On a work trip in Amarillo and thought I would do some sight seeing. A short 30 minute drive to the state park was worth it. A day pass is $8.00 and is good till 10:00PM (you can leave and come back). They give you a map as well. You can drive the whole thing and see a lot from your car. There's also plenty of pull-offs for picture opportunities. For ones that like hiking, there's plenty of that there. I'm not big into hiking, and I also didn't pack to do so. Lol. There is cave you see from the road, and if you want you can do a short hike to it. I wasn't on planning really hiking anywhere but this was short enough. Easy to get up, going down you have to be a lil careful. Good place for pictures too. Camping ground are available too. Anyways, if you're in town visiting or never have been there, I definitely recommend it! read more

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What's not to say about the beauty and splendor in this state park. You can spend a drive through or many hours or days here. When when we went, it poured for 20 minutes which added to the ambiance when the sun popped through and created many rainbows. read more

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Parks Near Me - Canyon, Texas

Palo Duro Canyon State park is near Amarillo Texas. It's the second largest canyon in the United States. It's 27,173 acres 120 miles and 600 to 800 ft deep. But you can only drive 16 miles on a paved road. Then you turn around and drive back. Palo Duro Canyon State Park officially opened on July 4,1934 and it cost $8.00 a person to enter. You can camp in tents-RVs with electricity and water. Also rental cabins that look pretty cool overlooking the canyon. Picnic tables and various locations over 40 miles of hiking and biking trails. They have stables with guided horseback rides. Parks Museum store has exhibits about history, geology, and wildlife. They have a natural observatory for birdwatching. And a trading post with restaurant and a park store. During the summer hours an open air outdoor drama theater nestled at the foothills of the cliff. This is a beautiful state park and we're glad we seen it. read more

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Awesome because you can drive thru without leaving car and we have a senior dog so it was great Also there was a heat advisory so you couldn't hike if you wanted to Only $8 pp but seniors are $4 for two, get the state park card with unlimited visits AC gift and historic museum store and clean restrooms throughout the park Beautiful scenery 2nd largest canyon on USA One of the ending scenes of Indiana Jones was shot here Go inside welcome center and talk to staff, very knowledgeable Would return when cool to horseback ride read more

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Great views! I would've never known about this area if I wouldn't have seen it on the map while traveling, glad to have seen it! It's well worth the drive from Amarillo, the pictures I have are not in awe compared to the breathtaking views it provides in person! read more

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Canyon overlook - Parks Near Me - Canyon, Texas

we drove from Fort Worth to Amarillo to visit the canyon. Allow me to tell you outside of the Grand Canyon. This is beautiful awesome breathtaking It is just amazing. well worth the trip and spending the weekend there. It was just amazing the beautifulness of it all. read more

Such an amazing place! Great trails and great views! Breathtaking! There was an even a cafe in the park that had really great burgers. The ladies in the gift shop were super sweet. Just make sure you book your pass ahead of time since time slots can sell out. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Palo Duro Canyon genuinely surprised me. The moment you drive down into the canyon, the massive red rock walls feel almost cinematic. Sunrise and sunset are unreal. Everything glows in warm orange and pink tones. Grounding. Refreshing. Recommended. read more

My husband is a 100% disabled Veteran. Upon entering the park, the woman at the entrance said we could come in and get a lifetime free pass for all Texas State parks. He parked and went in. The lady in there said there was no such thing and charged us $16 to get in. She dismissed him as a waste of time and refused to look at the veteran documentation. The next day we went to Caprocks Canyon State Park (1 hr. away), and they gave us the free lifetime pass. The trails were better maintained, the views were even better than Palo Duro, and the staff there was very friendly and helpful. Next time, we'll skip Palo Duro and go to Caprocks. read more

The scenery is, indeed, beautiful. However, the signage leaves a LOT to be desired. Trailheads are not marked from the main road, so you have to guess where to park and how to get to your desired trail. It seems the main focus is the show and chuckwagon meal, which we did decades ago. As a Texas State Park, I would expect more user- friendly trail signage. Bring your bug spray, as the mosquitoes and biting flies are vicious. Texas, you can do better! Label the trails!! read more

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Parks Near Me - Canyon, Texas

Amazing views, the weather cooperated with us and was cool when the Sun went down. No burn ban currently so every morning had a fire cause it was so cold. Bathrooms and showers were clean. The park is nice and there are lots of trails, from easy to hard. Cave is right off the road towards the end of the park. The Cowboy dugout is off of the road but no parking so have to hike a ways. Everything is green right now with all the spring rains. I do recommend the light house trail. At the end it gets fun and is amazing. Getting there is relatively flat and no shade so get an early start. Do not wait till 11 or noon to start. And take plenty of water. At the trail head is a large parking lot and water bottle refill station. The restaurant and store boasts world famous hamburgers. I don't know if it was that good but it is pretty good. The store has ice cream scoops or you can get commercial ice cream pops and sandwiches. Lots of campsites throughout park with electricity and water or tent camp water only. It has been a great experience so far. I recommend renting a camper from someone in Amarillo and paying the $150 to have them set it up and take it down. That is the way to camp! I showed up, camped and then left. read more

