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Because of recent rains wildflowers showed more color while in bloom along the trails of Caprock canyons State Park.( Nick de la Torre \/ Chronicle ) (Photo by Nick de la Torre\/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images) <\/p>\n
QUITAQUE, Texas – Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway is the fifth in Texas to be designated as a Dark Sky Park by an international group.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Parks with the DSP designation are recognized for their efforts to conserve the natural skies in their area and limit light pollution at night.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Caprock Canyons is a Dark Sky Park <\/p>\n
The park, located in Quitaque, Texas, northeast of Lubbock, joins state parks and natural areas recognized by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).<\/a><\/p>\n Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway, located near Palo Duro Canyon State Park, features the rugged plains of the Texas Panhandle.<\/p>\n Park visitors can explore the park\u2019s 90 miles of trails while viewing bison roaming the plains and bats roosting in Clarity Tunnel, TPWD said<\/a>.<\/p>\n What they’re saying:<\/p>\n “I am very proud of the hard work and dedication that the park staff showed during this year\u2019s long process to obtain the dark sky designation,” said Donald Beard, Park and Historic Site Superintendent for Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway. “It took each and every one of them to buy-in and work toward the ultimate goal of the certification.”<\/p>\n Dark Sky Parks in Texas <\/p>\n Big picture view:<\/p>\n To receive the dark sky park designation, parks are required to use quality outdoor lighting, effective policies to reduce light pollution, ongoing stewardship practices, and more.<\/p>\n There are now two International Dark Sky Sanctuaries and four International Dark Sky Parks in Texas:<\/p>\n The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n