If you plan to spend a lot of time in Texas and near Amarillo, consider a Texas State Park Pass, which offers unlimited visits to more than 90 state parks without paying the daily entrance fee. The land was deeded by private owners in 1933. . With more than 30 miles of trails to choose from, including the Upper Comanche Trail that weaved right through our campsite (Hackberry), we ended up hiking 17 miles that first day. Givens, Spicer, Lowry Is a 6.2 round with a lot of hills and switchbacks, but through scenery so spectacular that you dont notice. Choose from campsites with water and electricity, tent sites, equestrian sites, or backpack camping areas. The Gallery boasts historical video productions, archeological and nature exhibits, and is beautifully arranged with Southwest art for sale, handmade Native American pottery, handmade Navajo, Zuni and Santo Domingo silver and turquoise jewelry, handmade hunting knives, and a large selection of hard to find regional tools that are Comanche and Kiowa beaded, t-shirts and hats. If youre lucky, you wont even need to leave your campsite. Click Here For More Information and to Sign Up, Post Your Work Camper or Camp Host Job For Free By Clicking Here. Rylander Fortress Cliff Starting from rock trail, this 3.7 mile detour takes you along the edge of the plateau with continuous views of the canyon below. Public Phone. A multiple-use, 6mi (10km) round-trip loop trail is dedicated to the formation.[3]. #8 - Juniper Cliffside Trail and Juniper Riverside Trail Loop. The Texas Observer; Austin, Texas; July 13, 2015. Your browser does not support JavaScript! Texas state parks are so popular some parks were turning visitors away when they met max capacity, so I recommend getting a day pass to guarantee your entry. For those looking for a rustic adventure, the park features three cabins on the canyons rim or four Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. Explore the most popular wildlife trails in Palo Duro Canyon State Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. [10][11] Fossils of saber-toothed cats (Smilodon), bone-crushing dogs (Borophagus), mastodons, horses, long-necked camels (Aepycamelus), rhinoceroses, and large tortoises up to 3 feet in length, are present in the Ogallala. [5][6] The Quartermaster Formation forms the lower wall and canyon floor, averaging 60ft (20m) in thickness where it outcrops. Juniper/riverside The Juniper-Riverside Trail is 2.2 miles long and flat, perfect for beginners or those looking to take it easy on their feet. Horseback riding is a popular activity at the canyon, and the Old West Stables offer guided horseback trail rides from March to November. Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, which initially winds along the level surface of the Llano Estacado of West Texas, then suddenly and dramatically runs off the Caprock Escarpment. Palo Duro Canyon is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. The Givens Spicer Lowery Trail also connects to one of the most popular trails the Lighthouse Trail, a three-mile easy, more-or-less flat path that leads to The Lighthouse, one of the most impressive and famous rock formations in Palo Duro Canyon. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. Some of the sites can hold a 60-foot RV. Day entry in to the park is covered by the Texas Parks Pass. Visitors may hear their distinctive howls at night or spot them hunting in the parks grasslands.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'happyvagabonds_com-box-4','ezslot_10',171,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-happyvagabonds_com-box-4-0'); Bobcats: Bobcats are another predator that visitors may observe at Palo Duro Canyon. On June 3 and June 4 - The park will be closed south of the stables. Wildlife at Palo Duro Canyon Palo Duro Canyon is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. While still quite rustic, theyve been recently equipped with modern heating and cooling and are available for overnight stay by advance reservation. You must walk or drive to a nearby camping area for restrooms and showers. Visitors may observe bison, deer, and birds of prey along the trail. "[22] She made paintings of Palo Duro Canyon between 1916 and 1918, when she was an instructor and head of the art department at West Texas State Normal College. The average temperature is about 66 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, but it can get as high as 100 degrees during summer months. [12] The siltstone and sandstone have been cemented by silica, which gives rise to the occurrence of common opal and almost-chert pockets. One of the best-known and the major signature feature of the canyon is the Lighthouse Rock. Download to Your Calendar. One person is dead after investigators believe they intentionally drove off the highway near Lookout Point in Palo Duro Canyon on Monday morning, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The Apache, Comanche, and Kiowa also called Palo Duro Canyon home, but the canyon is also the site of one of