Palo Duro Canyon State Park Reviews

Came back to stay in the park after a drive through visit a couple years ago. Stayed at a "glampsite" close to the trading post, which was excellent. Saw numerous deer, a wild turkey and bobcat (bobcat darted across the road). Still in awe that this magnificent canyon is in the middle of the most flat terrain in Texas! Must Do

This was a side trip with my husband as we were traveling and the weather could not have been more perfect to do a little hiking. This park offers some great hiking trails, camping or glamping, and magnificent views.

Had a really nice day driving thru Palo Duro Canyon. Well maintained road and turnoffs for viewing the spectacular canyon features. There us even a trading post where you can get food, ice cream, and even gas. There is no cell service.

Texas Grand Canyon. Don’t wait until summer as the canyon can get to 120°. Spring or early spring is a good time. Take the lighthouse trail, you won’t be disappointed. Saw wild turkey, deer, and an abundance of birds. Awesome sight!

It was outstanding, great roads, and pull offs. Lite traffic since it just opened up for day use. Beautiful views everywhere.

Very enchanting place and highly recommended. I've never been to the Grand Canyon but I'm a native Texan and this place is incredible. The rocks are so many colors they dont look real! We did the lighthouse trail in 2 h 45 min but they recommend 4 hours. Drink lots of water and bring your sunscreen!

Someone told us about this park as we were passing through Lubbock early this morning. We were so surprised to find this geologic treasure! The rock layers and formations were a rock hounds dream. The various colors were so vivid!!! The plants and shrubs were just gorgeous. You have to stop here- somewhat pricy- but worth the admission. Great picnic area!!!

This is the place I bring everyone who comes to visit. Even if you don’t like to hike it’s worth it to come do the drive and stop at the overlook. It’s so beautiful and so remarkable to have this dramatic change in landscape after miles and miles of the flattest land you can see.

The Canyon is amazing and a must see if you have never seen one. You would expect some civilization if you read that a lot of camping facilities are here. The famous Lighthouse trail was the first and only trail we could do. We came early because it was less warm in the morning and it was forbidden to enter the trail after 11.00 am because of the heat (more than 100 Fahrenheit) but since there was a nice breeze we decided to do the whole 2.8 mile because we were deceived by the first 1.4 Mile of the trail where the were nice marked poles and roofed benches to rest an have shade or shelter every few hundred steps you make. We saw people with younger children (8 and 10) coming back and they told us they just climbed the Lighthouse. Ours are 12 and 14, so it must be easier for us? Looking from 1.4 mile you could just see the lighthouse. On your picture just a pinky tall. So encouraged by the “good facilities”, good stories and cooled temperatures of some very light cooling rainfall we continued, not knowing that the red clay will be dangerously slippery, sticky and heavily clogged to your shoes because of the rain. Then we came to a big crossroad/ path of more than 10 meters wide and we saw tire marks of a jeep. Because it was not clear whether you should go left or right we divided to go left. After 10 minutes walk we felt that this was wrong. So we go back en go right. Because it started to rain a bit more and lightning came from the sky we had to look for shelter. Which we found none! We tried to call the number of the park and rangers to ask our way out, but no reception. Ofcourse 911 doesn’t work as well. Then when the rain stopped we went back to the same crossroad and luckily I marked the endpoint with an old dead branch. Not wanting to give up we discovered a path of just 0,5 meter wide going up in a angle of 45 degrees uphill!!! How did we know this was a path? Because we saw fresh footsteps!!! Otherwise we would have never guessed. Then we discovered this was the second part of the trail! This part doesn’t have benches to sit on and shelter for sun or rain. What a deception! And nobody came to look for us. What if the rainfall was much more? We felt very unsafe because we also saw fresh animal claw marks in the clay. As an European and tourist we don’t carry guns and luckily we were not attacked by some wild animals. Luckily we did read the advices thoroughly on TripAdvisor. Look out for the black ants they bite and the it feels like fire burn on your skin for 2 hours! This is not what you expect when you have to pay entrance for a “park” you will expect that you will be looked after if some thing happens. 2 miles away from a main road you will not expect you will be cut of from all civilization. And again camping facilities all over the place?Be very very prepared when you want to hike here. Luckily we had hats, food and water with us. It took us 3,5 hours eventually to get back to our car (we thought we would we done in two) Park rangers: if you read this can you give better directions at this crossroad a bit for the hikers?!!!

We enjoyed hiking . Had a perfect weather day, especially for February !
People up and down the trails were courteous and friendly . The mountain bikers on the lighthouse trail need some
Etiquette lessons.
One last thing. I do not care how well trained you think your dog is, use a leash. I watched a dog that had been well behaved (no leash ), lunge at a lady (not sure where she was from but a non-English speaker), she lost her balance and fell in cactus.
Also, while we are on the dog etiquette, if your dog poops on the trail, be a responsible owner and clear the trail.

My husband and I spend two wonderful days hiking and seeing the sights in the area. Lighthouse is a must do trail. CCC was great, as well as the Rock Garden, but we didn't go all the way on that one. Don't miss the Big Cave. We were sure to get in all the "Points of Interest" on the Trails map. Nice visitor center, but we were a little confused about where it started because the gift shop was right in the middle. It can be hot and there is no shade. It's a great place to visit in the cooler climes. Did miss having ranger programs with Covid. We just had a marvelous time. A Texas hidden treasure! PS, Recommend a drive through the whole park (about 20 mins) to survey the scene before making your hiking plans.

So incredible that this canyon is in the middle of the plains of Western Texas. Our visit was on a Thursday in October of 2020 during Covid. Therefore were required to make day passes online in advance. We originally had purchased tickets for a day that the weather forecast predicted temps of 97º so we called to reschedule to the next day. Unfortunately we were not allowed to change so had to give up the $16 admittance fee and pay for the next day. Considered it a donation to a terrific park! Entered the park around 11am. Disappointed in the Visitor Center. While the personnel was helpful the museum was lacking in my opinion. The gift shop needs some major TLC. We elected to hike the Lighthouse trail. Headed out after using bug spray. It took us 3 hours. Probably encountered 50 other hikers. Beautiful hike, some areas have rock scramble so I agree with the labeling it as a "moderate" trail.

A recent two night stay was very disappointing.

There a two pitiful so-called showers, one with door off of the hinges and neither with a place to set a bag, towel or toiletry bag down. The opposite side had crude facsimiles of will be commodes with sinks. The faucets handles were broken and the wallboard was poorly tacked up exposing the on demand hot water system which didn’t even work.

The owner/ manager is not even on site and we never saw. We were put near the front because they said we’d have the best internet signal. Wrong, it was not the case and didn’t even get a signal.
The flies were absolutely atrocious! Couldn’t even enjoy a meal in or out of our rig because of the swarm. Only two pathetically warped picnic tables in the entire facility!

Save yourselves money and trouble and stay IN the beautiful park. This place needs lots of help.

Unfortunately we visited this park the day after a heavy storm, so the various trails were closed because impassable, but a visit is really worth it. There is the possibility to drive along a circular route that takes all parts of the park, with stops to admire the panorama of the canyon and the rock formations or valleys. There are plants that look like prickly pears and have beautiful red fruits. In the park there are several very clean and well maintained picnic areas with water fountains. Admission costs $8 each and tickets are made at the information center as soon as you get to the canyon sign.

Lots of great trails and some fun stuff to do in the area. Love the diversity of trails and that there is something for everyone. Definitely try to arrive earlier during peak season. Research the trails ahead of times and book your passes ahead of time. They will turn you away if you don’t have a pass & the park is full. We did the Upper Comanche trail to Kiowa trail, the Rock Garden trail & the Light House trail. The first one was definitely the easiest of the 3. Rock Garden is more challenging, but we say plenty of elementary school aged kids managing it. Lighthouse trail is easy until you get close to the formation. All have amazing views. Also having a trails app is helpful.

Wow, its really amazing. Lots of trail options from easy to pro. Also have some basic food in the park (Hot dogs, burgers, etc) Take WATER! Plenty of it and even more when its hot!

Stopped here after researching things to do on our family road trip to Colorado. We had no idea that this place even existed. It's about 20 minutes from Amarillo. We drove into the Canyon, but want to go back so that we can hike. It's a beautiful, hidden gem!

We have driven through West Texas several times and finally decided it was time to take the time to see Palo Dura Canyon. I’m so glad we decided to spend an extra day here. The canyon is beautiful, and depending on what time of day you visit and how the sun is positioned the canyon can change colors right before your eyes. We saw lizards exploring and even a tarantula! Definitely worth taking the drive through the canyon. We plan to return in the fall when the temps are little cooler.

This is the last time I come here in summer. You know it's going to be hot and for me, the heat isn't the problem. Its the biting flies. We covered ourselves in Deep Woods off and we didn't make it half a mile down the trail when we had to turn around because they were swarming and biting. It is beautiful here. I'd love to make a trip in the winter and hopefully avoid the biting flies.

Driving through Palo Duro Canyon State Park & enjoying the scenery. Unusual rock formations due to both weathering & erosion.

Love this park. We camped inside the beautiful canyon. The best part was hiking to the Lighthouse rock formation. This is our second year in a row to camp here. The rangers were extremely nice and helpful last year when our truck broke down at the bottom of the canyon.

Came with our dogs. Very easy to drive down into the canyon and back up (unless you have a fear of heights I suppose), just take the turns slowly. Don’t even have to drive the full loop. We did not have time to do a long hike and were quite happy with the 1/4 mile CCC trail offshoot, at the very start of the descent into the canyon - this is the first trail on your right side that you will pass after the visitors’ center, on the curve right before the grand descent into the canyon. This trail is high above the canyon and provides great views into the canyon. We spent about an hour and a half in the park in total. If you don’t have much time, I wouldn’t even drive down to the canyon, just do this trail… the sign says “CCC trail 1/4 mile”.

Amazing place 🏜. Plenty of areas to explore, ride a bike, hike, with stunning nature, birdwatching, camping 🏕. Rivers, cave, desert, mountain and a canyon that you can walk. Easy access. In our humble opinion the best state park in all USA.
Plan your day. Watch for the weather. Is really hot on summers. Bring plenty of water and immerse completely in this marvelous experience.

Everything is big in Texas. We were coming back from CO and NM, stopped here as this is the next biggest canyon after Grand Canyons. There are few scenic viewing spots and variety of hikes. But on a hot summer day with blue skies over you, it would be a challenging to hike in this park.

We planned our trip around a lighthouse hike. An easy hike apart from last 0.25miles steep rocky climb. Tip 1 -Arrive early 9am or before . Traffic queues later and hot on return. Tip 2- follow the park advice take sufficient water and use sunscreen. Definitely worth a trip

Visited here having seen it feature in a UK food programme (Hairy Bikers Ride Route 66). We thought about hiking the Lighthouse Trail but were concerned that it might be too long for the heat and so decided to do the CCC Trail instead. Descending into the canyon was fine and we decided that, rather than retrace our steps, we would walk back along the road. It was probably easier to do that but as it was about 104º by the time we got back to our car I was flaking out. The canyon is beautiful but don't underestimate the heat.

I think many people in Texas are unaware that the second largest canyon in the US is right here in the Lone Star State! And it is beautiful. We drove here after spending the night in Amarillo and spent about two hours or so on the scenic drive which circles through the canyon from top to bottom. There are plenty of places to pull over and take pics of stunning views. I would like to come back for their Texas musical which was cancelled for the summer due to COVID. This was a bucket list item for me and the whole family loved it. If you like to hike there are tons of hiking trails here too.

We were pretty tired and only drove through the canyon. We saw lots of people camping, hiking. The canyon is very beautiful. The visitor center and gift shop was nice. The videos are dated. I would like to have had the time and energy to do a little more exploring.

We have been to the Grand Canyon - I enjoyed this more but my hubby thinks GC is prettier??? Great trails. Great views even if you only stay in the car - worth the visit. If you can only walk a mile or so - do that on the trails. 5-10 minutes on rock garden trail and you see a bunch of rocks. One mile in on Lighthouse and you get a much better view! Big cave looks more intimidating than it is but is not for someone who can only walk on flat ground - but walk as far as you can In flat ground to get better views. The trail to lighthouse is not flat as some say, if that matters to you nor is it difficult. We went up on the “rock bridge” at lighthouse We took the trail to the right after reaching the picnic tables - you are right on the edge - not a strenuous climb - but scary coming down or going up if you don’t love heights! The climb up to the lighthouse after this was a tad harder - used my hands in both places but probably because I was scared to stand and just walk up - saw other folks just walking up & down in both places. Once you reach the “ledge” to go up to lighthouse if you are 5’3” you might need a boost or to put your knee on ledge to get up - not much ground to land on when coming back down and you can’t quite reach the “ground” to start heading back. Despite all my “warnings”, it was worth the fear. We headed up in shade and 60s and back in full sun and 80s -HUGE difference. So thankful we went!!!! Enjoy!!!!

Opted for a mini vacation with the family to Palo Duro. It was the first time I had been to Palo Duro in 35 years.. We stayed at a hotel in Amarillo and made the very short commute to Canyon. Some observations: as a kid I remember how amazing the canyon was having grown up in Houston. Since then I have traveled extensively and I will say that if you have never been to the western USA, (Grand Canyon, Black Canyon of the Gunnison Colorado or the mountains in CO and UT) you will be as enchanted as I was as a kid. And I will say that despite traveling to some amazing places, Palo Duro still emits its splendor!
Some upsides is that this park has fortunately not been commercialized and retains its rustic charm. There are plenty of places to stay (cabins) or to camp. Downside: it’s WAY out of the way from most large cities in TX and certainly across the USA. I also imagine it is exceptionally hot during the summer as well. Again if you have traveled in the western USA, this place may be underwhelming. But, I also think that there are many people out there who wouldn’t mind a respite from the craziness at some of those larger landmarks. I also wish there were other activities (ie no fishing, white water rafting, etc). Finally, if you do not hike or mountain bike you may find yourself playing out the Clarke Griswold version as he saw the Grand Canyon, as there is only so long you can look at the canyon before it’s time to go.. all in all a good trip and a welcome mini-vacation!

We were in a rush, so we took one of the shorter and easier trails, the Rojo Grande Trails. I can't say much for the park because I haven't hiked other trails, but as for the Rojo Grande Trails, it wasn't that impressive. The views weren't amazing because there were trees in the way. The hike was very easy, especially if you do it on a cool day -- we did it on a hot day, and boy, did we regret it.

