We stayed in Amarillo previously for a night and everyone said you must come back to see Palo Duro Canyon. We stayed for two weeks to explore. The colors of the canyon are amazing. Our stay included a brutal windstorm that swept through the country. We hunkered down in the RV with the slide-outs in for two days at the RV park. It was cramped conditions, but we were concerned about the slide toppers tearing with the 70+ mph gusts forecasted.
Palo Duro Canyon is a canyon system located in the Texas Panhandle near the cities of Amarillo and Canyon. As the second-largest canyon in the United States, it is roughly 120 mi long and has an average width of 6 mi. Its depth is around 820 ft, but in some locations, it increases to 1,000 ft. Palo Duro Canyon (from the Spanish meaning “hard wood”) has been named “The Grand Canyon of Texas” both for its size and for its dramatic geological features, including the multicolored layers of rock and steep mesa walls similar to those in the Grand Canyon.
Scenic Drive
We took a 40 mile drive along TX Highway 27 to get a view of the Palo Duro from outside the State Park. The colors are spectacular and worth a trip.
CCC Trail
Lighthouse Trail
Rock Garden Trail
This trail takes you to the top of the rim for a beautiful view of the canyon below.
Sunflower & Paseo Del Rio Trails
Next stop is Van Horn, Tx and Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
8 thoughts on “Palo Duro Canyon State Park”
Wow very pretty. Keep posting. I love seeing all your pictures. It was so good seeing you both when you were in Houston. Take care.
Loved catching up with you too. Be safe.
Looks like Vegas
Hi Philip. Hope you are well. I thought it looked like Colorado a bit too.
I now want to go to Palo Duro Canyon!
Keep on truckin you 2!!
Hope to see you soon!
You should go. It’s really pretty and not too far from you.
Beautiful photos. We have been to Palo Duro Canyon several times but never hiked the trails. We went to the
summer play which is a great show and we have driven through the beautiful area. Ed never has been much of a hiker.
Ed is finally home after 9 weeks in the hospital (3 in ICU). He has lost a lot of weight now at 130 pounds, so he
has a long way to go to gain back his 30 pounds. He is walking now even without a walker, but he gets short
of breath so he can not go far. He is still on OX but not all the time.
I have been very busy just trying to get everything done daily, but it is better than 8 to 10 hours at the hospital
every day. My boys and friends have been a great help .
Sorry I missed you when you were in Houston. I hope to catch you next time.
I am going to CO for a week in May. It does not look like we will be going there for the summer. I do not
think Ed could handle the altitude with his breathing problems and our town home is 3 stories so stairs are an issue also.
Safe travels and keep sending the photos…they are so beautiful.
Hi Sue. Glad you liked the pics. I agree that Palo Duro is beautiful but would have liked to see the pageant some day. Ed is making great progress. I hope he continues to make great strides. Please continue to keep us up to date on how you both are doing.