruins of a remote frontier post overlooking the Pecos River valley and learn about soldiers, travelers, and regional conflict.

archaeology
history
scenic views
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historic site

Fort McKavett State Historic Site

Fort McKavett · Menard County County · West Texas

Tour one of Texas' best-preserved frontier military posts, with restored buildings interpreting soldiers, Buffalo Soldiers, and civilian life.

guided tours
history
living history
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park

Franklin Mountains State Park

El Paso · El Paso County · West Texas

A rugged mountain wilderness within El Paso offering hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, camping, desert wildlife, and panoramic borderland views.

biking
camping
climbing
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national site

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Salt Flat · Culberson County County · West Texas

Home to Guadalupe Peak, McKittrick Canyon, ancient fossil reefs, rugged desert wilderness, backpacking routes, and exceptional fall color.

backpacking
camping
geology
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historic site

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site

El Paso · El Paso County · West Texas

Rock formations, Indigenous pictographs, guided access, climbing, and desert history.

birding
climbing
hiking
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park

Kickapoo Cavern State Park

Brackettville · Kinney County · West Texas

A remote park with guided cavern tours, seasonal bat flights, rugged trails, birding, mountain biking, and primitive camping.

biking
birding
camping
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lake

Lake Colorado City State Park

Colorado City · Mitchell County · West Texas

A West Texas reservoir park with boating, fishing, swimming, birding, hiking, cabins, and camping beneath wide-open skies.

birding
boating
camping
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historic site

Magoffin Home State Historic Site

El Paso · El Paso County County · West Texas

Tour a distinctive adobe home interpreting a prominent borderlands family, regional trade, politics, architecture, and multicultural life.

architecture
guided tours
history
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park

Monahans Sandhills State Park

Monahans · Ward County · West Texas

Wind-shaped dunes offer sand sliding, hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and expansive West Texas skies.

camping
family
hiking
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historic site

Official State of Texas Longhorn Herd

Albany · Shackelford County County · West Texas

See the historic longhorn herd preserved by the State of Texas at Fort Griffin and learn how cattle shaped the state's economy and identity.

history
photography
ranching history
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historic site

Old Socorro Mission State Historic Site

Socorro · El Paso County County · West Texas

Visit the grounds of one of Texas' oldest mission communities and explore centuries of Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and borderlands history.

architecture
cultural history
history
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river access

Pecos River Scenic Segment — Lower Pecos

Val Verde County, Crockett County County · West Texas

A dramatic Lower Pecos canyon reach above Lake Amistad with desert scenery, native aquatic life, and major cultural landscapes.

fishing
history
paddling
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river access

Pecos River Scenic Segment — Trans-Pecos

Val Verde County, Terrell County, Crockett County, Pecos County, Crane County County · West Texas

A remote Pecos River reach crossing arid West Texas landscapes with significant native fish, wildlife, and scenic values.

camping
fishing
paddling
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national site

Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River

Big Bend National Park · Brewster County County · West Texas

A protected stretch of the Rio Grande flowing through remote desert canyons, renowned for multi-day paddling, wilderness scenery, and river ecology.

backpacking
camping
paddling
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park

San Angelo State Park

San Angelo · Tom Green County · West Texas

A broad West Texas park on O.C. Fisher Reservoir with hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, wildlife, and the official Texas State Longhorn Herd.

biking
birding
camping
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historic site

Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site

Comstock · Val Verde County · West Texas

Lower Pecos canyon landscapes with hiking, camping, scenic overlooks, and guided access to ancient rock art in Fate Bell Shelter.

birding
camping
guided tours
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