When we drove down to the parking lot, we saw some pretty views, so other trails may be worth it, but the Rojo Grande Trail isn't.

Will I come back? Yeah, I'm willing to try out other trails. The pricing is pretty average at $8/person. It is also pet-friendly, so that's a major plus!

We went to Palo Duro today. Since it was too hot for us old people to walk the trails, we just drove the canyon route. We saw a lot of beautiful scenery, plenty of places to pull over to see the rock formations. I would like to visit the panhandle again someday when the weather is cooler and actually go on one of the easier trails.

We greatly enjoyed our time at the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It's quite beautiful and very accessible by car. Not much food available so bring your own if you plan on staying awhile.

Worth a detour from wherever you are going! The scenery is gorgeous, even in August, the breeze was heavenly!

The literature in here describes the place in one sided manner. The staffs are nice but they and signages needs to be improved to include much more about natives of this gorgeous land and natives' point of views.

Great place to take the kids to get some energy out. The trails were closed while we were there due to the covid-19 virus but it was still worth going to see.

We drive a camper van and made this park a one night stop on the way home to Oklahoma. We have stayed here several times over the past 45 years and still enjoy the beauty. The online reservation process went smoothly and our name was on the board (late arrival). Picking a spot online was hard to choose because we prefer to see a spot first and the one we picked wasn’t good. No problem. The board stated we could pick an empty spot but we found that ALL the spots had ‘reserved’ signs even though no one showed up. Someone needs to monitor the signs. Other than this small problem, the park was clean.

I keep saying I want to come back and hike the trails.

We camped in Mesquite area—but we know now to stay in the Jupiter area next time. Jupiter has great views and the facilities are newer.

Gorgeous rock colors and view. It was too hot for us to do a hike but the views from along the roads inside the park are striking.

Very nice store and simple fare restaurant inside the park.

We would like to come back to camp here one day when it’s cooler to hike and see the night skies.

Lots to do right off the road. Really dated video at visitor center. Actually not much there that was well done. Give it a miss and enjoy the park. Lots of flush toilets located throughout. No gluten free food at the Trading Post.

Stopped here on Route 66 coach tour, as the weather was bad the coach drove us a little way around so we could see . Had a quick stop at the visitor centre, didn’t get long as they were about to close. Because of the rain they had the trail’s were closed

A bit disappointed. The views and trails are amazing, and well marked but 2 things stood out. We were in Mesquite #89 and the flies were horrendous. They were so bad that we could not sit outside much less eat at the picnic table. I believe it is because they did not keep the sites clean. They were so overgrown that we could not get to the firepit to have a fire, and the picnic table pad was covered with dirt and mud. For the price they charge, tey should maintain the camping sites better. Also, no fault of the park but no there is no WiFi

Outstanding personalized and exciting tour! I preferred it to my Grand Canyon trip because I learned more, had more fun, no lines/waits and way less expensive for the spectacular views.

We were passing through Amarillo so we decided to check out this canyon. It was ~95 degrees, so we didn't do much hiking, but we did check out "The Big Cave" and "The Rock Garden". The grandkids loved the cave, but the Rock Garden was a too much for them...it was recommended by the lady at the Visitor Center.

The wife and I spent several hours hiking on and off trails very fun day and the temps were awesome picked a great day I barely broke a sweat which is pretty good for me. Recommend for anyone very beautiful views.

This place has amazing views, and a wonderful hiking trail system that is well marked! We saw lots of wildlife along the trails and beautiful geological formations! We hiked all the easy and one of the moderate trails over two days. They are labeled accurately. Bring lots of water with you and make sure you get it before you get to the Palo Duro exit as there are no stores along the way to the canyon. The trading post has water there for sale and the food was good. This place is a must see!

The park itself is amazing! Love the beauty, trails, and clean restrooms. The RV pads were relatively flat with plenty of room. My problem is with TRYING to contact the park. We called and called and no one answered. Why list a phone number if you don't answer calls. I tried calling the visitor center also and no one answered. I even left a message with my phone number. No one bothered to call back. Very very frustrated!

We had a wonderful time. Although we never made it in the park per se since because of Covid they only allow 50% of people and you MUST register online first.
However, thanks to the people of Palo Duro Jeep Tours, we had a magnificent. "Safari", Donna is so knowledgable of the history of the park since her own family are the owners, what more can you ask. Even better, she is friendly, enthusiastic and made the ride experience unforgettable, those views really are breathtaking and no camera or photo can make them justice, you have to Go and experience yourself. Bring comfortable clothes, and suntan lotion. They have 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours tours. We took the 2 hours tour and it e ded up being 2 and a half hours. We also recommend going the earliest you can since it really gets hot! They bring their own cooler full of water. It can get rough at some points going up ,also with the heat so you dont want to take elders unless they are " hearty" there was an older lady that got sick on the other jeep. Children do fine. There was a 3 year old with red cheeks with us, never complained at all, she was all in!.. so there you go. Visit Donna and the folks at the Jeep AND Horse riding ranch. You can take pictures of the kidddo'@ with the horses.

A couple of co-workers went to drive through the canyon while we were in town for business meetings. This was very relaxing and the scenery is awesome.

We actually just left the real Grand Canyon, and this was certainly comparable, a mini Grand Canyon. It's gorgeous. You see breathtaking views and tons of wildlife. We didn't camp. We just drove the loop. It kinda reminded me of the Cades Cove of the desert. I will say, reading through other reviews discussing employees being unpleasant, the few we encountered were also pretty unpleasant. I'm not sure what's up with that, but it does make me hesitant to camp there. If you are from a very flat area with no mountains, you should definitely drive through. It's very pretty. Obviously, if you are from near the real Grand Canyon, this might be underwhelming. I definitely feel it's worth the stop.

Small but interesting place. Nothing to do with the Grand Canyon but it’s definitively worth a visit if you are in Amarillo or just passing by.

Finally got to visit. Really loved the views. Beautiful day for a hike. Wished the whole park was open.

amazing awesomeness people if your into, nature,science, & wildlife. honestly on of the est places on this earth we have!!!!!!!!!!! , so yep yeah yeah yep 100% AF PERIODDDDDDDDDDD

AMAZING! Absolutely Stunning! A MUST SEE IN TEXAS! Go to show in amphitheater as well! Well worth the drive!

Texas has some wonderful state parks and Palo Duro is one of them! make sure to take a trail ride with Old West Stables. Blaine and Megan take good car
e of each group as they travel through the canyon.

Surprising find in the Panhandle area. You wouldn't know it was there (visually) until you get right to it. Beautiful rock scenery and you can drive to the bottom. Undoubtedly hot in the summer, choose cooler times of the year to visit.

Visited this state park over 2 days. Arrived afternoon of first day and spent several hours at the visitors center and scenic overlook.

The second day we hiked the Lighthouse Trail (must-do) to base of Lighthouse. Always watch for snakes. Also hiked the Paseo Del Rio to the Cowboy Dugout and part of Rojo Grande Trail. Bathrooms were OK.

Really enjoyed our time in this park.

We would try to stay inside park at RV Campground next time. Drove around to check out camp sites.

On a crisp, blue sky Friday morning in mid-December, we visited Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The scenic drive down to the bottom of the canyon and the circle once you reach the base are layered with vibrant colors. At every turn in the road is another beautiful vista. We saw a big longhorn in the pasture near the top. Then, we spotted several mule deer enjoying the sunny morning. As we passed over a small bridge, we spotted a big flock of wild turkey. I sneaked out of the car to get a photo. Just then, I noticed a bobcat, waiting in the shadows and watching the turkeys. He ran away, so you could say I spoiled his lunch or you could say I kept a turkey alive to forage another day. We took a short hike and saw a few others enjoying this chilly morning. There are lots of trails to hike, campgrounds for overnight stays and tables for a picnic. Don't miss this special place.

We were headed to Cadillac Ranch and saw this was on the way! Really neat and it was very hot—-too hot for hiking. Pictures turned out nice but do not give it justice!

Only 15 miles east of Canyon, Tx, this State Park offers everything you want in an outdoor experience except water activities. There is a wonderful Park Loop road that takes you past breathtaking scenery, trails galore for all levels of hiking. Going in late April wildflowers were still blooming adding to the fun. The crowds were minimal except on the famous "Lighthouse" trail. Take plenty of water and sunscreen. Many trails have benches to stop and take a breather. Would absolutely go again. Lots of camping options and a cool little cafe offering burgers, ice cream, souvenirs.

We loved the park. Palo Duro is beautiful. Our family had campers in Hackberry and Juniper. We stayed in Juniper. It's very nice but we will not stay there again because the care takers were very unfriendly & major rule enforcers. They really took the fun out of staying there. We haven't had that experience in other campgrounds. Hackberry was a better campground because of that.

Lighthouse trail is the thing to do here. 6 miles out and back. Easy, long hike until the last part where you start to climb. Beautiful views and photos spots. Incredible history here to learn about too. Recommend doing a 1hr jeep tour at Palo Duro Ranch before your hike for an intro to the area and history with Case.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park truly is a hidden gem. You'll have a hard time believing you're still in the Texas panhandle as soon as you enter the park and take in the amazing views & rock formations. While there are many great activites here, such as zip linning and the musical that is performed in the summer months, the best way to see the park in my opinion is to set out on one of their many hiking trails. These trails have parking lots that are accessible right off the park loop road and are fit for any type of hiker.

If you're passing through the Texas panhandle and can spare a few hours, Palo Duro Canyon is definitely worth your time.

During a trip out west on I-40, it seemed worthwhile to make the detour to see the Palo Duro canyon south of Amarillo. As a state park, it seems well-run and maintained. As a sightseeing destination.... the canyon really wasn't all that appealing. It's hot, dusty, and fly-blown even in October. Apart from a few interesting rock formations, there was little of appeal. We drove through it and then moved on.
Note that one receives a large trail map at the entrance station; however, if you're just going to drive through, the state park website offers a map that is more useful for by-car-only visitors. There are public restrooms near the entry station and elsewhere around the paved loop.

We drove through the canyon offering beautiful views, and lovely campsites. Our dogs loved our short hikes (on leash.) Late October offered the perfect daytime temperatures. In this high desert, you will need PLENTY of water anytime of year. Redrock vistas and the famous Lighthouse made us want to stay in this wonderful place, where you can hike at any level from easy to strenuous. We'd always passed this up, but this GREAT state park is a must-see.

Palo Duro State Park is absolutely beautiful and worth my 500 mile trip from Austin. I came here with the expectation of scenic hikes, wildlife, and interactions with like minded people and wasn't disappointed. That said no park is perfect and there are things they could do better. For better or worse this park is pretty simple when it comes to the amount of management and staff interaction a typical guests encounters. Beyond the park gate I didn't see a see a single identifiable park employee while hiking in the three days I was there. So if you like your parks rugged and ones that give you the feeling of being in the wild, your are in the right place. This might explain why most of the negative reviews deal with reservations, RV stuff, and special situations. Instead of complaining here's three recommendations that would have made my trip perfect and hopefully will help you.

1. Reserve your pass online. For some reason paying at the gate is tricky and during peak times they are "sold out". When you have a online reservation you pull up to the gate, give them your name, get a parking pass and in you go. Done in 30 seconds.
2. Since this is a primitive park accept that you are on your own on trails. Bring lots of water, wear appropriate clothing, and don't wander too far off the path. Real common sense.
3. Depending on your cell phone provider you may not have any cell service. There is some public WIFI at several multi-use buildings but its slow.

These little inconveniences pale in comparison to the scenery, well groomed trails, and everything else the park provides. While you could argue that sometimes the management isn't up to par the park itself wont disappoint.

Wonderful camping facilities and very clean. Beautiful especially at sunrise and sunset. Hiked the CCC and Goodnight Peak Loop out to sad monkey rock! Great little hike! We will be back in the fall to hike lighthouse trail when the temperatures are cooler!

This State Park is located in the second longest canyon in the U.S. There are miles and miles of hiking trails, from easy to moderate to challenging. The first one to try is The Lighthouse Trail, which is about a 6 mile hike (roundtrip) to the beautiful rock formation of the same name (there is some elevation gain at the end to reach the base of the Lighthouse, so bring you hiking poles). Note that this is a dry area and gets very hit in the summer, so avoid hiking in the middle of the day being plenty of water and use sunscreen.

There is camping and glamping in the park. There is even and a small store and restaurant. Hiking and horseback riding is allowed in some trails.

I recently found out that the Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States. Since I am a native Texan, the canyon was a delightful surprise with its many colors and unique formations. There are options to view the canyon: driving, hiking, camping, and glamping. We drove the designated roads, and there were many places along the way to pull over for photographs. The canyon is just one of the many landscapes in Texas that is a must-see visit.

Went here mid-week in early April to avoid crowds. It was pretty chilly in the morning but got progressively warmer as the day rolled on. I did the GSL to Lighthouse loop returning to parking via Paseo del Rio short trail which follows the creek for a little bit. I would highly recommend doing GSL trail instead of Lighthouse on the way in as it's more picturesque and not as monotonous. Also did the Rock Garden trail and then walked along the cliffs on top. The Rock garden is only marginally difficult in the beginning, it then stays pretty flat for a long stretch. The views from various overlooks give one a totally different view of the canyon, one can really appreciate the expanse of the canyon and the geology of various features. Get the passes online as it makes everything go smoothly at the entrance. Overall, I was really impressed and no doubt will come here again in the future.

We spent a wonderful day at the state park. A marvel that you can drive into the bottom of the canyon, unless the Grand Canyon! Even though it was November, temperature got up to the mid-80's by the afternoon. We got a very good map of the park and we were able to drive to the end while stopping at various points of interest on the way. Surprising how much greenery there is in the canyon. They have several campsites and we may stop again in the future and camp inside the park for a few days.

Great place to check out and not too far from the main expressway. Could just drive through but also get place to camp.

Be sure to stop at the interpretive center for some excellent programs concerning the history of the canyon. The area itself is very beautiful..

The canyon is just beautiful in the spring. Everything is so green!

We were sad that all the hiking trails were closed this week because of flooding last Week. So no lighthouse 😪

We were able to drive around and pop out for picture or a little birdwatching but no hiking.

Also out Jeep tour was cancelled. Big bummer.

