With the rising cost of travel, the Texas Plains Trail Region has a simple solution. Take 1/2 day trips, day trips, or make it longer. Not only are they money savers, but these excursions will delight the entire family! Get off the main highways and make some memories on our backroads. Robert Frost suggested that "The Road Not Taken...made all the difference." You come too!
TOUR 1
This 372.2 mile tour includes historical sites and museum in the cities of Lubbock, Ralls, Floydada, Matador, Cottle County, Crowell, Quanah, Benjamin, Guthrie, Dickens, Spur, Crosbyton, Lorenzo, and back to Lubbock.
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At Lubbock visit the Ranching Heritage Museum, Lubbock Lake Landmark, Buddy Holly Center & American Agricultural Museum
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Take US HWY 82/114 East; Idalou Hwy to Ralls. Visit Ralls Historical Museum at 801 Main St.
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Leave Ralls on US 82 and South HWY 207; scenic drive thru a Blanco Canyon arroyo, then go North to Floydada. Many sites there.
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Leave Floydada east on 62/70. Scenic Drive to Matador. Great town, great history.
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Leave Matador east on 62/70 east on scenic drive through Cottle County to Crowell in Foard County. Drive on to HWY 6 to Medicine Mound, aborigine gathering site, Quanah Parker Monument, etc.
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Leave Quanah, drive south on HWY 6 to Benjamin Tx, see Veteran's Memorial and other sites. See Old German Church on HWY 267.
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Leave Benjamin, scenic drive west HWY 82/114 to Guthrie, home of 6666 Ranch. Ranch offers tours, visits, hunting leases, etc.
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Leave Guthrie on West 82/114 to Dickens, see Courthouse, Soldier's Mound Site, Dickens Springs Museum
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Scenic drive to Spur on HWY 70, experience the museum, main street, Palace Theater, hunting, and shops.
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Take scenic FM 836 to join 62/82/114 in Crosby County
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In Crosbyton see Silver Falls State Park, Courthouse, Fossil Museum, Prairie Ladies Multicultural Center, Smith Bed & Breakfast.
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Leave Crosbyton on US 82?114 to Lorenzo, turn North on Fm 378, scenic drive, outdoor wall murals.
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Drive to Lubbock to finish tours of sites.
TOUR 2: Lubbock, Slaton, Post, Snyder, Colorado City, Gail, Big Springs, O'Donnell, Tahoka
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Photo by Rick Vanderpool |
Photo by Rick Vanderpool |
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Photo by Rick Vanderpool |
Photo by Rick Vanderpool |
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Photo by Rick Vanderpool |
Photo by Holle Humphries
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Photo by Tai Kreidler |
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Leave Lubbock to South Loop 289 to US HWY 84 South to Slaton. Visit Harvey House, Slaton Bakery, and Main Street Downtown.
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Leave Slaton on US 84 South to Post. Visit OS Museum, Garza Co. Historical Museum, Garza Theater, Ragtown Gospel Theater, Downtown Shops,Algerita Center, etc
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Leave Post on scenic drive US HWY 84 to Snyder. Visit Scurry Co. Museum, see White Buffalo Statue, enjoy the community.
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Leave Snyder east on 180 to connect with South HWY 208 to Colorado City. Visit Heart of WT Museum, 1882 Frontier Church, and other community sites.
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Leave Colorado City, Drive SE on 120 to Big Spring to visit Hangar 25 Museum, Wind Farm, Heritage Museum, Comanche Trail Park, Big Spring State Park.
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Leave Big Spring on NW US HWY 87 to Lamesa. Visit Dal Paso Museum, Sky-View Drive-In
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Drive North to O'Donnell to visit O'Donnell Museum and home of Dan Blocker memorabilia.
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Leave O'Donnell on US HWY 87 north to Tahoka. Visit Tahoka Pioneer Museum
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Leave O'Donnell on US HWY 87 back to Lubbock
Terry County Quilt Trail
Photos by Rick Vanderpool
Because cotton has been a major crop in Terry county, it makes sense that there would be lots of quilting done in there. As you tour Terry County, you will find ten 7X7 wooden signs painted with popular quilt squares. Enjoy the tour!