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I decided to stay in Amarillo, Texas and explore the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. An amazingly large State Park. Admission was only $5 because a lot of it was closed due to all the rain they've had here. We were still dodging tornadoes yesterday in Amarillo. But I got in a good 3-hour exploration of this state park. The colors were incredible, they had lots of cliffs. Normally they had a lot of hiking trails but they were closed because of the rain. There was tons of camping of all kinds with the winnebago's all the way down to pup tents. Lots of camping for a state park. An incredible variety of wildflowers and cacti, which you will see in the pictures. The biggest surprise was this giant "big cave" which was not in any of the literature or on the map. A fun surprise! On the way home I passed some incredible cattle and got some really good shots of them. I had a fun a fun day. Enjoy read more

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WOW!!! What a beautiful place! We drove through the park and the sights are breath taking. Lots of places to pull over and get a better view. They also have little cabins that can be rented out. Being in the canyon and looking up was amazing as well. Will say be cautious when driving the roads are narrow, curvy and steep. Definitely a must see. read more

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ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!! This was well worth the trip from Houston. A stunning geological formation only second to the Grand Canyon. We decided to hike the 3 miles to the Lighthouse in the beating sun. Word of advice, take plenty of water. You can never have too much. And do not over exert yourself, conserve energy. I would highly recommend this to everyone. What are you waiting for? Pack up the truck and take a road trip! read more

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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. read more

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Natural beauty and peaceful environment to enjoy!!! Facilities were clean and operated as needed. Such amazing views and not too strenuous!! I love love LOVE it and so did my family!!! Definitely want to come back!! read more

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Totally worth a visit. So glad we visited the 2nd largest cannon in the US. It's great that you can drive into the canyon so you experience the top view and bottom views. We had young kids so this made it more accessible to us. Not a lot of shade so make sure you park your sunscreen. read more

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Another easy five star review. Out of all the times, we decided to come to Palo Duro canyon state park. We got lucky well really unlucky and the trails were closed due to heavy rain. However, we were still able to visit the park driving our vehicle and we were able to get some very nice pictures and see some very nice views. We were really hoping to be able to walk some trails but the heavy rain flooded out a lot of the trails and they were closed. I can't remember if we came back during the night time but we were supposed to so we can out the stars but I just don't remember at this point. If you happen to be in the area I definitely suggest check it out this Canyon. It's the second largest canyon in the United States only behind the Grand Canyon. A very nice hidden gem in Texas. read more

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I love this park! It is small enough to enjoy a short stop and has such great views! Both the state run Gift store and information center and the small cafe deeper within the park are great resources. It was rainy and we couldn't get on ten trails, but I will in the future. This park is a must do! read more

Keep this place a secret! It is beautiful, the roads are well maintained, and there a ton of shops. You should spend as much time here as possible. read more

We had a great time walking and biking around this beautiful state park. The sights are level, very clean and some are spaced a little farther apart than others but you can't go wrong with any of the sights. WiFi is a toss up. I have AT&T I had 2 bars. My husband has version and he didn't have a signal at all. read more

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Parks Near Me - Canyon, Texas

Palo Duro Canyon State Park... It is just outside of Amarillo, Texas. The last time I was here I was probably eight or nine years old. Fast forward about 30 years and I brought my daughters, ages 8 and 9. On October 9, 2022, we first drove through the entire park. It doesn't take very long. First, we decided to pick up some souvenirs & lunch takeout from the Trading Post. Then we hiked the "Sunflower Trail." This was a great (maybe a little too easy) hike for my girls. The day before it rained pretty much all day long. This allowed the rain desert dust to settle and a much crisper, beautiful landscape to shine through. Next, we ventured over to the visitor's center where I had my kids ask the park ranger for a form to fill out in hopes of them earning a badge/pin - in which they answered everything correctly. Can't wait 'til my girls get bigger so they can do even more difficult trails, etc. #PaloDuroCanyon #PaloDuroCanyonStatePark #StatePark #Canyons #CanyonLand #TakeMeToTexas #AmarilloTX #Texas #JenniInTexas #JenniInTheUSA read more

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In the month of December is a perfect time to go to the park. Not hot at all. The observation deck for birds was superb. Food was placed by worker and there were re so many birds eating and drinking at the waterhole. The little waterfall attracts the birds. We stayed for a long time. Took a short hike down a trail. So relaxing. And we wee told we did not need to worry about rattle snakes since it's too cold enjoyed our time. We recommend it read more

This was probably one of the most epic places I've ever been. Definitely recommend hands-down don't waste one minute get here as quick as you can. You can camp hike rent jeeps to go through the canyon ride horses the possibilities are endless!!! Such great history here absolutely fell in love with the place and I cannot wait to take everyone I know back. read more

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Stunning landscapes, tons of wildlife. The trading post at the bottom of the canyon has cold AC and really tasty burgers and such. Surprisingly well priced, I might add. The gift shop is pretty extensive and there is a ton of camping supplies available as well, including propane. Highly recommend taking this excursion if you are traveling. read more