Staying in an Amarillo TX RV park, my Wife and I decided to drive to visit this place.
30 mile drive down and back. Total Waste of Time and Fuel.
Nothing to see but a BIG HOLE in the ground and not much else.
Compared to the GRAND CANYON, there is NO Comparison. Grand Canyon is Far Superior!
Won't be wasting our time again!

The park is not following the governor-mandated mask policy in all park buildings. Unfortunately, MOST of the people visiting this state park are NOT wearing masks nor maintaining the 6’ governor-mandated spacing distance. So, if you are just driving through, not a problem but be careful at gate. If you stop at overlooks, be very aware of the proximity of others. While there is a pandemic occurring, definitely DO NOT visit the visitors center or any park building. Visited 5 national parks - all being handled completely appropriately during pandemic.

During non pandemic times, beautiful place to see if in the Texas panhandle area. Great geology -minerals, rocks, and fossils. Stop for longhorn viewing right at gate. Numerous great trails-just not in summer due to heat (May-Sept).

I took a morning drive through this beautiful park. I will return to hike and perhaps stay overnight.

This state park is a real jewel for Texas. It's located just south of Amarillo. We did a few of the hikes that overlook the park. The hikes are easy to medium and there is something everyone can do. It was interesting to learn that it is the second largest canyon in the U.S. behind the Grand Canyon. The scenery was beautiful. Bring plenty of water and watch for rattlesnakes. A hiker coming down told us to not sit on the rock at the top as there was a snake underneath so be wary of ledges where they might hide. Bring lots of water. Our hike day was jackets, jeans and hats and lots of wind. Limited cell service. We went into the nearby town of Canyon for lunch or your are not far from Amarillo.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We didn't do a lot of hiking, as it was well over 100 the day of our visit, we did a couple of short hikes. Beautiful scenery. Would love to see the musical. What a beautiful theatre!

We stayed 4 nights in cabin #3. The cabins lack plumbing, but you have water outside. Restrooms with showers are a short walk or drive from the cabins, but are not the cleanest. Nicer showers can be located a little further down the road on the right at Wolfberry. My suggestions are to bring a small table for extra items, portable toilet which can fit in a corner and we had ours in a small tent, additional power strip, additional chairs inside because there are only two at the table, a larger trash container because what is there is small and the larger one you walk to and table covers as both the inside and outside tables were pretty dirty. The floors are naturally uneven because of the stone and I wish I had brought a small rug for next to the bed. Overall we loved our stay. You will see deer, turkey, rabbits and coyotes. Everyone is very friendly and the best ice cream is at the trading post. There was a burn ban in effect so we used gas to cook outside.

Easy or advanced hiking, walking and biking. Picnicking was easy and comfortable. Many RV sites available. Clean restrooms and well maintained park!!!

the park officers are awful. They shut the trail when the weather is tolerable in spring and fall for no reason but to fine people for walking on them. So only option is to go there on summer in 110 degree heat. texas has very few outdoor things to do and that too is messed up like this

Though the canyon itself is beautiful, we were disappointed to be told that all the camping spots were completely full. We found another place to camp and then drove down into the canyon, only to find that the campgrounds were mostly empty.

We loved staying at Palo Duro Canyon. We stayed in a Rim cabin (Sorenson). It was amazing! The views were incredible, and it felt like we had our own section of the canyon. We were able to get cell signal in the cabin (Cricket, on AT&T network), and we could even use the Cricket hotspot (had to be by the window in the bedroom to get enough signal) to get internet on our computers. It was very hot (as expected in July) - we'll definitely plan on going back in the fall. We did the 'Jeep tour' from Palo Duro Creek Ranch (they are actually Hummer H1's). That was a wonderful tour. It definitely gets you close to the edge! We visited Bar Z Winery and really enjoyed the wine and scenery. In Amarillo, we visited the Cadillac ranch and the Big Texan Steak Ranch (maybe a 30 -40 minute drive from the canyon). All in all, we found plenty to do (and relax) for a 3 night stay.

We did several of the hiking trails. All were great, but Lighthouse was the best. Round trip about 5 miles - a must do. The trail goes out to the famous Lighthouse HooDoo rock formation. Trail is easy to follow, and I wore running shoes rather than hiking shoes and had no problems.
Another very nice trail was Rock Garden - also about 5 miles round trip. This one takes you up the side of the canyon wall, and then you can walk along the canyon rim. The rim walk added a couple more miles to the round trip, but well worth the time.
Also recommend the Old West Horse Riding Stables for a 1 hour trail ride inside the canyon (about $70 per person), and Palo Duro Creek Ranch jeep rides outside the state park main gate for a 2 hour jeep ride (about $80 per person).
We stayed out of the park in one of the Dove's Rest Cabins (Fortress Cabin). These are privately owned, and are built overlooking the privately owned section of the canyon.
Overall, Palo Duro State Park was a great place to spend a week - and we highly recommend it!

The park is lovely. The canyon has a rainbow of colors. I had just driven about six hours from Dallas so I was a bit stiff. There were thunderstorms in the area too. I had asked upon entering the park for a recommendation for an easy to moderate hike and the ranger requested the Sunflower Trail. Went to the visitor center first which had friendly staff. There was a UPS driver going slow through the canyon so I ended up doing the Kiowa Trail first. Then I drove around and did the Sunflower Trail which had better views. Saw cardinals, lots of raptors, a couple lizards and tarantulas and a horned toad! But there also were locusts everywhere jumping around and they were loud so I was constantly startled. It was hard to hear any other wildlife with them making noise. Biting flies too. I was tired after the first hike, but glad I did the second one. Didn’t leave until about 6:30PM. Glad I didn't get hit with rain as some areas looked like they would be impassable during a storm. Could get your car stuck in the mud too. Not sure if this was due to Covid, but I had to make a reservation online just to enter the park to hike, not just for camping.

Views are spectacular. So glad I was able to rent a cow camp cabin and stay here. Great hamburgers at the Trading Post.

Great canyon. One of the few you can drive to the bottom and see great views call the way. Great for hiking and biking. Signage could be better.

Guest access is limited so make sure you make a reservation in advance. While we did not stop at the visitor center, we did stop at several lookout points. The park was not crowded and we felt very safe walking around. We did not go on any of the trails due to the heat. But we still felt we could appreciate the park’s views from the car/road. There are also a few shaded spots with chairs to have lunch and just admire the canyon. Bathrooms were clean and were well stocked with soap.

We enjoyed the park. There were only two trails open, due to recent rains. We did part of the CCC trail and would recommend it. They have a nice drive
through the park that winds down to the valley. There are many pullouts and areas for picnics. They have a very nice visitor center that had historical and scientific exhibits, as well as local art.

After years of discussion about visiting the park, we finally made the trip! I am so glad we visited the park as it is uniquely beautiful. The drive around the perimeter of the canyon provided us with several breathtaking views of the canyon.

If you are in the area of Amarillo and have a few hours, take a drive to the State Park which is only 30 minutes southeast of Amarillo. A few miles before entering the park, notice the tallest wind turbine in the US at 634’; it is an experimental project run by the local university. Make sure to drive all the way to the canyon floor to view the canyon cliffs from below looking up to the rim. If you plan ahead you can try a Jeep tour or take a horseback trail ride.

The park is beautiful. Nice campsites. Well equipped trading post. However, the flies were brutal. Tried swatters and fly paper but nothing helped! Hard to sit outside and enjoy.

Love this canyon and the shops within. Just a lovely, stunning area, filled with history and beautiful vistas. My friend and I definitely needed guidance to find various trailheads ! The maps aren’t very obvious and we are both savvy hikers. We walked the Paseo Del Rio trail, looking for the dugout but must have walked past it several times because it wasn’t marked. We were tired so perhaps it was our mistake but important historical places should be well-marked. It’s a minor issue because we loved every minute inside this gem!

Ended a business meeting early and was told about this canyon so I ventured that way. Cool place to see. Very flat land leading up to this canyon. You can camp, hike or drive the canyon.

This is a beautiful spot with lots of trails and scenery. Very clean and spacious campground. The visitors centers don’t open early, that was kind of a bummer. We heard all kinds of animals during the night- a truly amazing spot!

Park staff were great. The MTN biking was good. Only rode one day while passing through but the 20+ mile loop was good. Half flowey. Half more technical. For being touted as the 2nd largest canyon in The USA. It’s a real letdown compared to the Grand Canyon or anything farther west. It’s rad compared to the dusty flatlands all around though. Only thing that sucked was the online reservation system for the state of Texas.

We only had a few hours at Palo Duro before continuing on to Albuquerque, but it made an impression. It was 31⁰ at sunrise that November morning, but I still teared up at the vast canyon's beauty below. Check the weather, y'all!

Getting in was easy and we had no lines or crowds, so our timing had some benefits. Past the observation point, the drive into the canyon is steep. We were in a newer SUV but I pulled over to let my bf make the descent. Meant I got to enjoy the views more.

We drove the main road loop and stopped along the way for photos and to give our dogs water. The wind is MUCH lessened down on the canyon floor. We hiked almost up to The Big Cave and around the events center.

We can't wait to come back, stay in a cabin, and ride horses through the canyon. Palo Duro is not to be missed, even just for a drive through!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is an absolute gem and truly lives up to its nickname as the “Grand Canyon of Texas.” The moment you arrive, you’re greeted with stunning landscapes, dramatic rock formations, and colors that look like they belong in a painting.

The hiking trails are fantastic—well-marked with options for every skill level. Whether you’re exploring the Lighthouse Trail or just taking in the scenery from one of the overlooks, every view is spectacular. Wildlife sightings, peaceful quiet, and wide-open skies make the park feel wonderfully immersive.

The park is clean, easy to navigate, and full of helpful staff. Camping here is also a treat, especially at sunrise and sunset when the canyon lights up with incredible color.

If you love nature, photography, hiking, or simply want a beautiful place to unwind, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a must-visit. Five stars all the way!

When we arrived in Canyon, TX we were quite surprised to find a very smaill town with a very famous State Park. We loved it so much, that we will be camping there this summer. Great for all ages!

The visitor center and the trading post are all open. Great burgers at the trading post.
The views are amazing. It's hard to believe that so many people are not aware of the Canyon!

There is a range of activities from just driving around the park to difficult hikes up the side of the canyon. We did a good hike along the canyon floor with our little dog and enjoyed all the vistas.

The Texas drama was great!!! The best it has ever been. The actors were very good too. The weather in the canyon was very nice in the evening

Good park, got cold in the evening even in late spring. Heat was bearable thanks to wind.
If you’re camping in a tent, prepare for wind

The views were outstanding! Living in Texas my entire life, I never knew this hidden gem existed. The maps are clearly labeled, plenty of little stops, and lots of pull offs for some great pictures! There was even a sno cone stand after the Lighthouse Hike! Well needed after the sweltering heat! They could use a few shaded seats along some of the longer paths for those who can’t complete the entirety or for the little ones needing a snack and water break.

The trails are great ranked from a flat hike to a day beautiful view of the canyon, Rangers are friendly and helpful

We stayed in Sagebrush campground. People with large Class A and C campers will have a tough time going down and back up the drive. Hairpin turns. Hope that u don't come across another camper or u will be stuck on the edge of a canyon. They should have a system for large vehicles coming and going so they can take turns. Canyon is beautiful cold at night in February I drive a semi and this drive made me nervous

Finally got to see it! Drove through the canyon loop. It’s absolutely stunning. There are many places to park, get out and and take pictures. The overlook at the top is awesome. I plan to return and hike this beautiful place.

Amazing views contained in a relatively small area. The colors are amazing. Hiked up to the Lighthouse and found the view more than worth the effort. Trails are well maintained up to the final .1 mile. It will take a little effort if you're not used to climbing, but it is definitely doable. Enjoy the view from the top. On the way into or out of the park, stop by the Sad Monkey Mercatile. The place has a great vibe...from camping supplies to local wines and beers on tap.

We spent 5 full days exploring PDC. Stayed at the Lighthouse Cabin/Canyon Rim Cabins located in the zipline park just outside the park. PERFECT location for exploring the park and coming and going during the day.

Texas State Parks do not allow dogs in the rental cabins unfortunately Shame on them because Arkansas and OKlahoma do. Dogs are allowed in the park to enjoy the trails or campgrounds. The cabin we stayed at was pet friendly if you are bringing Fido and want to stay close to the park!

Late Sept was a great time of year to visit. NO crowds especially during the week! Cool mornings and mostly days were high 80’s. We did have 2 unexpected days of 100 degrees. We live in Houston so picture perfect weather for us (mostly). Was not uncommon to need a heater in our cabin in the morning and air conditioner in the evening. Come prepared for any weather. We had one morning in the mid 40’s. We had 2 days it reached 100 and everything in between!

The new online required reservation system is wonderful! Quick and efficient! Hope our parks continue with this indefinitely.

Park is extremely clean and well maintained. Kudos to the visitors for taking care of our Natural Wonders! Found almost no trash buckets at various trail heads so visitors are doing a good job packing out their trash! Please do your part to keep this up!!!

Most trail heads had sunscreen dispensers. Have never seen this in all our domestic and international travels to various parks. Great idea, but tells you something about the intensity of the heat! Come prepared! Most trails were almost entirely in the direct sun. Very little shade along any of the trails. Once again, be prepared and if you come across a sun screen dispenser re-apply!

Trails? An abundance to choose from! Great options for mountain biking and trail running. We were disappointed a bit by the hiking trails, though. Thought we would find more challenge, but just didn’t exist like we had hoped for. If you are an experienced hiker and/or in very good shape you may be disappointed as well. The time and skill level for each trail listed on the trail map was generous particularly the time needed to complete the trail. That’s fine, though, as I would rather they over estimate than underestimate the time needed or the intensity!

Many trails are one way as opposed to loops. Spent time re-tracing steps to hike back the exact same way. Can combine some trails to make loops, but doesn’t work for all trails.

Trail markings need improvement! This is a pet peeve of ours and seems to be an issue in a lot of parks! Always carry a trail map! Biggest complaint is a trail will be listed on the trail map in one color, but the color used for that same trails markers on the actual trail is an entirely different color! Why don’t the two correspond?! Wish parks would ask a new visitor to critique their trail markings and take the suggestions seriously!

Least favorite trails - Juniper Cliff, Juniper River, Sunshine and Rojo. The 4 combine to make a loop. Not much in the way of the canyon scenic beauty. More trees and typical park views and not as much of the pretty canyon colors.

