The weather is warming up in the Texas Panhandle, and summer is almost here. One of my favorite things to do in the warmer months is to get out of town and go stargazing. Here are my favorite spots near with great views of the night sky without a telescope.
Are Backroads Great For Stargazing Without A Telescope Near Amarillo?
The great thing about the Texas panhandle is that it doesn’t take you long to get out of town and into the middle of nowhere, which is where you want to be for stargazing. It’s pretty easy to pick a random back road and drive.
You can just drive until you can’t see the city lights on any given backroad and come away with a ton of stars to look at. Many of us have done this on more than one occasion in the panhandle. It’s a part of the culture.
Stargazing At Lake Meredith Is Worth The Drive From Amarillo, Texas
Lake Meredith honestly gives you some fantastic views of the night sky when it isn’t cloudy. There are plenty of places you can camp that are far enough away from civilization that light pollution won’t be much of a problem.
READ MORE: The Best Kept Outdoor Secret In The Texas Panhandle
My favorite spot at Lake Meredith is the Blue West Campground. I’ve spent more weekends camping out there than I can count. On a clear night, you can see a sea of stars, the Milky Way, and I’ve even seen the Starlink satellites flying overhead.
What I like about Lake Meredith when it comes to stargazing is that most of the camping is first-come, first-served. You get a beautiful view of the lake, the sky, and the campground I mentioned earlier is free to camp in. You can’t beat it.
Caprock Canyon Is Where You Can Stargaze With The Buffalo
Caprock Canyon is famous for the buffalo herd that calls it home, but there is a lot more there than that. They have some beautiful trails to hike, a spot where you can see a ton of bats hanging out, and when the sky is clear at night, you have a front seat to the cosmos.
Once again, this is a place with little to no light pollution, and after a day of hanging out at Caprock Canyon, stargazing is an amazing way to wind down. You won’t need a telescope to take in the whole show. You’ll see shooting stars, the Milky Way, and everything else you’re hoping to see.
READ MORE: What Makes Caprock Canyon A Must-See Spot In Texas
This is one of my favorite places because of everything there is to do at the park. It’s not too expensive to camp here, and the mornings and evenings are gorgeous.
Palo Duro Canyon Has Some Great Places For Stargazing
Palo Duro Canyon is another spot with excellent stargazing. There’s no light pollution, really, and the stars light up across the sky. Like with the other two places, there isn’t much of a need for a telescope. You’ll get a whole show with just the naked eye.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park hosts several events tied to stargazing while in the canyon. Keep an eye on their social media pages and website for information on when the next one will be.
Gallery Credit: Lori Crofford
Don’t blink! You just might miss these TINY towns that are dotted around the Texas Panhandle.
Some of these are unincorporated communities and some of these are just plain ol’ small!
Either way, these teensy weensy tiny towns and their populations will make you say “wow” (and maybe even squint and say “that’s all!?”). Check them out:
Gallery Credit: Sarah Clark