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Quilt Block #1 Tumbleweed: Meadow Farmers Co-op Gin, 604 Lubbock Road
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Quilt Block #2 Log Cabin: 1008 Lubbock Hwy
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Quilt Block #3: Texas Star 200 Block Lubbock Hwy.
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Quilt Block #4: Arrowhead 200 Block Lubbock Hwy
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Quilt Block #5:Grandmother's Cross, King Auto Sales, 103 N. 1st St
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Quilt Block #6: County Farms, Sundown State Bank, 101 S. 1st St.
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Quilt Block #7: Wild Duck, Coleman Park, SE Hwy 62/82
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Quilt Block #8: Century of Progress, 600 E Cardwell
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Quilt Block #9: Mexican Star, South side of Hwy 380 East
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Quilt Block #10: Bear's Paw, 302 Tahoka Road
QUANAH PARKER TRAIL
Photos by Rick Vanderpool
Quanah Parker played a significant role in the history of the Plains Trail Region. A group is currently working on a Quanah Parker Trail that will not only encompass our region, but others as well. Click here to see the current Quanah Parker Trail information. Thanks to Hanaba Welch for her diligent work and graciousness to share it.
Scenic Drives
The Texas Plains Trail Region deserves the title “King of the Back Roads.” Farm-to-market and ranch roads crisscross counties where cattle often outnumber people. Taking the path less traveled isn’t just a choice, it’s a necessity to appreciate just how big the “Big Country” is. You’re entering real-deal ranch country, home of storied ranches and sprawling spreads such as the JA, the Guitar, the Matador, and the XIT.
Here’s a sampling of some of the finds you might miss barreling down the interstate at 70 mph. Take the next exit, follow a two-lane road that disappears over the horizon, and discover them for yourself.
Photos by Rick Vanderpool
- Texas 256 West traverses rolling country often cut by tributaries of Prairie Dog Town Fork of the red River. It threads among the jumbled, broken remnants of the High Plains, then ascends the Caprock in a spectacular drive amid colorful cliffs and canyons.
- One of the most impressive drives in the State of Texas is 207 South toward Silverton. For miles, agricultural riches spread from horizon to horizon; then the highway plunges into scenic grandeur at Palo Duro Canyon. Go down at a lower speed, for your safety and also to take in the beauty that unfolds in a gorgeous blend of colors. Further south the highway just drops into yet another amazingly awesom gorge, Tule Canyon. You'll see lots of varieties of rocks and sharp edged buttes.
- KNOX COUNTY: This drive is about 36 miles and you will see views of beautiful farm and ranch lands cut by the Wichita Brakes. Oh my gosh, you'll love the shapes and layers in the soil. This drive is North on Texas 6 to Farm Market 1756 east to FM 267, south to US 82, then west back to Benjamin, Texas. There are some roadside parks for picnicking on US 82 where you'll witness impressive views.
- Hamlin Drive through Palo Duro Canyon (Highway 207) — Armstrong County
- Historic Comanche Indian Trail into Palo Duro Canyon — Armstrong County
- Geological Scenic Drive — Borden County
- Caprock Canyon Trailway — Floyd, Briscoe, Hall
- Schott Cap Road (Caprock Canyon) — Briscoe County
- Rolling Plains Scenic Drive — Cottle, King, Motley
- White River-Blanco Canyon Scenic Drive — Crosby County
- Lake Marvin Foliage Tour — Hemphill County
- Big Spring State Park Scenic Drive — Howard County
- Medicine Mound — Hardeman County
- The Narrows — Knox County
- Lubbock Lake Landmark — Lubbock County
- Oak Grove & Llano Estacado — Terry County
- The Breaks on Highway 385 — Oldham County
Benjamin, Texas Scenic Drive - You don't have to do more than step outside your door here to see the beauty and grandeur of God's Country, but if a drive is what you have in mind, a thirty-six mile loop north and east of Benjamin will take your breath away. Views of farm and ranch land cut by the south Wichita River breaks include fantastic shapes in multicolored soils. North on Highway 6 to F.M. 1756, east to F.M. 267, south to U.S. 82, then west back to Benjamin. A well-maintained roadside park on U.S. 82 provides impressive views north to the South Wichita River and south to the Brazos River. The roadside park is located at a point called "The Narrows" on a ridge line that separates the two major watersheds.
Day Trips to Our Towns: What to do when you get there? See each city's page to see our suggestions!