Favorite trails: Givens Spicer Lowery!! Other favorites would be CCC or Lighthouse which seem to be the 2 most favorite trails of visitors. Lower Comanche or Rock Garden also were favs for the technical aspects.

Most Technical: Lower Comanche and Rock Garden (lower half). CCC is also a more technical trail, but much shorter in duration.

We spent one day venturing over to CapRock Canyon. We actually preferred the beauty of Cap Rock Canyon better. Much smaller park of course, but felt the canyons were more colorful. However, at CR you will need to get out of your car and hike to see the true beauty of that park. If all you do is drive thru CR you’ll never agree that CR is prettier than PDC.

Saw very little wildlife on this trip. I have an unfortunate knack for this on our travels and yet I’m a crazy animal lover. It’s Mother Nature, though, so never know what you will see. 1 rattle snake, 2 tarantulas, 1 rabbit, 2 deer and lots and lots of grasshoppers! Hopefully you are luckier than us in the wildlife viewing aspect.

Lots of river beds throughout the trails, but 100% dried up. Unfortunate bc I think the flowing rivers would have added to the coolness of the Canyon. However it is a desert so dry river beds is to be expected. We did find a very very small river along the Paseo Del Rio trail for our dog to play in. Not enough to swim in. Just enough to play in and get muddy so he was happy!

Come prepared with your food/snacks. There is a small Trading Post restaurant with a very very limited menu. Typical park/attraction inflated prices unfortunately. Otherwise nearest restaurants are approx 15 min away in Canyon, TX.

Check out El Patio restaurant in Canyon. Enchilada plate for $8 and 2 free beers. Perfect after a hot day of hiking the trails and only 15 min from the park. Not fancy so could even head that direction directly from the trails without cleaning up too much if necessary.

There are zip lining, rappelling, horse back riding and Jeep/Humvee like tours in the area We didn’t do any of these. Spent all our time hiking and a small amount of mtn biking. The zips looked very short to us, but we’ve zipped in 7 different countries in comparison. If you’ve never done it may be worth a try. We wanted to do the rappelling, but the tour wasn’t offered that week. Availability of these tours during the week and off season seemed limited so be sure to check in advance if visiting outside Memorial-Labor Day.

No off road Jeep trails to be found unfortunately. We had hoped to do some 4 wheeling, but none that we found. The Jeep tours offered just outside the park are in their vehicle, you bounce around in the back and are on someone’s private land.

Another great vacation in the books! Thanks PDC!

Lovely park. We did the Lighthouse walk, 5.6 miles roundtrip. It starts off fairly easy but there is quite a scramble up at the very end.
Only slight criticism is that the map & trail markers could be better. Nice visitor centre.

The weather was perfect for viewing the park. Hills were really showing off their various colors but this is one thing the Texans can’t claim as the biggest. The visitors center was a bust. We wanted to watch and hear the interpretation films but had to give up because of the loud conversation and laughter from the store inside the visitor center. The arrangement within was cramped and crowded.

We planned to camp here on a recent road trip. The reviews were glowing and it looked like a gorgeous place to hike and camp. We were a little daunted by comments about tarantulas, but didn’t let that stop us.

What we didn’t expect was the flies. Swarms of black flies attacking us and our camper as soon as we tried to settle in for the evening. We were willing to deal with the heat but we couldn’t deal with flies all over our bedding and everything else.

After trying everything we could think of, we gave up and found a motel room in Canyon. We forfeited the significant camping and admission fees because we couldn’t stand another minute at our campsite.

Nice canyon, nothing like the Utah canyon country and not even as nice as the reviews suggested. The camping facilities were way overpriced. In general, we were seriously disappointed. But the flies were the last straw.

Saturday. Did the Lighthouse Trail. Long hike. Too many people on the trail with too little water as temps exceeded 90. Greatly enjoyed the complete drive in the park.

This was the main reason for our visit and we were not disappointed! We got there early thank goodness. Unfortunately due to the rains the previous week the trails were closed. We still managed to see a lot and with us it took a while. When we left the cars were lined up out the gate. For $8 a person this was an inexpensive days adventure.

This was our first visit and we absolutely loved it! In many ways it is much more beautiful than the Grand Canyon because you can drive into the canyon. The views from above and below in the valley were amazing and absolutely gorgeous. If you were afraid of heights it may make you a little nervous at some points but if you sit on the inside of the carotid is Not as scary.We really recommend it in March as the weather was cool all day!

Little known canyon to consider if you are touring Texas. Possibility of camping, entry without annual card $28, for 4 people. Beautiful views, scenic drive and nice loop, you can drive on the bottom of it. (Unlike the GC, only a small stream flows at its base which you cross repeatedly over small bridges). Many equipped picnic areas. Visitor center with small exhibition, bathrooms etc.

We stopped by here during a road trip from our home in southeastern PA out to New Mexico after touring the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum that morning (see separate review). The day we were in Canyon (Dec. 22) was bitterly cold and windy, so we only drove through part of the scenic drive at this park and took no hikes. We stopped at the Trading Post for a quick bite to eat. We were disappointed that the Visitor Center was closed that day (due to frozen pipes, the sign said), so we missed out on seeing any exhibits in there. (I wish the woman who took our payment at the entrance station had mentioned the Visitor Center was closed; we might have reconsidered paying $16.00 for the two of us to take a drive through the canyon.) The scenery viewed from our car certainly was stunning, but in retrospect, it was not the ideal season to visit here.

One of the best state parks I have been to for a variety of hiking experiences and seeing wildlife. We were fortunate to be there in the spring before it got too hot. It is a beautiful place to visit.

What a surprise! So much more than I anticipated.The canyon is huge! With colors like Sedona and Utah. Very impressive!

Beautiful place with lots is great hikes. Dog-friendly. Only complaint is our visit was too short! Need to go back

Great place away from it all. Nice views and liking Just bring lots of water and Mack’s. Plan on returning. Recommend if you enjoy the outdoors

What an interesting Texas State Park. The second largest canyon in the USA and not known by many. We went to the Grand Canyon earlier this year so a visit to the second largest was required. Totally different type of canyons. Palo Duro can be viewed from the top of the canyon at the visitor center viewing area and you can drive down into the canyon and look up to the canyon walls. Plus you can hike from the top down to the canyon or from the canyon floor to some of the canyon walls.

We actually decided to hike for 3 days and had plenty of hikes to choose from. We bought sandwiches in Canyon, TX and brought picnic lunches each day. The weather was pleasant, 85 degrees but still hot.

Signage on each hike is a bit different, some hikes were great while others were missing some signs. But I never felt like we were lost. You can reserve and pay your entrance fees before you arrive or can pay at the gate. When you stop at the visitor center, look for the large map that shows the entire canyon size. The part that we can visit is a very small part of the entire large canyon and the map size impressed us.

Stunning canyon in the middle of the Texas flatlands! Really beautiful canyon, nice trails, caves and hoodoos. I wish we could have spent more time exploring the park

Visited Palo Duro Canyon and it truly is beautiful. We hiked the the Lighthouse and The Caves trails. The caves trail was not marked but the AllTrails app took us straight there. It’s a nice short hike. The scenery in the park is breathtaking and the history is so interesting. The temperature was a little hotter during the day but cooled off nicely when the sun went down. You definitely need to take a trip to this Texas State Park.

Having passed through Amarillo many times over the years, we decided to visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park this times. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the USA (first is Arizona's Grand Canyon). We did not anticipate that Palo Duro Canyon would be as impressive--we were wrong. We had only budgeted a couple of hours for our visit. We will definitely return to Palo Duro Canyon to hike and bicycle during cooler fall or spring months.

TIP: Try to snag one of the three Rim Cabins within the state park. They were built by the CC Corps during the 1930 (as were some of the trails, camp sites, etc.). We understand that the Rim Cabins have been recently renovated.

Enjoyed seeing the State Park. entrance fee was $6 adults kids free. There was a small museum and lots of trail of different levels and lengths

Had a great time exploring the canyon. Who would think such a lovely state park is in western Texas? We hiked the Lighthouse Trail, CCC Trail and Paseo Del Rio Trails. Note: I dropped off the family and they hiked into the canyon on the CCC, and I picked them up at the Ampitheater at the end. Not a trail for a young kids with steep drop offs. We explored the cave off the side of the road, and other points of interest throughout the park. Beautiful weather and great little park to explore.

Unbelievable natural beauty! Well marked maintained hiking/biking trails. Breathtaking beauty. Absolutely stunning

Beautiful and majestic. Wish we had more time to explore!! Easy to access roads in the park. Just wish more van tour hours were available.

We spent a day here, walked around the museum, shopped the gallery, hiked lighthouse trail, ate lunch at the grill and watched birds. Everything about our visit was excellent, the weather was sunny and cool, the scenery spectacular, trails well maintained, and all the park employees and volunteers very friendly. The canyon rises about 1000 ft, there are many trails in the valley or up the canyon walls, easy to difficult. The geology is Permian, Triassic and Eocene with associated fossils of amphibians, lizards, mammals and invertebrates. Human history is highlighted too with pre-contact Antelope culture, modern Native Americans, 1874 Red River battle, Goodnight/Adair JA Ranch, buffalo herd/killing-relocation, and contemporary uses. Well worth the time if for nothing else then a beautiful drive and short walk. We plan to go back and spend several days either camping or in a cabin.

Thanks to the NM Governor's two week quarantine for tourists entering her state, my husband and I decided to return to Colorado Springs from El Paso via west Texas instead of the more direct route through Albuquerque. Maybe I should write her a thank you letter. Without her quarantine for tourists, we would never have decided to go home through Amarillo and research what there was to do near the city. I had no idea this canyon existed. It was magnificent! The colors of the rocks up against the green vegetation on the canyon floor were breathtaking. There seem to be virtually unlimited miles of trails to hike and we took advantage of a couple of them. The exhibits in the visitor's center are worth the stop.

Yes, folks, Texas does have a mini Grand Canyon! What a beautiful park - the views are spectacular, the park is well kept, lots of hiking trails and camp sites. While we did not camp there, we did check out the camp sites (for both tent and RV camping). Nice size sites, great amenities, quiet and clean. Looking forward to camping here one day soon!

We drove down the canyon and stayed most of the morning/afternoon. Lots to see and do. We found a cave and were able to safely park off the road to go explore. Fairly easy hike up to the cave. Went inside, which was very fun for my granddaughter. Took a picnic lunch. Very clean area. Bathrooms were clean, park was clean. After the picnic, we stopped at the trading post/restuarant. Spent about 30 minutes looking around. Long line for the burgers! They smelled delicious. Next time we will eat there! Then stopped at the visitor center, which was very informative and enjoyable.

Very friendly & helpful service. I've stayed here numerous times in the past. What's different after covid is all sites on a Sat. night can get reserved in advance. 1st come 1st served sites apparently don't exist. The geological history is amazing; be sure to see the fossils in the visitor center. Heads up...on the Sunday morning I exited the park, there was quite the que to just enter the park! Go early or late in the day on weekends.

We arrived at the park at 8:30 am in the middle of a rain storm with the goal of hiking to the Lighthouse. Once the rain stopped we took out and we had the trail to ourselves. It was a strenuous and scenic hike of 5.6 miles round trip and the view at the top was stunning! After climbing around on top for awhile we headed down and saw many hikers on the way down and a full parking lot when we finished. We recommend this hike - arrive early and bring plenty of water to drink.

Always a treat to explore this wonder!! The facilities are always clean, everyone is always friendly, and the trails are fun!

There are no words to sufficiently describe all the beauty there is there. My hat is off to the staff of this part. Everything is so clean and well maintained.

Me and my cousin came to hike. We enjoyed the experience very much. We stayed in Cow Cabin #4. It was a perfect mix of rustic but with some amenities like small microwave, fridge and lights.
The view was spectacular.

Definitely a must see for everyone. The views are spectacular. There’s lots of picnic areas and restrooms available. The gift shop at the front of the park offers everything made in the USA and many from Indian tribes across the country! The lady in attendance at the shop was ever so kind and knowledgeable.

First of all, how is this even a state park? I feel like this is national park level. The canyon is just beautiful! We really enjoyed driving through and hiking. Most of the trails were closed during our visit due to a recent flood but we did get to do Big Cave and Lighthouse. We saw several roadrunners and various lizards. The visitor center is really nice. The trading post also seemed to have anything one might need. This park is definitely worth visiting. They also charged us a discounted rate both days since not all the trails were open. Sunscreen and bug spray are musts if doing any prolonged outdoor exposure.

Great views for a moderate hike. Trail was marked well and easily followed. The last literally climb up to the Bute with a belly crawl!, but worth it! Pack a lunch for a great spot to fuel up before your decent.

Good spot, but would be better on cooler day. But, lots to see, great views, sky was wonderful background...a don't miss...a a cheap price.

We had driven thru before,but this trip we spent a half day in the park.It is clean,scenic and uncrowded.Make sure to visit park store at the top and the park cafe at the bottom.Great park to camp and picnic in.Numerous trails to hike.

We loved Palo Duro Canyon. You can see a lot of beautiful sites right from your car. It’s a really gorgeous place! Stunning! Part of the park is currently closed to public (maybe for winter). We hiked the most popular attraction, Lighthouse Trail, which is a 5.6 mile round trip “moderate hike.” It wouldn’t have been as difficult if we hadn’t had toddler in tow. Our toddler has done great with some hikes, but this was too much for her, & we ended up carrying her for about half the trip, so for parents with young children, pick the best time of day for your kiddos (best mood), & if they are young enough, consider using a baby backpack hiker/carrier. Also note, the end (at Lighthouse), it gets quite steep if you are carrying a child or need a young child to maneuver it. Food for thought. But, we made great family memories, even with ups & downs. Loved this park!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is amazing. It’s the second largest canyon in the US, but the hiking experience is totally different. There are at least 15 different trails of all different difficulty levels-there’s something for everyone. We saw families with grandparents and small children and serious hikers flying solo. We drove from Dallas and arrived early afternoon. We decided to take the Lighthouse Trail that afternoon and take the drive around the entire park to get a feel for how things were laid out. The trails are very well marked, both at the trail heads and along the way.

Due to Covid, a limited number of people are allowed in the park each day, so you should pre-purchase your admission before you arrive. If you arrive when they open in the morning, you may have to wait. We arrived at 7:20 am for the 7:30 am opening. We were at our trailhead by 7:45 am on our second day. We opted for the Rock Garden Trail our second day. This was much more strenuous than the Lighthouse Trail, but so worth it. We finished our second day in the Park by taking the Sunflower Trail. This trail is a 1 hour out and back trail that allows you to see the layers of red dirt and granite up close. The first part of the Sunflower Trail is shaded and runs along what was a dried up river bed when we were there.

