Plains Trail Region

Texas Plains Trail Region

Enjoy the rugged beauty and shimmering sunsets of the Texas Plains. Miles and miles of short grass prairie gives way suddenly and unexpectedly to spectacular canyon vistas as you cross this 52-county region that covers approximately 50,000 square miles!

One of the last parts of the continental United States to be permanently settled, the Texas Plains have been occupied for millennia. More than 12,000 years ago, the Clovis people, the earliest known residents of North America, roamed this land hunting the ancient bison and the Columbian mammoth. In time, the Apache and Comanche nations came, followed by Spanish explorers, cowboys on the free range, and finally, homesteaders seeking opportunity in a new place.

Plan Your Trip

Discover the stories of the land and the people that make up the history of the Texas Plains—and the true stories of the West.
Exploring Nature’s Marvels: A Journey Through the Texas Plains Trail State Parks With its vast landscapes and diverse ecosystems, the Texas Plains Trail Region is a haven for… Details
Roadside Heritage Our roadside heritage covers a lot of territory-both in mileage and subject matter. Perhaps our best… Details
Quanah Parker Trail: Follow the Arrows into History The Comanche Indians once dominated vast areas of North America—and yet, forced onto reservations, they left… Details
Old Tascosa and a Shirttail to Hang On To Once known as “Cowboy Capital of the Plains,” the community of Old Tascosa provided an easy… Details

Did You Know?

The normally pleasant weather can change in an instant and quickly change back again.

Plains Trail Region Partners

The Texas Plains Trail Region both relies on and supports our partner organizations in promoting heritage tourism, historic preservation, and economic development within our 52 counties of the Plains and Panhandle.

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Plains Trail Region Highlights

In the 1870s, the Southern Plains witnessed a fierce struggle for control between Native Americans and the U.S. Army. For nearly two centuries, Comanche, Kiowa, Southern Cheyenne, and Arapaho bands interacted with Europeans and Euro-Americans, sometimes beneficially through trade, but increasingly through violent conflict as more settlers moved west in the early 1800s. To end these clashes, the U.S. Army aimed to force Native Americans onto reservations in present-day Oklahoma. The resulting Red River War of 1874–1875 was a turbulent turning point in frontier history.

Around 3,000 soldiers fought up to 700 Native American warriors in numerous battles and skirmishes across the plains and canyons. Pivotal battles in the Texas Panhandle during the summer and fall of 1874 saw the outnumbered and outgunned Native Americans running and fighting for months. After decisive Army victories, the Southern Plains Indians surrendered their free-roaming lifestyle and began new lives on reservations by June 1875. This war's end also marked new beginnings for farmers and ranchers settling in West Texas, leading to the growth of towns and the loss of some battle sites.

In 1998, the Texas Historical Commission launched the Red River War Battle Sites Project to mark the conflict's 125th anniversary. From 1998 to 2003, archeologists used metal detectors to uncover artifacts at six battlegrounds and unearthed forgotten maps and records. The findings confirmed known locations and shed new light on the events during those 10 tense months on the high Panhandle Plains.

In 2024, several sites in the region are commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Red River War. Many battlefield and frontier artifacts chronicling the history of the Texas Panhandle are on public view at heritage sites in the region listed on the map below. Plan a visit to gain a deeper understanding of the Native American cultures that have shaped our region. Visit historic landmarks, museums, and cultural centers to experience firsthand the profound impact of these events and the enduring legacy of the battles.