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Copper Breaks State
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777 Park Road 62
Quanah, Tx 79252-7679
940/839-4331
History: Copper Breaks State Park consists of 1898.8 acres, 12 miles south of
Quanah or 9 miles north of Crowell, in Hardeman County. The park was acquired by
purchase from a private owner in 1970 under the State Parks Bond Program and was
opened in 1974.
Prior to the arrival of early settlers, this region was the realm of the
Comanche and Kiowa tribes. It remained so until the pressures of a new
civilization forced the Indian onto reservations in nearby Oklahoma. Near the
present park area, Cynthia Ann Parker was recaptured from a band of Comanche
Indians and subsequently reunited with her relatives. Cynthia Ann had been
captured as a small child by a raiding party near Mexia and grew up among the
Indians. Her son, Quanah Parker, was to become the last great war chief of the
Comanche nation. After being reunited with her relatives, Cynthia Ann Parker did
not adjust well to the ways of the settlers and longed for the free life style
of the Comanche. She died in a relatively-short period. Medicine Mounds, located
10 miles east of the park on private lands, were important ceremonial sites of
Comanche Indians. The famous Pease River Battle Site, in which Cynthia Ann
Parker was recovered from Comanches in 1860, is located 3 miles east of the
park.
Activities: Activities include camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, mountain
biking, swimming, wildlife viewing, backpacking, kite flying, summer
educational/interpretive programs, horseback riding (horse rental not
available), astronomy, and natural and historical exhibits. A portion of the
official Texas longhorn herd is maintained at the park.
* Check the Calendar of Events for this park.
* More Information on outdoor activities from the Experience Texas page.
Area Attractions: Nearby attractions include the Hardeman County Historical
Museum in Quanah and the Firehall Museum in Crowell, which maintain displays and
exhibits of artifacts and other historical items of early Texas. On State
Highway 6, between Quanah and the park, one can observe prominent hills to the
east that make up Medicine Mound, a ceremonial and religious site of the
Comanche. The mounds are located on private property, and trespassing is
prohibited. Located four miles east of Quanah off US Highway 287, Lake Pauline
is a 600-acre impoundment. Bass and catfish often are caught by anglers there,
and water skiing is permitted. Completed in 1967, Greenbelt Reservoir is a
1900-acre impoundment located five miles north of Clarendon on State Highway 70.
Travelers leaving Copper Breaks are only a few hours' drive from three other
state parks - Caprock Canyons State Park, Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Lake
Arrowhead State Park.
Facilities: Facilities include restrooms with and without showers; campsites
with water; campsites with water and electricity; equestrian campsites with
water; a primitive camping area; a group camp area with campsites with water; a
group picnic pavilion with adjacent group picnic area; a meeting room (use times
negotiable; 35 person capacity); picnic sites; a swimming beach; a boat ramp; a
boat dock; a fishing pier; a trailer dump station; playgrounds; an interpretive
center; and 2 lakes (60 acres and 10 acres). The park has 10 miles of trails:
9.5 miles for back packing, 9.5 miles for mountain biking and equestrian, .5
mile nature trail, and all 10 miles may be used for day hiking.The equestrian
camping area has campsites and two, 5-foot tying rails. Equestrian enthusiasts
can enjoy a 9.5-mile, round-trip trail over varying terrain. There is a large
parking area and water available for horses. Water and restrooms are nearby.
Nature and historical books, sodas and ice, firewood, limited fishing supplies,
and souvenirs are available at the Texas State Park Store. Horseshoes,
basketball, and volleyball equipment may be rented at park headquarters during
office hours. Honor boxes, located at park headquarters and each restroom,
collect entrance and camping fees after hours. |
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