Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument in Texas, USA - map and visitor information

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument protects a stone source used by Native peoples for tools and trade. The quarries lie on a mesa in the Texas Panhandle near Fritch. Seeing them requires a reserved ranger-guided hike, while the visitor center offers a less physically demanding introduction.

Highlights of Alibates

• Learn why the area's multicolored flint mattered to generations of toolmakers.
• See the quarry landscape with a ranger.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety information

The quarry route has loose gravel and stairs. Heat, cold, wind, and sudden storms can affect the hike. Carry drinking water and sun protection. Watch where you put your hands and feet around rattlesnakes and scorpions. Cell service can be unreliable. Review NPS safety guidance before setting out.

Visit responsibly

Stay with the ranger and remain on the trail. Pets and smoking are prohibited on the quarry hike. Wear long pants and sturdy closed-toe footwear as the tour instructions require.

Reservations and permits

Reserve the quarry tour by calling 806-886-3826. Ask about current group-size requirements when booking. Weather advisories and other hazardous conditions can cancel departures.

Maps, location, and access

Use TX 136 and Cas Johnson Road to reach the visitor center north of Amarillo. Follow park signs and the official directions. Do not navigate to the mailing address, P.O. Box 1460 in Fritch.

Nearby parks

• Lake Meredith National Recreation Area is a nearby companion visit, with access around Fritch and TX 136.
• Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a longer regional drive toward Canyon, at Park Road 5. Reserve day entry before a busy-day visit.

Visit the quarries and museum

• Allow about two hours for the strenuous two-mile quarry hike. It gains approximately 170 feet in elevation.
• Use the museum exhibits to explore flint working, trade, and the people who used this landscape.
• Ask about seasonal demonstrations rather than assuming one runs every day.

Facilities and accessibility

NPS identifies the visitor center, native plants garden, and adjacent picnic area as accessible. The quarry hike has stairs and is unsuitable for many visitors with limited mobility. Some exhibits include tactile models, maps, and rock samples. Ask about specific needs using the accessibility information.

About the monument

History

Native peoples extracted and traded Alibates flint over thousands of years. Floyd Studer and other supporters campaigned for separate protection of the quarries and village site. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the monument's establishing law on August 31, 1965.

Wildlife and habitat

The monument's safety information identifies rattlesnakes and scorpions in the local environment. Observe animals without disturbing them.

Contact

Call 806-886-3826 for Alibates visitor information and current tour arrangements.