Come Visit the Grand Canyon of Texas
Sometimes referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Texas," Palo Duro State Park consists of over 200,000 acres, and is located just south of Amarillo in the Panhandle of Texas.
Aside from the magnificent color, rock formations, and beautiful scenery, this area has a rich history from the "old west" days of Indian battles, ranching and far beyond.
Today, Palo Duro State Park offers a wide range of outdoor activities.
Here are some fun activities that you may want to consider when visiting this area.
Camping and Lodging - Park facilities include 3 - full service, two-room cabins, 4 - limited service cabins, and well over 100 campsites.
Some of the campsites have both water and electricity, and some have just water.
Included in the campsites are a number of primitive sites.
These include hike-in primitive sites, hike-in primitive equestrian areas that include water and pens for horses, and a number of backpack campsites that offer potable water and restrooms at the trailhead.
There is also a trailer dump station and an overflow camping area in the park.
Hiking - There are miles and miles of hiking trails throughout the park.
Some of the trails include the Triassic Trail, the Lighthouse Trail, the Little Fox Canyon Trail, the Capitol Peak Mountain Bike Trail, the Junipter Trail (Cliffside and Riverside), the Sunflower Trail, the Rio Grande Trail, and many others.
The Lighthouse Trail is a popular hike and takes you to the Lighthouse Peak and Castle Peak rock formations, which are quite beautiful.
The Lighthouse Trail is about 6 miles long and there is a nice shady resting spot at the base of the Lighthouse that offers a nice view of the canyon.
Triassic Trail is an older trail, not normally listed on the park map that starts close to the visitor center, and offers nice canyon top hiking and great views of the amphitheater and canyon below.
Horseback Riding - If you would like to experience the Palo Duro Canyon like the cowboys of yesteryear then there are many opportunities to do so.
The Old West Stables, located inside the canyon, offers guided tours of parts of the park.
Guided horseback tours are available for the Timber Creek Canyon area and to the Lighthouse rock formation.
They also offer wagon rides and campfire breakfasts that you and your family are sure to enjoy.
Outdoor Theater Productions - The Pioneer Amphitheater is located inside the canyon.
The Official Play of the State of Texas has been shown here for over 40 years, and highlights the struggles and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle during the 1800's.
Normally the play is shown from early June through the middle of August each year.
This is a very popular show and includes song and dance, a delicious barbecue dinner, special effects and fireworks.
This may have been the first time that you ever heard of Palo Duro Canyon, but hopefully you now have a glimpse of what it has to offer, and may consider it sometime in the future for a family trip.
Most of all, be sure and take the time to create fun family memories together.
You will be glad that you did.
Have fun and stay safe!
Aside from the magnificent color, rock formations, and beautiful scenery, this area has a rich history from the "old west" days of Indian battles, ranching and far beyond.
Today, Palo Duro State Park offers a wide range of outdoor activities.
Here are some fun activities that you may want to consider when visiting this area.
Camping and Lodging - Park facilities include 3 - full service, two-room cabins, 4 - limited service cabins, and well over 100 campsites.
Some of the campsites have both water and electricity, and some have just water.
Included in the campsites are a number of primitive sites.
These include hike-in primitive sites, hike-in primitive equestrian areas that include water and pens for horses, and a number of backpack campsites that offer potable water and restrooms at the trailhead.
There is also a trailer dump station and an overflow camping area in the park.
Hiking - There are miles and miles of hiking trails throughout the park.
Some of the trails include the Triassic Trail, the Lighthouse Trail, the Little Fox Canyon Trail, the Capitol Peak Mountain Bike Trail, the Junipter Trail (Cliffside and Riverside), the Sunflower Trail, the Rio Grande Trail, and many others.
The Lighthouse Trail is a popular hike and takes you to the Lighthouse Peak and Castle Peak rock formations, which are quite beautiful.
The Lighthouse Trail is about 6 miles long and there is a nice shady resting spot at the base of the Lighthouse that offers a nice view of the canyon.
Triassic Trail is an older trail, not normally listed on the park map that starts close to the visitor center, and offers nice canyon top hiking and great views of the amphitheater and canyon below.
Horseback Riding - If you would like to experience the Palo Duro Canyon like the cowboys of yesteryear then there are many opportunities to do so.
The Old West Stables, located inside the canyon, offers guided tours of parts of the park.
Guided horseback tours are available for the Timber Creek Canyon area and to the Lighthouse rock formation.
They also offer wagon rides and campfire breakfasts that you and your family are sure to enjoy.
Outdoor Theater Productions - The Pioneer Amphitheater is located inside the canyon.
The Official Play of the State of Texas has been shown here for over 40 years, and highlights the struggles and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle during the 1800's.
Normally the play is shown from early June through the middle of August each year.
This is a very popular show and includes song and dance, a delicious barbecue dinner, special effects and fireworks.
This may have been the first time that you ever heard of Palo Duro Canyon, but hopefully you now have a glimpse of what it has to offer, and may consider it sometime in the future for a family trip.
Most of all, be sure and take the time to create fun family memories together.
You will be glad that you did.
Have fun and stay safe!