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Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Canyon, TX

Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFamily Favorite

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

11450 Park Road 5 · Canyon, TX

Why you should go…

Palo Duro Canyon runs roughly 45 miles through the Texas Panhandle and drops around 800 feet, and its layered, multicolored walls earned it the name Grand Canyon of Texas. The state park has more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, including the hard hike to the Lighthouse. You can drive down to the canyon floor, camp, or rent a cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In summer the TEXAS Outdoor Musical plays at the park's Pioneer Amphitheater.

  • #state park
  • #canyon hiking
  • #lighthouse rock
  • #camping
  • #horseback riding

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, ordered by straight-line distance.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Bill's Backyard Classics

    Under $25

    A family-owned museum in Amarillo showcasing more than 100 restored classic and vintage cars and trucks.

    14 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Eat & Drink
    Foodie Favorite

    The Big Texan Steak Ranch

    Free

    Order a hand-cut steak in a western-themed dining hall off I-40, or watch someone take on the 72-ounce steak challenge.

    15 mi awaySwitch it up: Eat & Drink

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Visit Amarillo

    Free

    Official visitor bureau for Amarillo, gateway to Route 66 and the Texas Panhandle.

    17 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Don Harrington Discovery Center

    Under $25

    Interactive science museum and planetarium in Amarillo with hands-on exhibits for all ages.

    19 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Cadillac Ranch

    Free

    Walk into a Panhandle pasture to see ten Cadillacs buried nose-down in a row, and add your own spray paint to the layers.

    21 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing