Exploring Palo Duro Canyon: Where to Stay, Eat and Adventure in Texas’ Grand Canyon

Expansive views, rugged trails and striking red rock formations define Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the United States. Located in the Texas panhandle, this stunning landscape offers an unforgettable outdoor escape with opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding and star gazing. Driving toward the canyon, the flat plains of West Texas give little indication of what lies ahead. Then suddenly, the earth opens into a breathtaking chasm of red, yellow and white rock layers. This natural wonder has been home to prehistoric hunters, Native American tribes, European explorers and cattlemen.

Exploring the trails

A visit to Palo Duro Canyon State Park isn’t complete without hitting the trails. The most popular hike is the Lighthouse Trail, a 2.8-mile out-and-back trek leading to the canyons and iconic Lighthouse rock formation. The moderate trail turns challenging at the final stretch, where a short but steep incline rewards hikers with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape.

For mountain bikers, Capital Peak Trail is a 3.5-mile loop offering varied terrain and stunning Canyon scenery. The trail caters to all skill levels, with designated routes marked as easy, moderate and difficult.

Spring and fall are ideal times to explore the canyon when temperatures are mild, late winter and early spring also offer great conditions. Cooler weather makes long hikes more comfortable and the park tends to be less crowded. Summer visits require extra caution, as temperatures can soar past 100 degrees Fahrenheit, regardless of the season, water, sunscreen and layered clothing are essential. The Texas Panhandle is one of the windiest regions in the country, so visitors should be prepared for gusty conditions.

A rich history and diverse wildlife

Palo Duro Canyon has been inhabited for roughly 12,000 years, first by the Clovis and Folsom peoples, who hunted mammoth and giant bison. Later, Apache, Comanche and Kiowa communities utilized the canyon’s abundant resources, leaving behind rock art and grinding mortars. In September 1874, Palo Duro Canyon was the site of a pivotal battle in the Red River War, when Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie led a surprise attack on a Plains Indian encampment. This event marked the conflict’s turning point, ultimately leading to the relocation of the tribes.

Cattle ranching followed, with Charles Goodnight and John Adair establishing the JA Ranch in 1877, which at its peak grazed 100,000 cattle across 1.3 million acres. The land was later acquired by the state in 1933 and with the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps, Palo Duro Canyon State Park officially opened in 1934.

Palo Duro Canyon is home to diverse wildlife, including wild turkeys, white-tailed and mule deer, coyotes, bobcats and road runners. It also shelters two threatened species, the Palo Duro mouse and the Texas horned lizard.