the darkest moments for Native Americans. FOR CABIN/PAVILION/GROUP HALL: Work Locations: SP-Palo Duro Canyon SP 11450 Park Road 5 Canyon 79015. Throughout the park, you may spot woodpeckers, road runners, lizards, and prairie dogs while hiking about. Learn about being a work camper and work camping jobs on our Work Camping Jobs page. Go East on Hwy 217 for 10 miles to the park entrance. There are many great places to stay but the best way is to camp out under the stars. (806) 452-9844. bradley.kliemann@tpwd.texas.gov. Stay in one of three cabins on the canyons rim or four Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. From Lubbock: Take I 27 North to Hwy 217 exit 106 at Canyon. Copyright 2022 Aperture Adventure. Visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park; experience the canyon's rugged beauty and enjoy its colorful history. One of our favorite hikes was a backcountry horseback riding trail that runs approximately 1.6 miles from the equestrian area and old west stables at Palo Duro State Park. The canyon is also home to reptiles including snakes so be careful while hiking. Apache Indians lived in Palo Duro at the time, but they were later displaced by Comanche and Kiowa tribes, who had the advantage of owning horses brought over by the Spanish. Spearing, Darwin. The Grand Canyon of Texas has 16 marked hiking trails ranging from easy, half-mile paths to longer trails that can connect to one another through winding rock formations. Palo Duro Canyon State Park. There are 16 trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, ranging in length from .05 miles to 4.4 miles. Unlike other parks where the campgrounds are surprisingly lackluster, every campsite has a stellar view of the canyon. Contact the park, or check our Facebook page, for trail status. The tribes fled, but the U.S. forces shot and killed their 1,400 ponies and burned all the winter supplies, leaving the families no choice but to surrender and return to the reservation. The trail is mostly flat and travels over a sandy surface, and then halfway on the Juniper Cliffside Trail there is a spur trail that leads to a scenic overlook. Again, always bring enough water, especially during the warmer months. One minute, youre staring at plains; the next, the earth opens up into a wide panorama of colors, canyons, cliff walls, and knee-shaking vistas. Palo Duro Canyon State Park. You can see birds and animals including quails, wild turkeys, woodpeckers, roadrunners, sheep, bobcats, coyotes, mule deer, white-tailed deer, skunk, and rabbits. The Palo Duro Canyon Road Trip Guide - Drivin' & Vibin' GPS Info. Camp, geocache, study nature or bird watch. Septarian calcite concretions and calcite geodes are numerous, and the shale forms the less steep canyon walls covered by talus slopes. 20 sites are available, each with a fire ring, picnic table, water, and electricity. The trail is well-maintained but be on the lookout for a couple of creek crossings where the trail is more obscure in areas. The 4.4-mile Lower Comanche Trail connects to the 3.3-mile Upper Comanche Trail for a nice hike that runs through most of Palo Duro State Park. Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas - Camping & Reservations. Best Wildlife Trails in Palo Duro Canyon State Park - AllTrails.com Follow Park Regulations: Visitors should follow all park regulations regarding wildlife, including keeping a safe distance and properly disposing of food waste. (806) 452-9844. bradley.kliemann@tpwd.texas.gov. Self Guided Scavenger Hunt and Private Walking Tour in Heidelberg. We spent a long, spring weekend at Palo Duro Canyon, which offers long, challenging hiking trails, flat scenic walks, stunning views, historical sites and markers, horseback riding, and a variety of camping. This route combines two trails to form a loop starting from Wolfberry Campground. Self-guided Tours. Fri, May 26, 2023. 3 is titled "Palo Duro Canyon." Other species include wild turkey, white tail and mule deer, barbary sheep, coyotes, cottontail rabbits, roadrunners, and western diamondback rattlesnakes. It also becomes so narrow that there are steep drop-offs and views on both sides of the trail. Palo Duro Canyon is a canyon system of the Caprock Escarpment located in the Texas Panhandle near the cities of Amarillo and Canyon. Upper Comanche The 6.6 mile round-trip trail is in the heart of Comanche territory that takes you across the ancient river that has shaped this canyon. Darton, N.H. 1898. It was formed by millions of years of water erosion by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and the West Texas wind. Download to Your Calendar. Learn about birds or Longhorn cattle, or take a driving tour with a park ranger. The Cow Camp Cabins are seven unique structures built by the CCC in 1933. Free. Sky Guide Hike Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This trail is 9.3 km long with an elevation gain of 159 m. According to AllTrails.com, the longest wildlife trail in Palo Duro Canyon State Park is Rock Garden to Fortress Bluff Trail. 