On December 7th, 2024, I drove 2 hours and 30 minutes to the Texas Panhandle and hiked/trail ran at Caprock Canyon State Park. Originally when I put this adventure together, I had planned to hike/trail run the entirety of the North Upper Prong Trail, however, about a half mile into the hike/trail run, I chose to attempt Haynes Ridge, which is what this blog is about. I hope you enjoy it.
For those unaware, I have traversed the Caprocks on four separate occasions, completing the Upper South Prong trail twice and part of the Upper North Prong trail once. While the Caprocks may be known in the weather world for providing that special magic for severe weather, it's known to me as my place of serenity. I began my adventure just before 1:20 PM, the temperature was about 50 degrees, with winds out of the southwest at 7 mph. While that may seem chilly to most, for this northern, the weather was perfect for an outdoor adventure.
Just over a half mile into the Upper North Prong, I made it to the trailhead for Haynes Ridge. I remember thinking to myself... "Man, I've always wanted to do Haynes Ridge." So I decided right there and then, that I'd attempt to complete it and hopped off the Upper North Prong Trail. For those who have never attempted Haynes Ridge, this trail is generally known as "Hard" and I realized the challenge that was ahead about a quarter mile from the Upper North Prong/Haynes Ridge trailheads as not only did I ascend over 200ft in that timeframe, but I also was now navigating rocky switchbacks, which made the adventure all the more fun! As I continued traversing the rocky switchbacks, I kept looking back toward the flat landscapes below and I remember saying "Wow, look at how high I am getting!!!" It was truly an awesome experience.
About 380ft from the top of the Canyon, I saw three individuals coming down from the Canyon and I was amazed, to say the least! Two of them were elderly, likely in their 70s or 80s, and were accompanied by a younger woman. The elderly-looking woman was in clothing that resembled what people in the 1800s wore and on top of that, she was wearing ballet flats on a rugged trail. I stopped to let them pass and I remember the elderly woman saying to me "You'll want to come over here. This section is more easy." They passed
me safely and we both went our separate ways.
When I made it to the top of the canyon, a sense of overjoyment and pride came over me. Every time I ventured to the Caprocks, I had always wished to view the Canyons and landscape that I hiked from a higher viewpoint, and now, here was my opportunity. I sat at the Southernmost end of the canyon and took in the views, with the widest smile I have ever given. Additionally, for the first time in my life, I experienced a spiritual moment right then and there, where I realized that everything in my life was going to work out in the long run provided I put in the effort to achieve the goals I set for myself. I took multiple portraits, selfies, and videos expressing my gratitude for this moment before continuing towards Haynes Ridge.
After putting my tripod back in its designated spot on my backpack and grabbing a drink of water, I ventured onward toward Haynes Ridge, which was roughly 1.61 miles away. Since I was now on top of the canyon and for the most part, the trail was flat, with the occasional curves, I decided to start trail running. I remember vividly saying to myself
"I have never felt more alive in my life, I'm trail running on the top of a freaking Canyon! This is amazing." As I neared Haynes Ridge, the smile of what I was accomplishing from a personal standpoint could not be wiped off of my face, that was until I made it to an extremely rocky section. That's when my game face came on and I said out loud "MAN, I'M DOING THIS AGAIN!" I then noticed a couple coming down the section, staring at me like I was crazy because I had just shouted that randomly.
I remember making it to the top and being only a hundred feet from Haynes Ridge and it was quite funny. I found this next moment hilarious, because the first thing I saw wasn't a beautiful overlook showing all of the canyons, but rather a repeater antenna that was mounted to a trailer. Almost immediately I thought "How did they get that up here? These trails are too narrow. Helicopter?" Anyhow, I continued, and there it was, Haynes Ridge Overlook. It was everything I had hoped it'd be. Even the sun made an appearance for the first time that day, shining down on the beautiful canyons and landscapes below. I
was taken aback by the views and for about 15 minutes took more self-portraits and nature photos. As I was wrapping up, a gentleman came to the same overlook and asked me if I could take his picture. I happily obliged and as I headed back towards the main trailhead, we struck up a conversation about the trail and whether either of us had seen any wildlife such as bison, snakes, etc. It was such a nice way to end my adventure. That said, I still had about 2.53 miles of trail running and hiking to do before reaching the parking lot!
Overall, the Upper North Prong to Haynes Ridge Trail was one of the best trails I have completed in the past decade. According to my Garmin Instinct 2, I hiked/trail ran 5.70 miles, acsending1,339ft, and burning 1,360 Calories in only 3 hours and 8 minutes. If you live in the area, I recommend checking out Caprock Canyon State Park in the Texas Panhandle! Also, if you DON'T live near the Caprocks, I HIGHLY recommend making a trip out to the Texas Panhandle and hiking at Caprock Canyon State Park! You won't regret it! Thank you so much for reading.
About the writer: Michael Thornton graduated from Rose State College majoring in Emergency Management. Currently, he is the Director of Tillman County Emergency Management, an Oklahoma Certified Emergency Manager, and the SW Oklahoma Emergency Management Association VP Alternate. In 2024, he was awarded the OEMA Innovator Award for his severe weather operations in Tillman County.
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