We could have stayed longer and never have had to repeat a trail. We’ll be back to explore more!

We decided to head to Palo Duro as an alternative to a busy location during Spring Break during the pandemic. We chose the Lighthouse hike and it was absolutely worth it. Take water and snacks and sunscreen. Plan for a 6 mile hike to take longer with small kids and definitely go all the way to the top!! If you go during the cooler months, plan on it being busy. I was surprised by the number of people!! Also check out the Big Cave! I am so grateful we have amazing places like this in Texas!!

Initially we planned to go to the Grand Canyon and drive route 66 but decided it might be a little ambitious with Covid 19 and all. So we decided to stay in Texas and visit the second largest Canyon in the US at Palo Duro. We hiked the Lighthouse Trail and then went to the Cave. if you are not into hiking just driving through the park is enjoyable. There are great views from the road which goes for 8 miles through the canyon... from the top rim to the bottom. There are several nice campgrounds for travel trailers and tent camping. The restrooms were clean and nice. Stop at the trading post for a great burger and the visitor center for lots of info. Palo Duro is the second largest canyon in the US. It was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. It is 120 miles long and 3 to 20 miles wide. the depth is about 800 feet. Very Impressive.

We didn't have high expectations for this visit, but we were pleasantly surprised. We wish we came at a cooler time as it was scorching hot so we could not walk the trails. Still the drive and views are worth it, and far nicer to see natural beauty than to look at some of the touristy things in this area.

This is such an incredible park. We enjoyed hiking and the variety of beautiful scenery available. Our family travels to many parks all over the country and this was one of the best state parks we've visited.

The previous descriptions of the scenic beauty of this canyon are NOT exaggerations! It really is breath-taking and worth a visit. It's important to understand the history that took place here in previous centuries so take time to visit the visitors center/ museum or at least read up on it before you go. We stayed here 2 nights in September 2021. The reasons why I give 4 stars instead of 5: The campground as well as the easy hikes on the canyon floor are full of annoying FLIES- everywhere. We couldn't sit outside our camper at any time. (there is nothing that TPWD can do about flies- they do not come from garbage.) Also, the restrooms/showers at the Juniper campground could use a more thorough cleaning and only 1 shower was in order for an entire campground section (that did not have full hook-up). And if you have a larger than average rig, the switch-backs to get to the floor of the canyon & back are quite intimidating. It's dangerously hot here in the summer, so you must really start VERY EARLY on any hikes. Having said all that, it really is a spectacular state park. We hope to return next year earlier in the summer so we can see the big Texas musical, which is highly recommended. To get away from the flies, we recommend the Rock Garden hike to the rim for amazing views, but in the summer, start before 8 am.

A must see state park. Great hiking for any level.
We hiked Lighthouse on a 54* sunny day and could not have asked for better weather.

This was one of the stops on our 4000 mile road trip. My husband and I had been here 17yrs ago but it was more meaningful to experience it with our three kids. The Canyon is beautiful and we loved that we could drive down and stop at all of the look out points for pics and a little hiking. An added bonus was the gift shop a little ways down. My 16yo, who recently got his license, thought it was really cool to be able to drive back up the canyon on the winding roads with the windows down.

Palo Duro Canyon is a great stopping point and very accessible, taken care of and wonderful place to bring the family.

Amazing!! We did not have nearly enough time here. Views are amazing!! Even if you can not hike, there are marvelous views worth seeing.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is amazing. It's the second largest canyon in the US. It has lots of hiking trails. The visitors center is amazing. They have a kids ranger badge giving. You have to look around the visitor center and answer questions and submit it to get the ranger badge. My son loved that. We visited there end of May but on that particular day the weather was not that hot and we had a great time. Best time to visit is spring or fall. The scenic drive was amazing. There are good amount of picnic spots.

We were driving back home from the Grand Canyon and had to stop off and see Texas own Canyon. We had not seen it for many years and it is just as beautiful now as it was then. We camped back then but this trip we stayed in canyon. See the play it’s well worth the price!

Beautiful Texas State park! Several of the trails had just re-opened when we were there mid-June after some heavy rains and flooding in the area. The park crews have done a great job getting things cleaned up, but a couple trails were still closed. The scenery is stunning and we also enjoyed the visitor's center and grabbing a hamburger for lunch at the Trading Post. We did the Lighthouse rock formation trail, which is about 3 miles in length each way. TIP - take plenty of water and bug spray with you on your hikes...it gets very hot in the canyon during the Summer and the flies are biting!

Mice in the cow cabins. Apparently endangered so if you stay there bring love traps, lots of them. Disinfect everything before placing your valuables. The park host is no help and does not maintain as there was no outdoor light and door would not close unless you locked it. The screen door is in tatters. We were in cabin 1. $60/night and $50 deposit. A park fellow who drove by in the morning said there was a request for traps in the morning. Park host told me to go home and wait for said maintenance man. Don’t lie. We set our tent up on the beds so tbe mice couldn’t run over our faces at night.

Normally, I would hate a landscape like this. I like lush, green forests and lots of water, so when I heard this was the day trip, I threw up a little in my mouth. As we got to the entrance, I thought, “Oh good! This is going to the worst day ever.” It, however, was not. Being the science nerd I am, I was fascinated with the soil layers, millions of years exposed. I could imagine walking through the various eras and the now extinct animals roaming the land. Coming into the present, trail after trail after trail for hiking and biking. We saw a black window spider so big, that I’m sure she was a relative of Shelob. At our picnic area, we saw 5 different species of birds in 20 minutes. My only regret was not bringing our dogs. It was a great trip!

Many things to see and do with hiking trails ad campsites. Highly recommend you visit this state park

Perhaps the most picturesque and beautiful Texas State Park (yes, we have been to multiple parks in Texas). You might need more than one day to explore everything. Appointments are highly encouraged since you might not be able to enter the park if it's totally full.

This was a totally unexpected WOW experience. Stopped and hiked for a couple of hours. IF we had known we would have budgeted more time. Saw turkeys, deer, buzzards, tarantulas while on trails. Campgrounds look inviting. Next time...

My husband and I stopped here not expecting much but we were pleasantly surprised. Beautiful canyon with good hiking/biking trails. We went "glamping" one night. The owners of the glamping area are so wonderful and helpful. This is a definite must see if in the Amarillo area.

Beautiful,nice trails, pet friendly. Easy to find. Lots of activities. Nice trading post with food options and souvenirs.

Luckily we got in since we didn’t make online reservations, something they were doing for Covid restrictions I guess. We went on a weekday so it wasn’t crowded. $8 per adult to get in children under 12 free. Stopped at the gift store/museum first and looked at the exhibits. Nice little museum with some good history about the park. We did get a map but it wasn’t the most helpful map we’ve ever used. Only one major parking area by a trailhead and that was for the Lighthouse Trail. No spaces available there was some parking roadside as well. That’s the way most of the trails were just a small pullout for 2-3 vehicles if that. You came upon a trail quickly and could easily pass most by without even noticing them. Several picnic areas in the canyon and campgrounds too. There’s a lodge and amphitheater we didn’t visit either just saw as we drove by. Map didn’t give many details about the hikes but we figured out distances listed were one way. Overall a nice place to spend a few hours.

Such breathtaking views!! There are lots of trails to choose from and tons you can see with vehicle access. There’s a great little shop and museum with restrooms. Just a great place to soak up God’s creation, learn some history, and enjoy exploring with your family. Worth the stop!

My kids (10. 12, 15) had a ball exploring the trails we hiked. Stunning scenery. I would love to come back, camp, and do some longer hikes

This park is definitely one to visit, stunning views, many trails for hiking or biking. The lighthouse trail is worth hiking, carry enough water, enjoy the scenery.

There were some easy hikes then there were some Challenging hikes. We did both. We joked around that we wanted "Near Death" experience and we got them. challenging.. yet lived.

Awesome hiking and a beautiful location. Saw a diamondback rattler, horned toad and several lizard species. Went with several couples and had a great time!

Amazing hiking. Wonderful trails. Everything is so well marked. Lost of other activities to do. Great for hikers and non hikers. You can drive to most locations. If you go the lighthouse is a must see. The trail is difficult but well worth it.

The second largest in USA; the Grand Canyon of Texas features colourful rock formations, phenomenal scenic views, hiking, biking, horseback riding trails. It is a popular destination for camping and stargazing.

This is an awesome experience beautiful views in the middle of flat land. COVID requires the purchase of your tickets online - just an FYI. The sweet girl in the gift shop gave s Route 66 tips very helpful! I would like to return and get one of the cabins.

This park has a nice visitor center that provides a lot of information about the geology of the area as well as a history of its inhabitants. Having seen another part of the canyon on a south/north trip through Texas two years ago, we specifically routed ourselves through Canyon to see the western end and the state park.

We stayed two night in October in the CCC cabins. A little rustic but I was prepared with blankets and ready made food

We saw this park mentioned at a rest stop just before Amarillo, TX coming from the east on I-40. We spent 3 hours enjoying the Visitor Center, driving the decent into the canyon and checking out the Amphitheater. Our truck and trailer made the loop relatively easy although the road did get narrow for two way traffic. It truly was worth the trip to experience the second largest canyon in the USA. Pictured are the Visitor Center volunteers and Sue with the large selection of post cards.

This was our second time to the canyon but first for our friends. We couldn’t have asked for nicer weather. Temps in the 70’s versus upper 90’s. One had been to the Grand Canyon and liked the fact we could drive down into it and see more views. Something you cannot do at the Grand Canyon or need to be on a tour. It is a beautiful treat in Amarillo if you get a chance to see it.

Loved our stay here. We camped in the Sagebrush campground. Lots of big open views of the mountains and close to a lot of hiking trails. There was a no burn band so we brought a flameless firepit with us and loved sitting by it on the cold nights.
The Lighthouse trail was impressive. Only the last 1/4 mile is a challenge but it is a 7. mile hike round trip. The upper Commance had great views. The bike trails were impressive. Nothing but great things to say about this park. It is very windy in the canyon and it gets cold at night. We stayed for 5 days and could have easily stayed 10.

We traveled a little out of the way to see this. Was it worth it ? Although it is pretty and has some wonderful views of the canyon walls, we have seen that just and more traveling through some western states. So will leave it up to what you have seen in life. If you may never get to some other areas out west it may be for you. It had some nice looking campgrounds on the bottom. Roads are not that scary as I read. If campers can go down …it’s not that steep or long to the bottom. We have traveled on much higher and narrower roads. We only did the loop, but even if we had more time there was nothing that drew me to hike any of them. I believe we spent about 45 mins- hour from first look out & back.

Everything was amazing. I've gone camping there since I can remember! The food at the trading post is super good, and all of the employees are so nice. Here are some tips you NEED to know: Pack sooo much water, when you go hiking pack more than just one bottle, too many people have been injured on the trails due to dehydration. Wear That Sunscreen, and finally, there is a fire ban so prepare for that. Personally I use a gas fire pit and it cooks s'mores and other food just as good.

We stayed one night. the campground and trails are nice. Our problem is that there is no cell service down in the canyon. We can't be off line for more than a day right now.

The park in overall outstanding. There are many wonderful hiking trails, good places for mountain biking. The picnic and camping areas were clean and had great facilities, including very nice restrooms and showers. Due to type of vegetation, there is not much privacy in camp grounds. The scenery is gorgeous.

The Visitor Center had helpful staff to suggest hiking trails and a lovely gift shop. The museum at the Visitor Center had excellent fossils and archaeological information. Our only issue was that the narrative about history felt disrespectful toward Native Americans who were fighting to keep their homeland and way of life.

Our last Texas State park before heading North to Canada. We rented cabin 1 of the Cow Cabins and we’re immediately smitten with how native and pretty the stone cabin was and the beautiful views. Once we got settled we started to notice how the cabin needed a good cleaning and we wiped down every surface. We had AC as we were in the last day of a week long heat wave. By 8 pm the thunder storm had passed and taking some nice sunset pictures we started noticing scurrying mice underfoot and up and down the stone walls. My sister quickly went to get the park host and I stayed back to play wack a mo with the mice. The park host sent her home to await maintenance arrival. By midnight we realized we had been blown off and we were on our own. Too late to leave we set up our tent on top of two beds that we had pushed together. Once we had our sleeping bags set up inside and got ready for bed we knew that the mice wouldn’t be able to track us in our zipped up tent.
The park host never did tell anyone and didn’t care a hoot. My advice to anyone wanting to rent one of these cabins bring at least six mouse traps, preferably live traps as the mouse is a threatened species called Palo Duro mouse, subspecies of Paramiscus, so you would have to be discreet about disposing of kill trapped critters.
We were disappointed that our special sisters overnight had turned into a gut churning experience of how to avoid being attacked by 7” mice. I’m so glad we came up with the tent on the bed solution. There’s camping and then there’s slumming.
Bring mouse traps with you when go camping esp if you are going to this park and staying at Cow Cabin #1. The door would close unless you used the keyless entry deadbolt and the outside light was burned out. The coolest the AC got to was 26C.
The office staff just shrugged and said that you have to expect mice in your cabin when renting a cabin in the park. We said that it would have been nice to know this before arriving, even if it was in the small print.

My brothers and I stayed at Palo Duro Canyon in their glamping tents (Tent A). It was close to the trading post, while Tent D was closest to the Kiowa trail. The campsite was great with the propane fire-pit and the grill to cook. The beds were comfortable and the whole tent was clean and well maintained. We could hike all the trails easily from our location. We drove to the Lighthouse trailhead and hike to the Lighthouse. The hike was great, difficult at the end to get up to the plateau but worth the view. We also hiked the Kiowa and Upper Comanche trails which had beautiful views of the canyon walls from the floor of the canyon. The sun rise and sun set were great, lots of color. I will definitely be going back.

I'm from South GA, not familiar with W TX monsoon season, but the park Rangers should not let people in the canyon when the night prior they had to evacuate parts of the park due to flooding. My vehicle was quickly overtaken in a flash flood as I was evacuating the flood. 911 refused to send help and people that I asked to go to the Ranger Station to get me help only to never return.
I was rescued by a stranger that took me to my family member only to be caught in the middle of 2 raging flood waters.
My vehicle was total loss and d excavating in flood waters with rattle snakes floating by is no thrill.
DO NOT GO TO THE CANYON DURING RAIN

Called the Grand Canyon of Texas for a reason. Awesome canyons and views.