3459'05"N, 10142'06"W. From Amarillo: . Required fields are marked *. Readily accessible by car or motorhome and only 25 miles from downtown Amarillo and 14 miles from the Mainstreet town of Canyon, Palo Duro Canyon is the most spectacular and scenic landscape feature in the Texas Panhandle. We started on the Givens, Spicer, and Lowery Trail, a 3.1-mile singletrack path that leads to the Red Star Ridge. Reserve campsites as early as possible, especially for holiday and summer weekends. In 1934, the upper section of the canyon was purchased by the State of Texas and turned it into the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. But if youre not near the Grand Canyon of Texas, there are plenty of equally amazing parks in the Lone Star State worth exploring too! [6] A prominent band of jointed white sandstone about 15ft (5m) thick marks the middle of this 200ft (60m) formation. 2h 20m. Rock Garden to Fortress Bluff Trail boasts the most elevation gain for wildlife trails with 349 m of total ascent. According to Texas State Parks, Palo Duro Canyon has been inhabited for about 12,000 years, starting with the Clovis and Folsom peoples, who hunted herds of mammoth and giant bison. The Comanche and Kiowa conceded and left the area. The Flora and Fauna of Palo Duro Canyon. PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT, Canyon, TX Sign up for our Free Work Camper Jobs newsletter and we'll let you know when we've posted new jobs to the website. With a descent of some 800 feet to the canyon floor and more than 16 miles of paved road, Palo Duro Canyon State Park offers fantastic scenic views, historical sites and markers, picnic tables, public restrooms and showers, miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, horseback riding, a souvenir shop with grill, and a variety of camping & (806) 452-9844. bradley.kliemann@tpwd.texas.gov. Each glamping site is fully furnished with air conditioning, luxury rustic furnishings, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, games, bicycles, gas grills and gas fire pits, covered porches with rockers, porch swings, and much more. Average rainfall is 20.6 inches. The park's isolated location is a big reason for this, although that isolation is also part of the appeal. Palo Duro Canyon - Wikipedia Download to Your Calendar. THE Palo Duro Van Tour Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Beat the heat with a drive through Palo Duro Canyon from the comfort of our van. "[25], American composer Samuel Jones's Symphony No. Which wildlife trail has the most elevation gain in Palo Duro Canyon State Park? Native Americans were attracted to the water of the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, as well as the consequent ample game, edible plants, and protection from the weather the canyon provided. per adult. Learn about the bison who once roamed Palo Duro Canyon and their many uses to the Comanche People. Palo Duro Canyon has a semi-arid climate with cool winters and hot summers. There can often be loose rock on the trail, and it is recommended to wear proper footwear. Wildlife, plantlife, and scenic diversity abound. Where is the best wildlife trail to hike in Palo Duro Canyon State Park? 2. The Lighthouse Trailhead has an information board and parking, but this is also the busiest hiking trail in Palo Duro State Park during the high season. The park is open year-round and offers a variety of programs and events for visitors of all ages. Visit our Events page for upcoming programs. Canyon, TX Bradley Kliemann. Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map. September 30, 2022 - No ash-producing fires are allowed, including wood or charcoal. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Visitors may spot bobcats, coyotes, and a variety of birds along this scenic trail. This hike provides great exercise with a few hills, but isnt too difficult. [7], The Trujillo Formation is a Triassic formation that is harder than the underlying Tecovas and forms many of the Canyon's ledges. [20], Group sites and spaces are available for group retreats, youth groups, and weddings. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) spent five years building the infrastructure of the park, and today, that legacy can be seen in what is now the visitor center, the cabins on the rim and canyon floor, and the trails. The 28,000-acre park opened in 1934. (806) 452-9844. bradley.kliemann@tpwd.texas.gov. All 200. Heide writes for numerous national and international publications and is an award-winning member of the Society for Professional Journalists, North American Travel Journalists Association, and Society of American Travel Writers. Exploring The Grand Canyon Of Texas With Your Pet: What You Need To Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas - Campsite Electric. If you yearn to try mountain biking in this west Texas landscape, Palo Duro has a few mountain biking trails that offer views and a challenge. Support state parks by donating to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation. Juniper Cliffside The Juniper/Cliffside Trail is 6 miles round trip and has some decent views of the valley and percolation caves, which were carved by moving water in the sides of the cliffs. Despite being home to the second-largest canyon in the country, Palo Duro Canyon State Park often flies under the radar for many travelers. The canyons provide homes to deer, coyotes, bobcats, pronghorn antelopes, foxes, raccoons and jackrabbits, while Mexican free-tailed bats roost in the Trailway's Clarity Tunnel. