If you are tracing a road trip across the Llano Estacado or plotting a quiet weekend away from Lubbock, Crosbyton delivers far more than wide-open skies. It is a launch pad for canyon hikes, fossil hunts, courthouse selfies, and the kind of neighborly meals you only find in West Texas. Use this essential guide to line up the ten experiences that define our hometown charm.
1. Explore the Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
Start on the square at the Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum, home to more than 45,000 artifacts plus the Wayne Parker Collection of Native American tools. Step inside the full-scale Hank Smith "Rock House" replica, then pair your visit with our deeper museum guide for insider tips.
2. Picnic at Silver Falls Park
Drive four miles east to Silver Falls Park, the largest roadside park in Texas and a WPA showpiece of native stonework. Grab a table under the cottonwoods, follow the stairs to the waterfall, and stay for golden-hour photos along the rim of Blanco Canyon.
3. Visit Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum Finds
Crosbyton once hosted the Mt. Blanco Fossil Museum, and many of its marquee specimens now rotate through local exhibits. Look for fossil displays inside the Pioneer Museum and keep watch for special events that celebrate Joe Taylor's record-setting mastodon discoveries.
4. Chase Caprock Views on Highway 82
Point your wheels east on Highway 82 for the dramatic drop off the Caprock Escarpment. Pull over at Blanco Canyon overlooks or explore deeper with our Blanco Canyon field guide. Sunrise over the jagged breaks and sunset over the flats in the same day is a Crosbyton rite of passage.
5. Tour the 1914 Crosby County Courthouse
Stroll the downtown square to admire the Classical Revival courthouse that crowned Crosbyton the county seat. For the full backstory of the election that moved it from Emma to Crosbyton, read Crosbyton's history, then capture your own architectural shots from every corner of the plaza.
6. Go Birding and Wildlife Watching
The canyon breaks funnel raptors and migratory songbirds across town. Pack binoculars for Red-tailed Hawks near Silver Falls, Mississippi Kites cruising the cotton fields, and wintering waterfowl on the playa lakes. Bring the kids to spot the occasional Golden Eagle soaring above the cliffs.
7. Step Back in Time at the Smith House
Within the Pioneer Museum complex sits the restored Hank Smith House, honoring the first permanent homestead in Blanco Canyon. Walk through the dugout kitchen, peer at rock walls, and imagine life as a frontier postmaster greeting travelers along the White River.
8. Hunt the Crosbyton Canyons
Guided ranch hunts in the surrounding breaks promise mule deer, white-tailed deer, and wild hogs. Local outfitters can set you up for weekend blinds, while DIY sportsmen can base themselves in Crosbyton and scout public lands to the east. Always confirm regulations with Texas Parks and Wildlife before you head out.
9. Catch the Annual Livestock Show & Sale
Plan a January or February visit around the Crosbyton Livestock Show to see 4-H and FFA exhibitors present the region's best steers, swine, goats, and lambs. It is a perfect snapshot of the agricultural pride that still powers Crosby County.
10. Stay for a West Texas Sunset
Wrap the day with a picnic at Silver Falls, a peaceful drive to White River Lake, or a quiet loop through downtown as the neon flickers on. The sky ignites in copper, violet, and ruby against the Caprock, reminding you why we call Crosbyton the Gateway to the West.
Plan Your Trip
Ready to keep exploring? Dive into our Six Fun Activities Near Crosbyton list, bookmark the Top 10 Local Flavors guide for meal planning, and study the Top 10 Historical Landmarks of Crosby County to layer even more context into your Caprock journey.