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This is the second largest canyon in the nation next to, of course, the Grand Canyon. Words and pictures cannot do it Justice. It is $5 per person to get in, which is extremely reasonable considering how much time you can spend here. I only had a few hours so I spent most of my time driving up and down through its scenery. Extremely impressive is the infrastructure developed in the 1930s by the CIvilian Conservation Corps. The CCC developed roads, structures, and overlooks designed to both preserve the integrity of the park and attract visitors. Coming here in November, the weather was ideal for exploration. The few times I did get out and hoof it - I felt very comfortable in the slightly brisk air. The leaves were turning and lit up the canyon floor in an array of blazing colors. I can't wait to come back and actually spend some time. I have a work trip coming up in April and am curious to get back and see how the weather is then for further exploration of this majestic and unique area. read more

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This was a cherry on top on how to end 2023. We hiked to the lighthouse which was 4 hours round trip. It was worth it!! We started at 9am to run into less people. It was in the 30's but would take that temp than the summer temps. It felt warmer than that because we're hiking and climbing. We checked out a couple more trails and ca es but the one complaint I have is that this state park needs to be better marked. We spent more times looking because it was horribly marked or not marked at all. Make sure you take water and a day pack with snacks while exploring this park. We were treated well and hope to be back soon. read more

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Fun hiking & gorgeous views. Such a surprise to find this place out in the Texas desert. Plan for the heat - go early in the day & bring lots of water. Watch out for tarantulas. They are not typically dangerous, but just know you might see them, especially in the summer. We saw a lot of them. read more

Fun guided hike with our no defunct hiking group. I miss you guys (Hike Your Own Hike--HYOH). read more

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EVERYONE MUST COME HERE!!! As hokey as it sounds, it is equally true--- One of the most breath-taking views I've had the pleasure of witnessing in my own beautiful state of TX! PLEASE. Do yourself. Your family. Your pets. Your friend. A favor... TAKE THEM HERE PRONTO!!! *But read warnings & directions for safe hiking 1st!!! read more

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Beautiful! Easy and long hikes. Crazy views, and the wind is wonderful in places. Must try the lighthouse trail and climb up. It was a 6.2mile hike by the time we went from parking and back and only 200ft elevation gain. So hike-able for all experience. Stop at visitor center first and check out the over view and you'll appreciate the hike so much more! Covered so little of this large canyon system, makes u feel so small and really resets your perception of existence on the great big Earth Not far from Amarillo ~30min give or take exact location read more

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Campsites were clean. Restrooms were hot (expected since it was 100F at the time of our visit )but clean. Hiked Paseo Del Rio trail which was nice (some puddles from previous nights rain) & well marked. Camp host was nice. Icecream at the Trading post was spot on read more

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Moon rise - Parks Near Me - Canyon, Texas

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Absolutely beautiful drive. I would definitely take some water with me when I go. They do have several bathrooms and water stations throughout the entire park but it does get quite hot down in the canyon. Please obey the speed limits because you'll probably see several deer highly recommend. There are also designated tent, camping areas and hook up areas to be able to camp in the canyons overnight. I believe there are also some cabins. I believe for most of the spots you will need to make a reservation. For a day trip though there's a lot of lovely picnic areas. On added note is it cost $8.00 per person to go in. I believe children under 12 are free. But if you think about it, the price is well worth it to help maintain this beautiful, remarkable acts of nature. read more

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Have spent the equivalent of months in Palo Duro. For 3-years in the 70's I had offices in both Lubbock and "rilla", rotating weekly. Lived in Lubbock, PD was my "after work" playground, every other week when, I worked the Amarillo office. Hiked everywhere in the park, up, down and sideways. It remains, 50+ years later, one of my top favorite places on the planet. GOD will talk back to you, if you listen!" read more

Beautiful. Eye dropping gorgouse. Go after a hoilday. Less people same experience. Will go there again and again. Had the best time.

Stellar Canyon Park. You can stay there, bike or hike and ... if you'd rather drive through and still get the most amazing pictures. Geologist dream visit. Go in the Feb /March time frame and it won't be so hot. Cost person is very reasonable. read more

Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Goodnight bluff - Parks Near Me - Canyon, Texas

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What a wonderful surprise! We cannot wait to come back in the summer and enjoy the beautiful looking cabins! We did a wonderful hike and felt like we far away from home and civilization! read more

Clean campsites and restrooms. Hot showers!! Nice drive into the canyon. Lots of hikes to choose from. read more

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Second time I visited the park. We stayed at the cow cabin #2. The rim cabins are all still under "remodel" of the water lines/pipes. The cow cabin we stayed was very rustic and cute. We had to make reservations months in advance. There is electricity, fireplace and an air conditioner but no bathrooms or a real kitchen just a microwave and a small fridge. They are very private, located with some distance from each other, what I consider a plus. They are very reasonably priced, that is probably what makes it so hard to book them. The rangers were friendly and the park was overall well maintained in terms of roads and cleanliness. Bathrooms were ok, shower was working fine, and there was toilet paper everyone I went there! The trails I hiked were also well maintained. The lighthouse is so much more in person then on pictures! The hike in seemed to be harder then the hike back! read more

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absolute must see! texas version of the grand canyon. great hiking paths and views! lovely spot read more

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