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. The park has other horseback trails open to all users, including the Juniper Cliffside Trail (about six miles round-trip) and the Lighthouse Trail (about six miles round-trip). We often reach capacity, and recommend reservations for both camping and day use. Ride on trails through 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. From bison and deer to birds of prey and snakes, theres something for everyone to enjoy. Trails and backpack campsites may close due to wet weather or poorconditions. There are beautiful viewpoints along the entirety of the trail, and a decent amount of elevation gain is broken up between many switchbacks. Passerina ciris. Use landmarks to navigate fresh content. Mesquite Campground. The last 200 yards heading up to the lighthouse are #5 - Givens, Spicer & Lowry Trail to the Lighthouse Trail and Paseo del Rio. Always carry plenty of water with you. Explore the most popular wildlife trails in Palo Duro Canyon State Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. The drive through the flat, scrubby panhandle terrain gave no hint at the fact that a canyon that dips 800 feet down in places even exists out here in the dusty west. The Hackberry Campsite at Palo Duro State Park has 32 sites and is the second public campsite youll come across after entering the park. Composed of coarse sandstone, river cross-bedding indicates deposition in a stream environment. Join us in celebrating 100 years of Texas State Parks with an evening of s'mores. The weather doesnt get as hot as it does during summertime in the Texas Panhandle, and its not as crowded. 11450 Park Road 5 This trail is estimated to be 15.1 km long. January average low is 19 degrees. Information: 806-488-2227. Palo Duro Canyon has several geocaching sites to discover. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. Palo Duro Canyon State Park. Beautifully situated inside the park, three are on the canyon rim and four on the canyon floor. Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1991. Visit our Volunteer page and search by zip code (79015) to see how you can help. Please input the date in MM dash DD dash YYYY format. We tackled the challenging and steep 2.4-mile Rock Garden Trail, which connects with the 3.7-mile Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail, where we spotted herds of aoudads and even two coyotes running through the brush. With more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails, outdoor adventurers can stay busy studying nature, birdwatching, hiking, or just taking in the scenery during a day trip from Amarillo. You may use containerized fuel stoves with a shut-off valve or on/off switch for cooking. Whether you are visiting for the day or overnight, you will need a reservation. The Mack Dick Pavilion is a popular location for weddings and receptions, as the canyon provides a beautiful backdrop. In particular, this alternating red and white formation forms the steep and gullied lower portion of the north flank of Timber Mesa, with the maroon and lavender smooth slopes of the Tecovas Shale above. Please use a JavaScript enabled browser in order to access the full functionality of this site. Water erosion over the millennia has shaped the canyon's geological formations. "[26] A KACV-TV documentary on the canyon, composer, and symphony, titled And There Will Be Sounds, was broadcast on PBS stations nationally later that year; and a commercial recording was subsequently released by the Seattle Symphony under the baton of Gerard Schwarz. You can also receive discounts on camping, park store merchandise, equipment rental discounts, eligibility for other specials. There are the basic camping essentials you need no matter where you are camping, but each location has its unique needs. #3 - Lighthouse Trail via Givens, Spicer, and Lowry Trail. Palo Duro Canyon (from the Spanish meaning "hard stick")[2] has been named "The Grand Canyon of Texas" both for its size and for its dramatic geological features, including the multicolored layers of rock and steep mesa walls, which are similar to those in the Grand Canyon. [7], The Tecovas Formation is a part of the Dockum Group with the Trujillo Formation. Palo Duro Canyon, located in the Texas Panhandle, is a stunning natural wonder that is often referred to as the " Grand Canyon of Texas." This spectacular landscape is home to an array of wildlife and provides visitors with a breathtaking view of its majestic red cliffs and deep canyons.