Texas Plains Trail

This trail wanders through miles of rugged canyons, rolling hills, and deserted grassland prairies, which are some of the most recognizable landscapes of the Texas Plains. It is a relatively long drive (plan for a full four days in order to cover the entire 1,104-mile route) but a great experience to soak in authentic Texas culture. The Texas Plains have been inhabited for almost 12,000 years, meaning some of the earliest known residents of North America once wandered through these lands. You can explore this history at one of the many roadside heritage parkers or at some of the local museums in cities like Amarillo, Claude, or Quanah. 178-miles of the iconic Route 66 also intersects this part of Texas. It is worth visiting the town of Amarillo to see the National Register of Historic Places-designed stretch of vintage Route 66 buildings that runs through the center of town.