We just drove through the park for a few hours on our way to another place. Wished I would have had more time to get out and really enjoy the park.

Looked like lots of camping places and even saw a sign that said they have glamping. That would be awesome.

Views are amazing, I loved that we could drive all the way to check all the views without walking with the hot hot whether.

My husband and I just got back from a four day trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park and had a great time.
Due to the pandemic, we had to purchase our $8 day passes online ahead of time. We drove into the park on a Sunday and Monday, arrived early and left in the early afternoon due to the heat (park hours were 7:00 a.m. - 7 p.m.). We stayed in a cabin off the property.
The visitor center had very limited hours but was well worth a stop to watch a video of the canyon's history. I enjoyed seeing the artifacts and displays regarding flora and fauna in the area. There was also a small but nice gift shop.
The park itself had some very nice trails and camping areas. We saw very few people and the parking lots were empty, which we enjoyed. We hiked one trail near the canyon rim and several trails on the canyon floor. There were a few cyclists but mostly hikers on the trails we chose.
The park had a snowcone stand open at one trailhead and had a small general store open for gasoline, food and drinks. All of the theatres were closed.
My main complaint regarding our visit was the lack of signage while inside the park. We had a park map with listed trails but they were hard to follow. You literally had to pull into a lot and be at the trailhead to see where you were. Signs along the road would have been most helpful letting you know what trails and sights were ahead. It was more like a scavenger hunt to find particular trails!
My favorite trail was the Sunflower Trail where we walked on a tree-lined path along a creek and red permian wall. We found tracks in the dried creek bed from raccoons, rabbits, deer, bobcat, mountain lion, and coyotes. We found lizards, a horned toad and snake skins on the Nature Trail.
We walked around the area with the Native Americans fled from the U.S. Calvary and their camp was completely destroyed. This canyon has lots of history - be sure to see the video in the visitor center to learn more.
Wear comfortable shoes and take lots of water if you plan to hike. Be aware of your surroundings at all times and watch for rattlesnakes!
It was a great two days of hiking and I would love to return.

Such a great park to visit! There are all ranges of trails from easy level ground to serious hiking. The views are awesome.

We arrived at the park around 8:00 am to begin our 1.5 hour walk from the parking lot to the Lighthouse canyon rock. It was a good idea to avoid the scorching sun typical of this area. When we first saw the lighthouse about 20 minutes before getting there, we were in awe and that helped us motivate ourselves to continue our walk. Visiting only this spot took us about 4 hours.
Our second stop was the Big Cave. We parked on the road and it was a quick walk to it.
We enjoyed our visit to the park and perhaps in the future we would like to camp or glamping there.
Make sure you take plenty of water, a hat and some snacks when you visit this place.
Happy hiking.

We secured a camping spot In Hackberry area. We were blessed with a glorious sunset and sunrise. 10 turkeys and several deer visited. Magnificent views and hikes. Clean showers. You won’t be disappointed staying here

Came to hike and recover soul and found exactly what I wanted. Incredible outdoors. Beautiful canyon and great vistas. Well marked trails with awe inspiring views. It was not crowded and was cool on the morning March seems to be the perfect time to visit. Just driving the park road in a car is wonderful but getting put and doing some of the trails is awesome. You can do either one of the trails back and forth or for some do a one way then walk back along the flat and peaceful trails in the floor of the Canyon. Recommend the trail named for the three runners and taking the side trail to little fox canyon. Beautiful and less crowded than the lighthouse trail. The Comanche Trail was also great. Upper or lower. Trading post well stocked with everything and ice cream. Apparently there is glamping through the trading post. (Separate from the state park so not mentioned in state park website ). I walked through that area. Big tent/houses with heat and A/C and grills and hammocks. Looked nice. I just camped in the car one night and stayed at the holiday inn in Canyon 17 moles away. Awesome trip and well worth a visit for at least a few days. Hiking paradise.

Beautiful and interesting scenery.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park
One of our favorites! Beautiful park of inspiring rock formations, cactus and wildflowers. Great hiking. As with all Texas state parks, staff is most friendly and welcoming. Canyon, Texas is just down the road a bit for a variety of food and drink and necessities. We missed the "Texas"play this summer, but we shall return to enjoy it again. Love those cowboys and girls riding down the walls of the canyon!

Y'all come to Texas and enjoy this park!

Y’all come to Texas and enjoy this park!

We made this trip to see this. It did not disappoint! Beautiful views and scenery all around the area. We are not hikers or campers, so we just drove thru. It was quite a long drive and definitely worth just the drive. There is a stop down in the canyon with bathrooms, burgers, ice cream and souveniers. Note to anyone who might be interested. If you do Palo Duro and Cap Rock Canyon (about an hour apart) on the same day, you only have to pay the the park entrance fee once. There were many people driving, camping and hiking that day.

Beautiful canyon that is is the second largest in the USA with such beautifel colors. Amazing rock formations. Annual play about Texas is a must see.

Whoever thought that Texas could have it's own Grand Canyon, but it does!

As I and my family arrived if you would like a great family pic just stop at the scenic view and there you will have a great opportunity. The gift shop down the way has great in depth history of the canyon and nice gifts.

Finally we made it to our campsite, it was number 76 which was an awesome place. The kids, which I have for ranging from 4 to 12, were able to climb the mini mountains that the butted up to the campsite. The bathrooms and showers were not a walk to, but you could take your vehicle right about a 1/2 mile down to them. They were very clean.

I give this place five stars just because of the beauty and cleanliness. I will definitely be back that way in warmer months.

This is just about a half hour south of Amarillo. It is easy to find. We drove through the canyon. We stopped at the visitor center at the top of the canyon, but there are other tourist centers throughout the drive. There are numerous places to stop to take pictures. The canyon itself is quite interesting and is magnificent. I wish we had time to take hikes and camp. There are various camping areas, including at least one glamping one. The maps show a wide variety of trails where one can hike. Obviously, in this climate, you would need to bring plenty of liquids to drink if hiking.

What a beautiful canyon! My wife and I were traveling to Phoenix from Iowa and stayed in Amarillo and it was recommended to us that we take in Palo Duro and are we ever glad that we did...beeeeaaauuutiful!! We love the fact that you can drive down into the canyon and stop along the way and take in the sights such as these. The rock formations and the terrain is just amazing and you are quite likely to see wildlife...just a great stop!!

My husband and I (70’s) had an amazing tour with Case. We heard just the right amount of history about the canyon, saw a variety of canyon sites, made several stops for pictures and had a thrilling ride in the Hummer! Case was knowledgeable, friendly, funny & considerate of all of his passengers. We had a 6 month old on the trip, as well. We took the 2 hr trip & it was perfect. Our group totaled 8 & all ages. This is definitely the way to see the canyon.

What a find! This is a stunning state park filled with days worth of recreation! Our plan was to hike as much as possible during the 2 days at the park however after hiking the Lighthouse, GSL, Little Fox and Paseo del Rio, we realized what a gem this park is for Mountain Biking. The next day we rode all of these trails plus the Capital Peak Mountain biking trail. What fun!!! Another great hike is the Rock Garden trail. We fell in love with park and look forward to many more visits!

I had heard of this place only 3 hours from my home for many years, but this is the first time I had visited. I'm so glad we did. It was beautiful, and there is a lot to do there. We hiked the Paseo Del Rio Trail, which was relatively easy. We saw a deer and what I think was a porcupine. I think this is a great place to see in Texas.

Our family absolutely loved Doves Rest Cabins. We enjoyed a great day at Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West!
We will be back again and stay longer.
I can give 5 stars to all 5 cabins we used at Doves Rest: Rustlers Draw, Maverick, Chisholm, Laredo, Phantom #2, Stage Coach.
Incredible views of Palo Duro Canyon. Our kids ran & played like crazy. Sharyn @ Doves Rest helped me plan our trip. I highly suggest the Concierge grocery service. These cabins are luxurious and rugged. Near the rim of the canyon. Delicious coffee included.
We stopped here on our way to Vermejo, NM. Breaks up the trip perfectly. We will probably stay 3 nights next trip and also stay longer at Cowgirls & Cowboys in the West where Phyllis and her awesome team (Melissa, Madison, Cody and Brayden) spoiled us rotten! We played guitar with their local talent, learned to "Rope and Ride" literally! A beautiful party barn hosted the barbecue feast, personalized just for us. Flowers, Autographed cobbler. So many thoughtful touches. When Phyllis heard we were arriving early, she added breakfast just knowing we would be hungry. Phyllis is so amazing, she called to warn our bus driver that a dead hog was on a bend in the road near her ranch. Glad she did.
Seeing the canyon on horseback is a must. Our kids (3-21 years old) rode with the littles secured on "buddy" saddles. Our 21 person family took turns riding. The ones 'back at the ranch' played music, looked at art, and learned to rope a steer. Seriously, for anyone wanting a true Texas experience this is it. The people are real. The land is unchanged. There are no crowds. Food is fantastic.
Reach out on Tripadvisor if you need more info. I'll try and post photos if I can figure out how.......

Its well worth going to Palo Duro Canyon state park. Take the scenic road thorough the park for fab views of the scenery. Lots of walks, short and long. The visitor centre and gift shop is superb.

Palo Duro Canyon offers an amazing experience in hiking, camping, horseback riding, keep tours, etc. The geological and human history of the canyon is fantastic. Check out the Welcome Center for information.
The best part is the Wild West musical show “Texas” offered nightly in the summer in the amphitheater.

Such a breath taking site to behold. The views of the park are incredible. We took at least 100 photos of all the beautiful scenery. This is a must see attraction for anyone that visits the area.

Palo Duro Canyon is INCREDIBLE!! Whether you're coming to hike or just drive through the canyon, it is well worth it. We hiked 25 miles of trails over 3 days and still didn't get to all of the trails. There aren't enough words to describe how breathtaking this location is. I've never been to the Grand Canyon so I was blown away. My husband HAS been to the Grand Canyon and he said he prefers Palo Duro because you can drive down in. We both really loved it here and highly recommend visiting.

We also recommend the Trading Post down in the canyon. The folks working there were very friendly and we stopped every day for lunch and ice cream. They've got a great gift shop as well!

Advice: WEAR SUNSCREEN. Take sunscreen with you out on the trails and reapply. You will burn so quickly. Take lots of water and ladies, if you don't like squatting in the wilderness, hit the bathrooms before you hike. The trails are LONG.

The Lighthouse Trail and CCC Trail were amazing! Along the Juniper Cliffside trail, we saw our first Western Diamondback rattlesnake "in the wild". It wasn't aggressive at all but was a good reminder to be vigilant as you hike this beautiful countryside.

Beautiful place to visit if you want to hike or just sit back and enjoy the view! My family really loved the hiking trails!

Really amazing state park. It is hard to believe this is in TX and outside of Armadillo. I had heard of it and where it was located and thought I don't need to go there. In 2020 when I couldn't travel internationally I decided to get a state park pass and see what all the state parks are about. So far it has been a great experience. Now I don't go to any of them on a weekend. I only go during the week and I haven't camped as of yet. I have been dragging my 85 year old father and 10 year old boarder collie with me. I can't wait to come back here and stay in some of the CCC cabins. There are some at the top of canyon and and then at the bottom. I do like the reservation system. It allows you to know you are going to get into the park. It is a beautiful park with all sort of level of hikes. I really can't wait to come back and do some larger hikes. Make time to visit this park. Good parking at the more popular hiking trails.

Awesome, but wait till it's not so hot, lighthouse trail is brutal, but great, take twice as much water as you think you need, 1 gallon per person was not enough 😡

We were traveling across country and stayed in Amarillo one night. We were fortunate enough that a friend recommended we check this out if we had time. It's a beautiful sight and not at all what you would expect after driving through flat country for two days. The drive through loop takes about 45 minutes but you can stop and check out areas and take photos if you want. If you are in the area it is definitely worth going.

No comparison to Grand Canyon, but lovely park to visit though.we were very early, the lady at the entrance needed alot of time for every car. When we got out of the park there was a large traffic jam of at least 30 cars.

The favorite part of the park for my family was the hiking. Definitely a trail for everyone! Park staff was so very friendly and knowledgeable. We’ll be back!

We stayed 3 days in one of the cow camp cabins, very rustic bring your own linens bed very comfortable. Enjoyed the microwave fridge & A/c in the room. Each we got up early to beat the heat to hike 3-4 hrs, spectacular scenery gorgeous rock formations, bring good shoes plenty of water, a hat. The spectacular musical play/show is a must you do need 24 hr reservations for the dinner, omg it was so enjoyable. The museum store is a must also. This is a beautiful park so much to see & the hiking is the best. Our favorite was Lighthouse & Lower Comanche trails quite difficult in some places but oh the rewards.

This stop has been on our "to do" list for quite some time, and it did not disappoint. The scenery was beautiful and I really enjoyed the drive inside the park. We were unable to camp here, but plan to on the next visit. The entire park was clean and well maintained and our drive through of the camping spots seemed to also be well-maintained with nice facilities.

This was my first time at the park. It was worth the trip, however, the bottom of the canyon can be hotter than at the top. So going at this time of the year, you'll be limited by the heat. Besides rescuing people from trails due to the heat they have rescued dogs as well. The ranger told my sister they rescued 4 dogs & 2 of those dogs died from heat! So pet owners be cautious, @ 11:20 am finished Lighthouse & trailhead temp registered almost a 100 . Also there's a lot of horse flies, I wished I had worn long hiking pants. Have your first aid with cortisone or benadyrl cream & antiseptic. My house fly bites I had red welts & acc to google clean the site & apply antiseptic/anti itch ointment . If you want to take sunrise or sunset photos you need to stay in the park as it opens at 7am & closes at 10 pm.

Born and raised in Amarillo but have not lived there for 40+ years. Been visiting Palo Duro Canyon and its attractions for the majority of my 64 years. Visited perhaps 15-20 times.

It is the second longest natural canyon in the United States. It is not the Grand Canyon or Waimea Canyon in Kaui'a Hawaii. But it IS a gorgeous, natural wonder full of geology, history, early Plains culture including Native Americans and Plains Settlers, archeology and pure enjoyment. Picnic areas, water crossings (well only when it rains...), overnight camping (ignoring COVID period, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding...A Visitor Center and the Amphitheater round it out. Once again, ignoring COVID restrictions, the Texas Musical Drama and BBQ during Summer months is NOT to be missed. A day pass is currently required and available online. BOOK in ADVANCE.

