Palo Duro Canyon trip report

[Mike Magee]

This was spring break week, so last Sunday I travelled to Palo Duro Canyon (south of Amarillo) for some camping. This state park is home to the second largest canyon in the USA. It’s nowhere near as big as the Grand Canyon though... only about 800 feet deep.

As one begins driving down from the canyon rim, the nearest campground (Sagebrush) becomes visible. My trailer is the second white dot from the right.



Monday was a pleasant, sunny day in the upper 70s. I started my day by driving through the entire park, which helped me decide what to do next. I took a hike on the Capitol Peak Trail. It’s about 3 miles round trip on a loop with little or no elevation gain, and I thought it would help my legs get used to hiking again. This trail is primarily for mountain bikers. I was passed by 3 of them during my walk.



I took some pictures in infrared.

[Mike Magee]

Toward evening I drove back to the rim and hiked a bit of the CCC Trail. I also asked another tourist to take a photo of me at the overlook where the CCC Trail begins.



I spotted this interesting rock formation below the trail at one point...



The next day was cloudy, cool, and very windy. I waited until after lunch to hike the Lighthouse Trail. Although it was mid-50s, the wind chill made it feel like about 40* to me. I started out heavily dressed and took off layers as I progressed on this 5.75 mile (round trip, out and back) trail. About a mile out, there’s a trail connecting to the Capitol Peak Trail I’d been on the day before, and I was surprised to see a sign which read, “bikes only”! Oh well, I hadn’t inconvenienced anyone the day before.

The rugged canyon walls make for good scenery along the way. (This is regular B&W, not Infrared.)



For the first two miles the trail is fairly flat with some mild hills. Then suddenly, one must begin to climb through a steep, narrow channel in the rock with much loose sand making the climb slippery. (Some people on the way down through here merely slid on their butts... it was safer.) After proceeding thus for perhaps 50 yards, the hiker comes out onto the top of a hill with a view of the Lighthouse formation just ahead.

[Mike Magee]

You can see another steep climb ahead in the above picture. It’s about the same distance and steepness as the previous one, but at least this one is on more solid rock and the loose stuff was avoidable. Once up this hill, there’s a flat table of rock at about butt height to climb up, with the two spires rising above.







After sitting and walking around this area for a while and taking many photos, I was getting cold so I started back. No, I did not slide on the way back down through the loose stuff, I was too proud. I know, I know, “pride goeth before a fall,” right? But I did not fall, praise the Lord! The hike back seemed much longer than the hike to the formation... I was tired and sore by the time I got back to the car. Enough exercise! I slept well that night, then headed home the next day.

[cpaharley2008]

Great trip report and pictures, Mike.

[Evergreengirl]

Thanks for the trip report and the great pictures, Mike. It looks like a really interesting park. And thanks for the self portrait too - it's nice to put a face to the name!

[Rob Outlaw]

Great adventure and photos. Thanks for sharing.


Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[Al and Cindy K]

Enjoyed the pictures and the narrative Mike. Thanks for posting.

[Ken C]

Comanche hideout in this interesting book too

[Bob in Mb]

Thanks for the photos and the narrative. We toured the canyon a couple of years ago and thought it was a beautiful place.

[Mike Magee]

Thanks to all.

[Tom Dunn]

Visited Palo Duro last summer and really enjoyed it. Nice hikes and Dennis could go with us.

[papa-t]

Originally Posted by Evergreengirl

Thanks for the trip report and the great pictures, Mike. It looks like a really interesting park. And thanks for the self portrait too - it's nice to put a face to the name!

Hey I was just going to say that. ANYWAY....lol. Thanks for sharing Mike.

[Adrian W]

Nice photos & good report. Thanks for sharing.

We were there in Oct. last year. We were more impressed or at least liked Caprock Canyons State Pk more. It is southeast of Amarillo/northeast of Lubbock near Quitaque (Kitty-Quay). They have the state of Texas Bison herd.

Caprock Canyons SP is our favorite Texas state park we have visited for scenery. In many ways neater vistas than Palo Duro. Somewhat similar with a lot more of reds and erosion sculpted vistas, but Caprock Canyons seem to be brighter reds. Much vaster vistas for certain at Caprock. Seeing Bison is always neat.

We didn't get to camp in the Canyon at Palo Duro. Too full. Called on the way to see if Caprock had 'room at the inn', all the campsites were full, but they did have an overflow area. Turns out we lucked out with the overflow site. It had water & electric & it had sewer as well. We were the only one there or any were near by. It was at one side of the Bison Pasture. Yep, Bison had been by the site & left their scat. Bison were crossing the road to the site on the way in & they spend most of their time out from the site. But we never saw any in the mowed overflow area. $10 & free entry with TX Parks Pass which only gets you into the park, not for the camping fee. (Had W, E & Sewer a bonus.)

A few photos of Caprock:

[Mike Magee]

That was a good price for a nice campsite.

[Rob Outlaw]

We also camped at Palo Duro St Park for a couple of nights on our way back to MT from our month long trip after picking up the Oliver on Mar 3rd. Had it not been for Mike's write up we might have missed this one altogether. Glad we stayed but will fill in more once I have had the time to do a complete write up of our trip and camp stays.

Thanks Mike