2019 Map of Hughes Canyon

About this map

Antelope Flats dominates the high ground in this section of the Texas Panhandle, where the level terrain of the Llano Estacado begins to drop away into the complex drainage systems of the eastern Caprock. The border between Briscoe and Hall counties runs through a landscape defined by deep erosion, most notably where Palo Duro Canyon and Hughes Canyon carve into the plateau. This 2019 survey documents the vital role of water management in this arid ranching environment, with numerous man-made catchments like Antelope Tank, Harness Tanks, and Wildcat Tanks scattered among the tributary breaks. These water sources support operations away from the larger seasonal flows of the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River and the Little Red River, which snake through the lower elevations of the canyon floors.