If one is in the Amarillo/Canyon, Texas area, you would be terribly remiss to NOT visit Palo Duro Canyon and all its related sights. The rim has additional horseback riding stables (see my review of Palo Duro Riding Stables - among the BEST), Ziplining....Be sure to garb a map at the canyon entrance.

Do not miss this natural wonder.

Stayed in Canyon and drove the short trip to Palo Duro Canyon for a full day. Hiked to the Lighthouse (great hike; pretty easy until the last 1/4 mile), which offered amazing views and a good workout. Then visited the Lodge, which had a nice, small exhibit about the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) who built the Lodge. Ended with a rock scramble to the Cave. Saw a couple of mule deer as I was driving out. There had been a dusting of snow the day before and it was cold, but warmed up as the day went in. Dressing in layers was key.

Everywhere you turn the view just gets better and better! You MUST make it to the "bug cave" . So much fun! This park c
Is a great place to visit whether you have little time or a lot of time to explore.

We went here mid October. Weather was perfect 👌! Hiked the lighthouse trail, pretty easy until you get to the last part, but not too strenuous if you are in general good health. Even if your not there’s benches through out the trail for you to rest.

Definitely not what we expected after reading reviews etc. It’s not very scenic at all, not that deep, Park road was really short. If you are a hiker then by looking at park map then this might be your place. Disappointing $16 for a 1/2 hour drive.

My young adult relative and I enjoyed our time. He took a hike and we drove down to the bottom of the canyon. There many hiking trails.
I’ve been to The Grand Canyon, but you can’t drive to the bottom, obviously.
For my nephew it was a great introduction to a big canyon and the desert area.
Depending on your stamina you could stay the better part of a day or more or as little as 2 hours.

One of the most beautiful parks I've visited in the United States and I've seen quite a few. What struck me most is the scent you can smell while trekking along the paths, something intoxicating and enchanting, really worth trying... and it only costs 8 dollars, crazy if you think about how expensive national parks are, often much less beautiful and compelling than this

The canyon is a natural experience that is easily accessible but well preserved thanks to careful park management. It is a must for anyone traveling in Amarillo, Texas.

Fun hiking for my 8 and 10 year old grands. We stayed in an RV park. Nice and clean spots. Nice access to hiking trails. Very hot in afternoon but great morning hikes.

Exactly what it says, a large hole in the ground. A little tricky to get down to the bottom, but the views from up top are great, and the views from down below are equally interesting. Texas state Longhorn herd is based here.

This was my third time visiting Palo Duro Canyon and it's just as beautiful as I remember. You can purchase your entry passes online or buy them at the gate BUT if it's a busy weekend they will sometimes reach capacity and you won't get in right away. Unlike the grand canyon, you can drive all the way to the bottom of this one. There is even a trading post at the bottom to buy souvenirs and snacks. There are also plenty of pull offs for pictures and parking spots for hiking trails.

If you're looking for the best typical souvenirs (t shirts, shot glasses, etc) then you'll find the best ones at the trading post at the bottom of the canyon. The visitor center is worth a stop for the exhibits. Remember it is VERY hot in the canyon so bring plenty of water on hikes. I know some reviews have said this places pales in comparison to the grand canyon and yes its true BUT it is still worth a stop as the grand canyon of Texas. Just come with the expectation of seeing some beautiful Texas scenery and you won't be disappointed.

We lucked out and had beautiful weather for early February (65-75 degrees during the day but still cold at sunrise). We spent just one day in the park (6-7 hours) and were able to drive through the whole park, stopping too frequently per hubby to take in the beautiful views and take pictures, and also to take one short hike up to the Big Cave and one long hike to the Lighthouse. If you can't hike, it is still worth visiting the park to take in all the amazing views by vehicle from the many scenic vantage points along the drive and just out the car window as you go. There are also many areas to have a picnic breakfast/lunch/snack with an amazing view. We even saw some deer having their breakfast at the wildlife viewing blind. I included some pictures from our drive and hikes. The Big Cave was cool to see, but take a picture at the bottom of the hill since there was really nothing worth climbing to the top for (small "cave" with a little light peeking through the top) and you are better off saving your legs for something better. The Lighthouse trail was a little over 5.5 miles roundtrip and was pretty flat and easy terrain until close to the end with a couple of steep and somewhat slippery climbs up to the rewarding view. Definitely worth doing, but as the sign says, bring plenty of water because it gets hot in the open sun in the canyon. On our way back from the Lighthouse trail we met a guide that told us on our next visit to do the Givens, Spicer, Lowry trail, even if just for a part of the trail for the beautiful scenery. He also told us that the Rock Garden trail is beautiful and if you aren't up for the steep climb to the Rylander Fortress Cliff for the wonderful views of the canyon that at least you get to see the cool rock formations. We will definitely return and will plan ahead so we can rent one of the cabins inside the park with the awesome canyon views.

Relaxing and beautiful right here in the Texas Panhandle! Before the entrance there is a new mercantile store/event center with craft beer and wine and good food. From their patio you can see the longhorns roaming around. The zipline looks amazing.

lots of things to see, beautiful canyons , red in color, large. Far from San Marcos, like 7 hours. But close to capprock.

We stayed there 4h30 with a pose for a quick snack and without fazre a single trail. We stopped as soon as it was beautiful.
As for the lighthouse, it is quite far. But you can get a great view of it. Park in the corresponding parking lot. Go on the path that leads to it. At a certain point you find yourself in front of him. The view is superb, and clear. It will take you 30 minutes round trip

This area of Texas is stunning! Being from the Houston area I had no idea this existed outside of Hill Country around Austin. We visited this state park in July 2020 and while it was HOT, if you go EARLY in the morning when it opens you will have the best experience during the summer season. I can't speak to any other time of year, but we do plan to go back in the fall and do more hiking! We also drove through the entire park around 7pm and it was still around 100 degrees, but that is manageable to me. We were only getting out at the overlooks anyhow.

We hiked the Lighthouse trail (review posted separately) from 7:30-10:30 am (it went from 80 degrees to 100 in that timespan). It was doable, but not sure I'd want to be in the park between 11 - 6pm (that is peak heat time and the canyon is hotter than the rim!) We saw tarantulas & eastern collared lizards, so that was pretty cool! The canyon is so vast, even in the summer the colors are just splendid.

I have been to the Grand Canyon in Arizona and there is something reverent about it, but Palo Duro is simply magical. Do yourself a favor and GO!

Nice scenic drive inside the state park with a ample opportunities for some great photos. There is a small entrance fee and most of the park can be a drive around in about 2 hours. It is about 30 miles away from the city of Amarillo TX.

The Canyon had had caves, I was so excited to see. The trails were easy to difficult, ( I chose easy). The fact that you could driver to the bottom and stop at all levels of viewing was awesome.

We were in site Mesquite 92 with amazing views looking up from the bottom of the canyon at the colors of the rock walls, the scenery was stunning. There was plenty of room for our 35’ Motorhome, with our towed vehicle parked next to the road. The bathhouse was remarkably clean. There was a friendly host who came by to check on us. We had 50 amp power and water, but no sewer hookup. It was below freezing while we were there and snow was predicted overnight. We woke up to the amazing sight of snow in the canyon, and just as we were beginning to worry about the safety of the trip out of the canyon, the host came by to tell us to wait until after noon and the road would be safe. The only downside is no cell service and no sewer. We highly recommend staying here.

This park is a marvel. The formations are amazing and change with the lighting conditions. What is cool is that you can drive to the canyon floor and drive around. This is great for people who can't hike to see the sights. Lots of hiking trails, great views. Just amazing.

So glad we stopped here. It was a day before decision. I got a day pass with no problem. I guess because it was a Wednesday and also not during heavy tourist season. I did make the mistake of only paying $8 online but then when got there realized it’s not per vehicle charge it’s per person charge. No problem though. Just paid the extra $8 at the gate. Have noticed in so many parks that rates have gone from $5 to $8. Our first stop was the visitor center/ gift shop. Restrooms were under construction so only port a potty’s were available. The nice man working in the gift shop led me to the free telescope where he was able to show me the Lighthouse formation which is the symbol of this park. That was cool since I knew we didn’t have the time to hike to it. This is a beautiful park but even with the map we did have a hard time finding some of the things on the map because we felt they were not well marked. We thoroughly enjoyed our drive through the park though. It’s a loop and if you are only driving it it should only take you about an hour.

Family hiking trip… a must! Would have rated Excellent but trails were closed due to recent rain. Be aware of the potential of trails being closed. We were able to hike the CCC trail, Amazing. We will be back with the hope of All trails being open. We stayed at SageBrush! Texas show was also cool. Take bug spray!

One of the reasons we travelled from Australia to Texas. We wanted to see and feel the amazing strength of the Comanche and the sad history of the demise of the Comanche. This history needs to be taught in schools alongside Charles Goodnights!

Canyon was cool. Lived in Texas for over 70 years and never been there. Boing back next month for "Texas".

Absolutely majestic park View after spectacular view Dog friendly Breathtaking Great for hiking, camping, even driving through

As a Western history buff, I was looking forward to seeing the canyon, and the views from the first lookout point were spectacular and almost as stunning as the Grand Canyon. As we proceeded along the only road, we realized that driving the trail in a 33-foot-long RV was not a particularly smart idea. The road down into the canyon is a narrow two-lane road with no guardrails and several blind curves. Would love to have driven it in a smaller car but would not recommend doing it in a motorhome or fifth wheel. There is no place to turn around until you reach the canyon floor.

For all of that, the scenery was spectacular and well worth the stop.

It's a great place to take in amazing views at a nice calm pace. No rushing necessary. We actually drove it twice, both directions! Only wish more places to pull over and enjoy!

Don’t miss this experience in the great outdoors getting closer to nature. We drove through with ooohs and aaaahs throughout our drive, and even spotted a road runner. There is a nice bird viewing area near the cafe and store. Don’t miss it!

We were travelling thru Amarillo and had some time to kill. Read about this park so did a road trip.
As soon as we crossed into the park we were met by a buck standing by the road. Later we saw several wild turkeys, nice.
The scenery really is stunning, it's not the grand canyon, but the colors are beautiful. We did one of the hikes to the lighthouse rock, and it was super easy.
We are glad we did the side tour, make it on your list of things to do.

This is an excellent place to do a lot of hiking. Reminds me of a small Grand Canyon very pretty. They also offer horse back riding, camping and glamping.
Will definitely come back and stay longer

Wish we had scheduled more time here. Very cool state park. I can imagine that it gets blazing hot in the summer, but it was awesome at the beginning of May. I believe that we will be back.

It was too hot for hiking in August but we enjoyed the drive through the canyons. Hoped out a few times for photos. I'd love to revisit and spend more time when it's not 100+ degrees outside.

What an extraordinary State Park. This is a hidden American gem. Great driving tour with multiple hiking opportunities! We loved the views and natural splendor found here!

The park is very well maintained and the visitors center is great for learning about the history of the park. It is also a great place to watch the sunset as you will see all the colors light up on the eastern wall of the canyon. The trails are well marked and maintained. My wife and I hiked the Kiowa trail and the CCC trail and had a great time.

The canyon is absolutely beautiful ~ you can drive through it or if you hike, there are several trails. If time permitted we would have rented one of the cabins!

We’ve visited before and were driving by and couldn’t resist stopping for a quick look and hike. Did Upper Comanche/ Kiowa loop. There is nothing like those gorgeous red rock mountains and formations, plus cactus, pinions, flowers and more. And the roadside viewpoints are jaw dropping! Texas desert special.

This is a great State park, The whole family really enjoyed it!! The hiking trails are amazing ,but take plenty of water with you

On a road trip from Eureka Springs to Durango my husband and I wanted to stop for a day, and found Palo Duro Canyon State Park. We arrived when the gate opened at 7 and hiked as the rising sun illuminated the gorgeous colors on the canyon walls. We were in and out of the park the rest of the day, and it is beautiful all day, but the sunrise colors were the most sublime.

The hiking was nice-- a perfect way to break up the road trip, but many of the trails are disappointingly close to the road. In cooler weather it would be great to take some of the longer trails that go deeper into the park.

My friends and I went on a road trip from Fort Worth to Amarillo and Canyon. We spent most of one day at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It is so Beautiful!!!!
We drove around, walked around, took lots of photos, had a picnic lunch and saw The Texas Musical Play. The park was clean and easy to navigate. The play was wonderful!!!!
I would highly recommend everyone seeing this wonderful canyon!!!!
I can check this tour off my bucket list now!! 😊

We tent camped here as a family. The first of June was borderline too late for this. It was windy and hot setting up the tent, and the ground was hard. The burn ban was also a little disappointing, but understandable. The only real problem I had with the campground, though, was that we didn't have a "tent-only" place (not sure if one exists or not), so were very close to the RVs and their noisy A/C. However, when the units shut off at times during the night, it was a beautiful quiet night with amazing stars, perfect temperature for stargazing, and coyotes in the background. Then we got up with the sun and walked along the canyon rim - absolutely gorgeous.

Like many Americans we met on our road trip, we’d never heard of this place and it’s the second largest canyon in the USA. We came just to ride horses but did enjoy visiting the park too.

However, the signposting is appalling with few trailheads marked at all. Though the park opens earlier, the visitor center opens only at 9, the trading post for breakfast only at 9.30. The visitor center gave us two different maps, at exactly opposite directions to each other presumably done by a committee that never actually met.

We walked the Givens, Spicer, Lowry trail as it was actually signposted, yippee!

Amazing vistas throughout the park.

How many thousands of visitors do they get and what do they spend the entrance fees on? Not maps, not signage, that’s for sure.

Vistited Palo Duro today and it was amazing. Beautiful place with amazing views and vista's. Because the weather was cool out today virtually any of the hikes were doable. Visitors center is interesting, and even if you do not hike, very pretty drive around the loop through the bottom on the canyon. We did the Rojo Grande loop of about 2.5 miles round trip and it was beautiful with the red rock and creek. Apparently bikes are allowed on this trail as well and it would have been fun on a mountain bike. Just a beautiful place to spend a day with lots of hiking options.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life and never visited Palo Duro Canyon State Park until today. Truly magnificent. You drive in some of the flattest, blankest land there is and all of a sudden the earth opens up and shows its spectacular beauty from the last 250 million years.

