How To Visit Texas Palo Duro Canyon For A Day

Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle is a perfect place to explore the beautiful multicolor layer of rocks and the steep mesa walls of the Caprock Escarpment.

Palo Duro Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the United States.

It is roughly 25-40 miles (40-60 km) long with an average width of 6 miles (9.7km).

The depth of the canyon compared to the surrounding hills goes from 800 feet (240m) to 1000 feet (300m).

This may not seem like a great depth but this feature is exactly what has made it readily accessible by car and motor home.

The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and the West Texas wind eroded the canyon over millions of years.

In Palo Duro Canyon nature has created some breathtaking views and incredible geological formations.

You’ll find colorful layers of sedimentary rocks, hoodoos, and caves easily accessible for exploration.

This guide is all about how to plan your visit to Texas’ Palo Duro Canyon.

Getting to Palo Duro Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon is located in the north of Texas.

It is closer to Albuquerque and Oklahoma City than to Dallas.

This means the best way to reach Palo Duro Canyon is to fly into Amarillo Airport (AMA) and rent a car.

But if you’re visiting in a motor home or on a road trip, you’ll want to plan as if you were going to Amarillo or Canyon, which are the closest towns to the park.

From Dallas, we took Highway 287 and stayed in Amarillo for the night.

The next morning we drove to the park early to enjoy the day.

Access to Texas Palo Duro Canyon

One of the advantages of Palo Duro Canyon State Park is that the road is a loop.

This makes it easy to enter and exit without getting lost or ending up somewhere unexpected.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is open daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.

The entrance gate opens and closes automatically during those hours. So make sure to leave before it closes.

The park entrance fee can be paid at the Park Headquarters near the entrance.

But this opens at 8:00 am, so if you arrive earlier you must purchase the tickets at a self-pay station near the entrance gate.

For more information on current entry fees, campsites, and trails visit the Texas State Parks webpage.

If you’ve never seen Texas Longhorn cattle be on the lookout as you enter the park.

Often you can spot longhorns grazing close to the park entrance parking lot at the Longhorn Pasture.

This is a great opportunity to see these Texas icons up close.

You can take photographs with the cattle in the background but don’t try to pet or feed them.

Start Your Visit with Some History and Great Views

After leaving the entrance parking lot follow the road until you see the sign for El Coronado Lodge.

Taking this detour will bring you to El Coronado Lodge Visitors Center.

There is an observation point from where you can catch stunning views of the canyon.

This spot is where you start to appreciate the beauty and immensity of the park.

The Visitor Center has historical video productions, and archeological and nature exhibits that can provide perspective on what you are about to experience.

The Visitors Center also has a Gallery of Southwestern art and Native American jewelry and artifacts for sale.

How to Explore Palo Duro Canyon

The visit to Palo Duro Canyon can last an hour, half a day, a full day, or more.

There is so much to see and do in this park.

The main thing to do when visiting Palo Duro Canyon State Park is to soak up the stunning views.

As you explore the park, you’ll feel like you’re in the heart of the Texas desert, cowboy country, and the American Southwest.

If you just want to take it easy

If you want to have a relaxing day or are traveling with small children, older parents or people with limited mobility Palo Duro Canyon is still a great alternative.

You can just make the loop in your car with minor or no stops and see the whole park in about an hour.

Make sure to stop at some of the lookout points along the route.

You’ll be able to spot a few points of interest from your vehicle like the Longhorn Pasture at the entrance.

Also along the route are the CCC Overlook, El Coronado Lodge, the CCC Fireplace, and the Big Cave.

The Mack Dick Group Pavillion is a venue available for rent for big activities and throughout the route, there are public bathrooms, some with showers.

If you want to go beyond the car ride, plan to enjoy a picnic at one of the designated picnic areas.

Your family can have a great time exploring the surrounding area.

Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks.

If you’re hungry but forgot to pack lunch there is only one place to purchase food inside the park, Palo Duro Trading Post.

There you can find prepared food and souvenirs.

An Active day

But why miss out on exploring the hoodoos, caves, and unique flora and fauna of the Southwest?

There are several alternatives if you’d rather spend an active day in Palo Duro Canyon Park:

• Hike – the park has many hiking trails with different levels of difficulty. From easy, family-friendly walks to difficult ones for experienced hikers.
• Mountain Bike – if you’re a mountain bike aficionado you can enjoy trails shared with hikers and dedicated to rugged cycling. You can bring your own bike, or rent one in the nearby town of Canyon before reaching the park.
• Horse Back Riding – you can rent a horse, go on guided tours, or bring your own horse and ride on dedicated trails throughout the canyon.
• Photography – with mostly blue skies, amazing vistas, and diverse flora and fauna the Palo Duro Canyon is a paradise for photographers.

You can find a map of the park and the trails on the Texas State Park website or through the Palo Duro Canyon website.

Staying overnight

The Palo Duro Canyon State Park is well prepared to receive all kinds of visitors.

• Tent Camping – there are two tent camping areas in the park. One of them is a primitive, hike-in area with no water, you must bring your own water and essentials. A second area is available with communal water in the area and the bathroom facilities are 2 miles away.
• RV’s and Motor Homes – the park provides 20-amp and 30-amp hook-ups, with water hookups and bathrooms nearby. Several of these are certified ADA-accessible.
• Cabins – the park has several cabins that can lodge 2 to 4 people per cabin. These have basic facilities and must be booked ahead of time.

For more information on times, costs, rules, and availability check the Texas State Park website.

Important Things to Remember for Your Visit to Palo Duro Canyon

The Palo Duro Canyon Park may be easy to reach, accessible, and beautiful. But it is still the wild west.

So make sure you take the following precautions during your visit:

• Bring plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• Use sunscreen and hats to keep the heat at bay.
• Wear sturdy adequate shoes for your sport. Even if you don’t plan to hike closed shoes will keep unwanted insects and animals away from your feet.
• Long pants and long sleeves in light colors and cool textiles protect from the sun, scratches, and insects.
• Before you go hiking, cycling, or in any way exploring, let others know where you’re going and when you should be back.
• Stay on the trails, this will minimize any contact with wild animals and keep you and them safer.
• Be prepared for changing weather, pack for rain or shine.
• If you’re staying overnight remember the temperature in the desert drops at night, make sure you have a sweater, sweatshirt, or some warm layer to stay warm during the night.

If you decide to use the trails for hiking, cycling, or riding please adhere to the following good practices so that we all get to enjoy Palo Duro Canyon for generations:

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

• Take your trash with you – Pack out all of your trash and leave no trace.
• Feed your pets not the wild animals – Leave feeding to nature, feeding wild animals can make them sick and more likely to harm people.
• Stay on designated trails – do not cross fences.
• Keep pets on leashes for their safety, and to protect wildlife.
• Leave artifacts where you find them – if you find anything during your hike report their location to a ranger.
• Take only memories and pictures – Help preserve nature, leave all plants and animals in the park.

A Breathtaking Visit in Texas

With more than 16 miles of paved roads and many scenic trails, Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers everyone a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the wonders of nature.

Easy to reach, and rarely crowded visiting this extraordinary location in Texas is a great alternative for exploring stunning geological formations.

So if you’re looking for a scenic nature visit; gather your backpack, water, and sunscreen and get yourself to Texas Palo Duro Canyon.