Park personnel know the trailway well and have plenty of suggestions for starting and stopping points. At each major crossing, valuable information is posted on large signboards, such as mileage, approximate travel times and points of interest for both directions of the trail. This aids in accurate travel planning and establishing realistic expectations of difficulty. In general, the trail slowly loses elevation as it travels west to east. The uphill grade from east to west is very tolerable, though, given the trail's railroading past.
Trains have trouble climbing grades greater than three percent.
For any given length of trail, the effort of travel either way is moderate to easy. It's the sheer length of the trail, coupled with the gravel surface, that makes the journey difficult. The Caprock Canyons Trailway, in its current state, is a diamond in the rough. TPW is in the process of obtaining more grant money to further develop the amenities along the trail. Erecting additional designated camping areas, shaded rest stops, and hitching posts for horses are several of the slated improvements.