There are tons of hiking trails (we picked the popular Lighthouse Trail and the quiet Juniper River trail to hike today).

There were some difficult areas to traverse on the lighthouse trail but the view was definitely worth it!

Because of Covid their website says you much make a reservation before arriving, even for a day pass, but we could t get out reservation to go through and food a chance. They took care of us at the gate.

Two of us had senior state park passes which each got two people in for half price ($8 normally).

There is some interesting history to the park and there are exhibits in the visitor center at the top.

One of the best Texas State Park for good reason. It's the 2nd largest Canyon in the States. This park is huge with scenic views on every trail. What makes this park unique is that you can drive into the canyon. This park also has one of the largest amphitheater we've seen in a state park. Texas Musical which opens every summer. If you visit this park you must hike the Light House Trail to scene the symbol of Palo Duro Canyon. This park is very busy and definitely want to book online in advance. If you visit Palo Duro, give Caprock Canyons a visit as well. Caprock is near Palo Duro and could probably do two parks over a weekend. Palo Duro Canyon with plenty of trails, scenic views and activities inside make it one of the best in Texas.

This State Park is absolutely breathtaking. Picture ops all over, but it doesn't do the scenery justice. Lots of places to stop to take pictures, hike, or just look around. The lodge would be an amazing place to hold an event. A wedding was going on while we were there, so unfortunately, we were unable to go inside and see the lodge. Amazing how much mud can slide on the roads during wet periods.

What an amazing place! We stayed in a 5th wheel in the Mesquite campground at the very bottom of the canyon. Level sites with a nice covered picnic area at each site. Plenty of space between the sites and for our tow vehicle. Yes it's a little nerve racking to drive the curvy road pulling a camper but so worth it once you're in your site. We went to a scenic outlook spot, went to a very nice camp store- with a small restaurant inside and went to the visitors center. There were 2 wild turkeys that visited each campsite in our circle and lots of birds to watch. This is truly a beautiful place to be.

We drove 240 miles to do a drive through that we can see right here in Oklahoma. If you are too old to do any walking you won't see much.

This place is astoundingly beautiful. And the history of its discovery by Charles Goodnight is quite interesting. It is a must see!

Just returned from our first trip to PDC. It was well worth it and we definitely plan to go back! We arrived Memorial Day evening after multiple storms - lots of water & mud and all trails were closed. Campsites are great! Several were closed due to high water but ours was perfect. They’re arranged nicely. Would prefer a pull-through but hubby is fine with backing in. Weather for us was perfect - pleasantly cool in the 60’s. Scenery is really gorgeous! The Visitors Center is excellent - more in there than you would guess. Trading Post is pretty well stocked especially considering they had water issues - either boil it or use bottled water! We had to buy some. The Texas musical drama is a must-see! Really spectacular!! The dinner add-on prior to the show was very good BBQ. If you’re there early since the show doesn’t start until 8:30, they have additional entertainment in a paved area that is very good too! We do plan to go back to do some hiking - 3 trails ended up Opening but we ran out of time. Also great is the PPHM history museum in Canyon - the largest in the state - LOTS to see there if you’re a history person! Great trip!

We live 15 miles away and had never been to the park outside of the play Texas. Tired of being stuck in the house due to Covid we spent the afternoon driving and hiking. The place is beautiful.

We booked in advance and arrived around 10am. Take a picnic lunch with you. There are tons of picnic tables and bathrooms throughout the park because you will end up spending several hours here oohing and awing and that doesn't include any hiking, just driving through and taking pictures. There is a cafe/souvenir shop but it's just a wonderful place to just enjoy God's creation. Highly recommend!

I've wanted to see Palo Duro Canyon SP for decades. But living in Houston (and now Tucson), it wasn't convenient. I was taking the scenic route back to AZ and decided this was time to detour and see things I'd wanted to see for many years. Booked 2 nights in Canyon so I could spend an entire day in the park. Purchased my day pass online before the trip.

Really bad timing though. The TX Panhandle had been inundated with rain and storms for weeks. I arrived at the entrance to the park early to be greeted with a large sign saying "All Trails Closed". Showed my pass and went into the Entrance Station to talk to the staff. They did a great job of explaining where to see great views and what to look for. Not their fault I'd chosen to visit when I did. But with the trails closed and even part of the scenic drive down in the canyon, there just wasn't a full day's worth of things to do. Bummer.

Would love to have done more, but it wasn't to be. Even more frustrating it was the Sunday before Memorial Day and the museum and gift shop didn't open until 1PM. There was a Trading Post/Snack Bar open down in the canyon, but nothing that appealed. Glad I finally got to see the park, but just bad timing on my part.

The park is just gorgeous with tons to do and see. This particular trip we did the driving loop and it was beautiful with numerous pull offs

Had one of the scariest moments of my life while camping here. My girlfriend and I were camping alone when a ranger (officer?) pulled up to our site in the middle of the night. He said something about needing to search our campsite because he smelled weed at another campsite 100+ yards away. I said 'no'. he then finds the bag that the hot dogs were in and says that is 'probable cause'. He handcuffed me, put me in the back of the squad car, then searches every inch of our campsite all while my girlfriend sobbs uncontrollably. He kept saying creepy things to her and I thought for sure he was going to rape her while I was handcuffed in the back. After an hour of this her lets me go and leaves. Thank God we got away ok.

If you love nature and visiting national and state parks this is for you and add this to your bucket lists. You can hike and you can also just drive around the valley and you still see a lot.

Go to America’s second largest canyon if you can! It’s amazing. We had never heard of Palo Duro before planning our cross country trip, but heard it was beautiful and so decided to spend a day there. This is an incredible place. We did sections of three hikes and all were gorgeous in their own ways. We spent 5-6 hours in the canyon. Very few people were there and the place was spectacular. Just go. Well worth it.

What a wonderful place. A coyote howled next to us in the night and was answered by others from different places. Wow! Great state Park with wonderful trails. Good camping options with lots of space between. Before hiking know your skill level, wear good boots, take plenty of water, and beware the heat. The trails are not always well marked, and intersections can be confusing. Various entrances are not marked. There are trails not on the Park map. If you are a novice please tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Cell service is spotty at best

This was a worthwhile stop! A great visitor center with great views, gifts, and dioramas.
Plus you can drive down into the canyon for hiking and camping.

We got somewhat lucky/unlucky when we went 6/30/2020. Lucky in that the park was empty enough that we could drive thru w/o a reservation. Unlucky that the temps that day were reaching 114 degrees and there was no hiking allowed, not that we'd want to in that heat! But it is a beautiful hidden gem that we never would had known about if we weren't visiting family in Amarillo. We've been to the Grand Canyon, and this rivals it in awesome scenery. We'd love to go again when it's cooler, but be sure to make a reservation as it fills up fast!

Having spent time at Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon, Colorado National Monument, and the Grand Canyon in recent years, I was absolutely impressed with this place: it's big and beautiful and really dramatic. It's also super accessible: you can drive around it and take long and short hikes. The only negative wasn't actually an issue because of Covid and there just aren't a lot of people around: in "normal times", it's clearly a bit commercial. The "trading post" (isn't that a little antiquated?!) and the Texas "show" in the ampitheater seem like a little much and there appear to be jeep tours and ziplines galore. If you go now, be forewarned about two things: it is hot as hell and you need to make reservations in advance on line. We had reservations and went into the park around 6 (you must be in the park by 7) and meandered around as it cooled off a bit and left around 8:30 (you need to be out at 10 unless you're camping). Definitely worth a trip!

We did the Lighthouse trail with my wife, my daughter 10 years old and my son of 12. We saw that it was 6 miles in total and we thought it was fine ... wow ... Ir was hard to get there and back! But the truth is it was worth it! Bring water! Lot of water! We pay for day pass online. They only allow certain amount of people now.

Yes, the Grand Canyon of Texas offers some nice overlooks and a nice Visitors Center, but for $8 per head entry it did not provide us with enough value to justify the cost.

We had never heard of this place until we started researching for a trip. It is a beautiful place and you can DRIVE into it!

Our first hike post retirement. What a beautiful place to go. Eye candy everywhere and great trails as well. The park is huge, so you don't feel cramped and it is dog friendly as well. The gift shop is awesome and the customer service as well. There is a range of trails for all! We were not disappointed and will return in March. Some of the park was closed due to hunting, but still plenty to do. And driving the park is also an option as well.

Wow! After visiting the Grand Canyon I was prepared to not be impressed. But I was impressed! It is a beautiful canyon. We drove down into the canyon on a steep switchback, with breathtaking views. We spent 2 nights in the campground, enjoying the beautiful Vista. We got up early to hike before it got too hot. I wish it would have been cooler, so we could have hiked more.

Visited the last of March. We arrived early on a Sunday morning and there were not a ton of other visitors (yet!). By noon, lots of folks on the trails. Stopped at some of the lookouts and walked on a couple of the trails. It's beautiful!

Cabins

We were there a couple of years ago and stayed in the cabins. They were built by the CCC guys so they are well built but not necessarily to today's standards. It is hard to keep them clean. It did not appear that anyone except temporary occupants cleaned them and we were not prepared to do a thorough cleaning job. There is a review from ealier this year and it appears that the mattresses have been replaced. That is good because when we were there, they were so bad that we took both mattresses (they are double bunks), and put them on the bottom bunk so we could sleep. I would recommend that you bring a plastic matress cover, sheets, pillows and blanket. Frankly I wished I had brought a bucket, soap, and other cleaning supplies. The writer from 2020 suggested vinyl table cloths. That would also work. With all that said, it was a privilege to be able to stay in one of the cabins and in the State Park.

Finally got to go to Palo Duro after many years and was not disappointed. Very spectacular that almost seems to pop out of nowhere, since it is surrounded by flat plains with steep drop offs. Hiked a moderately difficult trail for a couple of miles and saw some amazing scenery. Just about a 15 minute drive south of Amarillo and easy to get to. Is $8 for adults and free for those under 12. Visitor center closed due to virus outbreak. Definitely plan to go back and explore more of the trails that I missed.

Photos don't do it justice! Too hot to hike, but the drive to bottom & back was enough. 110^ at bottom, but a/c in car! Snow cone stand was nice!! Great burger at the Trading post & nice selection of gift items. Fantastic view from Viewing area at top as you enter.

We were two RVs traveling together with two children. Sites we’re large and private. Partial roof over picnic tables. Sunny at sunrise and at dinner time. Wild turkeys were delightful to watch. Lots of beautiful scenery and hiking trails. Bathrooms were okay. Our problem was with the biting flies. It was impossible to eat outside.

Four of us seniors drove through the canyon as we are in our 70’s and not hikers. We tools tons of pictures, as there are many pull offs so you can park and get your camera out. $8.00 for adults and under 13 are free. They also have yearly passes for those who could visit more often. We loved the canyon and you will too.

It’s a must do activities! Make time for a hike on a trail or two. The gift shop guy was fantastic too.

Great beautiful canyon in Texas. With also many (different types of) trails and facilities in enough places (toilets, water refill points, waste bins, picnic benches).

There are a huge number of rock formations to see and many breathtaking vantage points. In addition, there is also wildlife to spot. All in all, I would set aside two days on a trip to explore this park.

Beautiful place, many hiking opportunities, pet friendly, great for camping. We took our trailer and two dogs and enjoyed this place. Our labs could easily go along on the hikes. Sadly we didn’t see much wildlife.

Spectacular views. A great place to stop and get some air. The longhorns are friendly. Watch out for the Roadrunners and mountain bikers.

Our visit to Palo Duro was exactly the retreat into nature that we needed. The vistas were amazing and we really enjoyed the Lighthouse trail. It was the highlight of our weekend in the Texas Panhandle.

If you are around this area, this is a must-see. Truly amazing place! Remember to bring lots of water and snacks, though, and wear clothes that you don't mind getting dirty from the red sand.

Nice park. We drove through on a road trip. It would be great for campers and adventurers. Only missing a lake! It is a nice outdoors area with adventures to be found.

Beautiful site, must see. We were in Dallas so we drove 7 hours to see him and no regrets. We really loved it.

Absolutely breathtaking!! My family and I enjoyed our stay so very much. Beautiful nature and hiking trails. A must see!

This was our first time to Palo Duro Canyon with our teenagers (13,15,16). We enjoyed a beautiful hike up to the Lighthouse formation. I’m glad we started early on the morning because the hike down was really not (100 degrees when we got back to the car at 11:30 am). We bought sno cones to cool down and drove around the canyon. Stopped at the cantina and bought souvenir shirts stating we survived the Lighthouse hike! Sadly the amphitheater and visitor center was closed. However the lookout from the visitor center was beautiful!

Traveling cross country and doing some hiking along the way. Because of CO-VID you have to make reservations on line. We were at park as soon as open because weather in 100’s in middle of day. Hiked the Lighthouse trail. Beautiful views and nicely marked trails. Would recommend fall or winter though for hiking.

Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest in the country by volume. There is great hiking and mountain biking here. The terrain is clay and sand and it kicks up a lot when it’s windy. We hiked the Lighthouse Trail. It’s best to hike here when it’s not summer. There are some good views, hikes, and memories to be had. Plenty of facilities and places to rest. Great family location for recreating.

For years I have wanted to see this legend of Texas! I have not been disappointed. There are only two problems: the time of year was cold and dusty (I was informed it was a dryer-than-normal season), and I'm not as young as I used to be. I will invest hiking equipment, when I return.

LOVED Palo Duro Canyon! The red and beige rocks were so beautiful. The visitor center folks are friendly and helpful, and they did have maps. There is a parking area at an overlook above the visitor center, which sits down a steep road a little ways; the parking lot down there is smaller. The views from inside the VC were amazing! They had several windows facing the canyon. Then we drove down into the canyon; the road is steep in places. There was dried mud on and alongside the road, especially near the six flood-prone bridges, evidence of recent flooding. Apparently they have to scrape it off the road, like we Northerners do snow. The cliffs were high, with many interesting formations. If you pull out at certain places, you can get a better picture than if you are driving along the road. There were pretty flowers, too. As we neared the campground, the scenery was less spectacular (actually, getting almost boring), so we turned around and went back to the Trading Post, which had a larger gift shop than the visitor center and also served food and ice cream. The food was good! Gift shop had many nice things. Palo Duro is definitely a don't-miss stop!!!