Caprock Canyons State Park, Texas
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
1 stay nearby →Copper Breaks State Park, a Dark Sky Park
A state park on the Texas plains south of Quanah, all rugged canyons and grass-covered mesas, with star parties every month from April through November.
- How dark?
- Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
- Entry
- $3 per person 13+ · day use until 10 pm
- Food & town
- Quanah · about 10 mi
- Certified
- Dark Sky Park · 2014
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way stretch across the sky on a clear night, with only a faint glow from distant towns low on the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 3, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2–8 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 2–8 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| May 2–7 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 5 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Early Feb to late Oct. Out of season until early Feb. In season now, through late Oct.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (thin crescent, rises late)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Copper Breaks State Park.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
We'll email you a link to confirm.
Almost there. Check your email for a link to confirm your address. Once you confirm, we'll email you the dates at Copper Breaks State Park a few days before each dark window, with the Dark Sky Trip Calendar.
That email address doesn't look complete. Check it and send it again.
We couldn't check that you're a person. Click into the form, wait until the check below the button shows success, then send it again.
Too many sign-ups from this connection just now. Please try again in an hour.
Something went wrong on our side and your address wasn't saved. Please try again later.
We use your email only for this, and never sell or share it. How we handle it.
What it's like
Copper Breaks lies on the Texas plains about 13 miles south of Quanah, far from big cities. The "breaks" are the fractures and faults that shape its few waterways, and the clay holds traces of copper too slight ever to mine. Some of the state's official Texas Longhorn herd graze the south pasture near the entrance.
The park has hosted star walks and astronomy programs since 1996. Today it runs a star party each month from April through November, with other night programs through the year; the events page has the dates. You don't need a program, though. The park is open daily from 7 am to 10 pm, and campers can take in the Milky Way from their own sites without a telescope.
Camping runs from 24 electric sites in the Comanche Camping Area to tent-only sites with water in the Kiowa area, and equestrian sites at Big Pond that any camper can use. For more quiet, six hike-in primitive sites sit about three-quarters of a mile out, below a scenic overlook near the dam, with no water, no fire rings, and spotty cell service.
Expect weather at both ends of the year: January lows average 24 degrees and July highs average 97. Recent alerts have listed a burn ban that rules out wood and charcoal fires, and drought water restrictions, so bring your own water.
Getting in after dark
The park is open daily 7 am to 10 pm. It runs monthly star parties April through November.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Quanah, TX is about 10 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (United Supermarkets), 4 gas stations, and 11 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Longhorn Ranch Steakhouse (about 10 mi), The Medicine Mound Depot Restaurant (about 10 mi), and Subway (about 10 mi). The park often fills up, so reserve ahead, and it closes to the public for permitted hunts on several weekends from mid-November to January, so check its alerts page before you go.
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Jun 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · entry fee from Texas Parks and Wildlife (Sep 2026) · after-dark access from Texas Parks and Wildlife (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 3, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Copper Breaks State Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the only other place within 150 miles. The distance is straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park