Canyon, Texas
General Information
Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States and the third most visited Texas State Park in 2023. If you are surprised by the proclamation that it is the second largest, I believe it is related to the length of canyons, not the depth. While it isn't deep, sitting at around 800 feet from rim to floor, it is still an impressive canyon. Palo Duro is located out in West Texas about 30 minutes south of Amarillo and two hours north of Lubbock. You can explore the canyon by foot, bike, or horse on over 30 miles of trails. There are a total of six campgrounds (excluding those for groups) and four of those have electricity.
If you are choosing to camp inside the canyon in one of the campsites, there are a few things you need to know. West Texas is very often an area in dry and drought-like conditions. From whichever location you are coming from, you're likely to see signs along highways stating that a burn ban is in effect. This will more than likely be the case regardless of the time of the year, so don't plan on sitting around a campfire. Additionally, Palo Duro does not allow the drinking or display of alcohol in public places which encompasses all areas inside the park. Lastly, while it is a very dry area, several of the campsites are located downstream of low water crossings which may be prone to closure during flash flood events.
Juniper is the first campground in the park. It has fairly new paving along all campground roads and RV pads. The campground does have electricity to the sites as well as water hookups. The restrooms have shower facilities with hot water. Campsite amenities include a covered picnic table, a fire ring or grill, a tent pad, and a lantern post. This campground also has three ADA-accessible sites.
Mesquite and Sagebrush are the next two campgrounds in the park. All sites are paved, though not nearly as maintained as the Juniper sites These campgrounds also have electric and water hookups, similar to Juniper. Unlike Juniper, however, Mesquite and Sagebrush campsites only have a covered picnic table and a fire ring or grill at each site. The restrooms at both facilities have showers with hot water. There are no designated ADA sites at either campground, but some sites can fit a 60-foot RV.
Hackberry is the last campground with electric hookups. The campground is set up quite similar to the Mesquite and Sagebrush campgrounds. There are electric and water hookups and each site has a picnic table and fire ring or grill in terms of amenities. The restroom facilities are also equipped with hot water and shower facilities. The sites are paved, though not recently. Some of the sites can also fit a 60-foot RV as well.
The Fortress Cliff campground is tent-only. It is drive-up tent camping, so no need to worry about hiking in. There is water in the campground, but it is not available at all sites. There are restrooms nearby, but they are not located inside the actual campground. Each site has a covered picnic table and fire ring.
There are options for hike-in camping as well. It is strongly recommended that you call the park prior to attempting to use these sites.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Palo Duro Canyon open?
Palo Duro Canyon is open daily, but there may be occaisional closures of trails and facilities.
Is Palo Duro Canyon dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are allowed on hiking trails and inside of parks, not not inside of any park buildings or facilities. TPWD also requires a current rabies vaccine on hand, so be sure to keep the tag you get from the vet's office.
Where is Palo Duro Canyon?
Palo Duro is located about 30 minutes south of Amarillo, an hour and a half north of Lubbock, and nine hours with change from Houston.
What is Palo Duro Canyon known for?
Palo Duro Canyon is somehow the second largest canyon in the United States and, while not as massive or impressive as the Grand Canyon, still has colorful layering, steep walls, and expansive views. It's most iconic view is the Lighthouse. (pictured a little further down)
My Experience
There are many trails inside the park, and one of my favorite parts about hiking in Palo Duro is that you can combine many trails to get the level of activity you want. One of the most popular trails in the park is the Lighthouse trail. This is a 5.6-mile out-and-back trail to reach the Lighthouse Formation, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the park. The majority of this trail is flat, but it does gain just about all its elevation on the way up to the lighthouse. If you want to avoid the majority of people on this trail, I recommend starting early or taking an alternate route. The Givens, Spicer, and Lowry trail connects to the Lighthouse trail about one mile away from the end of the trail. The GSL is a little bit longer, at 3.1 miles one way, but it is an awesome trail. Be cautious of mountain bikers and critters on this trail. If you have the time, I recommend following the side trail to Little Fox Canyon. I won't spoil the surprise, but it was really cool to see.
If you are looking for something different, perhaps something that takes you off the canyon floor, there is one trail that can give you such an experience. Rock Garden trail is your way up the rim. Palo Duro, at only 800 feet deep, is not a huge hike out. As you hike up, there are a few viewpoints that show off the canyon. Be careful not to turn off on the Lower Comanche Trail if you're really looking for a rim hike. The trail isn't always super maintained, so definitely plan on wearing long sleeves and pants. It did seem to get more scraggly the further into the hike I got. Once you get to the rim, there are two options: left or right. I went to the left and I'm very glad I did. When looking at the map, the trail doesn't seem all that close to the rim, but it definitely gets close sometimes. There are many scenic overlooks along this trail, and I was amazed at all of them. There are few better lunch spots than looking out on the canyon from the rim. The one warning that I would share is that the parking lot is sand. I do not drive an all-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive vehicle and had no issue getting in or out, but looking back I probably would avoid it in the future. This hike is also located downstream of several low water crossings which are prone to flash flood events, so be prepared to check the weather and park news.
There are many different trails in this park and even some that aren't listed if you listen to the right whispers. At the end of the day, it is a wonderful park to explore and you can definitely spend a few days here. There are many activities around the park as well, so don't think you're limited to hiking it out.
Entrance Fee: $8
Campsites with Electricity: $26/night + daily entrance fee
Campsites with Water: $16/night + daily entrance fee
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