Palo Duro Canyon State Park

This is a wonderful and amazing State Park. U can drive through and dont even have to get out of your car if you dont want to. But if you do there are great walking trails and beautiful scenic views. The artists love stepping our and making masterpieces. I see why they call this the Grand Canyon of Texas. During the week is the best time to visit. There are cabins and camping available. Also a beautiful pavilion fir your next reunion or party.

TEXAS GRAND CANYON Incredible Beautiful views and trails! Camped out here for the weekend and really enjoyed the place; good campsites for tents and RVs. There is an indoor restroom with toilets and showers, very clean, and warm during the colder seasons. Friendly staff with informative hiking trails that had mile markers set along the paths. Well kept, clean, organized and fun state park.

Gorgeous, breathtaking, incredible, wonderful, glorious, beautiful, fun, unforgettable, and wondrous - just to list a few of the Palo Duro Canyon State Parks qualities! This historic park boasts the second largest canyon in the United States, and is one of the most beautiful painted canyons in the world. The bright reds & layers of other colors are so rich that they transform throughout the day as the suns angle changes; even the awesome shadows in the valley are phenomenally colorful despite the low-light. There are numerous camping, parking, picnicking, and rest areas along the park road. The park store has great souvenirs and WORLD FAMOUS burgers. From a hiking perspective, the trails are well kept, very clean, and open for foot & bike traffic; dogs are also welcome if leashed. The rangers are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.. they will make sure you have enough water & sunscreen before you head down the trails. The highlight of the park is the Lighthouse Trail that leads all the way up to a stone platform between two of the highest points in the canyon. The views from there are indescribable. The park is only 6 hours from DFW so its possible to do as a day trip; however, I recommend getting on the trail early in the morning to experience the sunrise & less heat. Staying in Amarillo overnight is inexpensive and then you can spend the whole day exploring mother natures glory!

Amazing park! Most things were closed while we were there in June, but it was an amazing experience with my kids. Im not sure if this is relevant anymore, but make sure you make your reservation online.Definitely going back as much as possible. The Comanche trail was no joke!! Gotta finish it next time!

Absolutely stunning! Long-ish hikes but great photo ops. RV and tent camping available inside the canyon. Super clean. So much to do. One of the best state parks in the US.

This is one of the most beautiful places on earth. You have go to go and climb the Lighthouse. Wear boots to prevent twisted ankles. My wife and I are in pretty good shape and we drank 3 bottles of water but brought 6. So we had plenty. It was 90 degrees down in the bottom of the canyon. I hope you enjoy the pics.

We did the whole lighthouse trail. Start early it takes 4 hours plus for average family with kids. It’s round trip around 7 miles. The last climb on the hill is bit steep but doable easily. Camping was a great experience though it’s better to keep some sort of coyote repellant or be at least cognizant of them. We saw one on the trail during day time but at night they were howling very close to camp and was a bit scary for my son. But hey, It’s their land :) camping site had electricity and water though water had warning signs that’s it’s not drinkable.

This Canyon has the prettiest views in Texas! Possibly the country. Seriously breathtaking. Also if you are like me and like to mountain bike this is the place you want to do it in Texas! Incredible trails difficult and novice. Incredible views and plenty of adrenaline rushes. I covered most of the park over two rides in 3 days over thanksgiving weekend. I could have done it all in 3 rides. It is $8 per person and they do accept credit cards at the gate. Here is a trick of the trade, you can book and pay for your entrance fees online in advance. You might want to do this on holiday weekends because the park will fill up and they do turn people away! When I biked Thanksgiving day I was going to come back on black Friday and they were already full.

Beautiful park! Easy access and super friendly rangers. The lighthouse hike was simply gorgeous and very easy walk apart from the very last part that includes some scrambling.If you’re camping in the park I recommend the juniper camp site showers that are new and very spacious. Great visit would love to come back!

What a unique and wonderful place to visit!!! Our only disappointment was the numbered features on the map arent marked in the park, so we missed a few.Great visitor center. Theres an hour long video about the history of the park.Visited on Nov. 2, so pleasant weather.

This was our first time at this park. We really had a great trip. Spent five nights. Great hikes. Only downside is biting flies. We saw mule deer, turkeys, roadrunners and a lot of beautiful country. Highly recommend.

This was our first time at this State park and we loved it. Planning to come next March for their Dark Nights event. Place is not only beautiful but it has super clean restrooms. We camped at Sagebrush and we had a great experience. Next day we had the chance to chat with one of the park rangers and she gave us lot of advice for our next visit. If you love camping I highly recommend you to come to this place

For years weve driven past, but we seized the moment today and drove through. Its beautiful and definitely worth a weekend trip. There is lodging available or you can bring your own. Plenty of hiking and biking or you can take a jeep or zip line tour.

Amazing!! Great natural wonders all around a fine park with numerous campsites, gift shop, day use parking, and miles of awesome trails! One of the best parks in the Country!

I highly recommend coming here! The admission is very reasonable. I would recommend coming here during a cooler time of the year because otherwise you will cook under the sun. Some of the trails are really long but you can reasonably come here and not hike too much.

This place is BEAUTIFUL!! Couple of things to note:1) Be sure to make a reservation BEFORE you arrive! Even just for a one day hike visit.2) Arrive early so you can take your time. There’s a lot to see.3) There’s plenty of restrooms, stops, and scenic views.4) Highly recommend!

This is a difficult review because relative to the surrounding area this park deserves a 5 star for beauty, but when compared to Zion, Bryce, Yosemite or GC, its a 3 star. If this area was in Utah it wouldnt be a park. That being said, we had a great time. The vistas were impressive and the road was in great condition. Not having ever visited the Texas panhandle I was amazed by the contrast with the surrounding area. The water level measure stations in the bottom of the canyon indicated that they can get some serious floods. As we drove deeper into the canyon the temperature warmed up and it was not as windy as up on the plateau. If visiting the area I would suggest stopping or if you live in the panhandle take advantage of the hiking opportunities. The gift shop had a lot of cool goodies, but they tended to be more expensive than we found at the national park visitor centers. Admission was $8 per person. Pricey for a 1 hour drive thru the park, but reasonable if you plan to spend more time in the park.Highly recommend.

Spent one night here on the way out of the state to Colorado. Easy to get to, campsite had water and electric, the views were very scenic. The park is relatively small; that said, there is plenty of hiking/biking opportunities and navigating the place is straight forward. Be prepared for the bugs, they are everywhere (part of the charm).

Another awesome place for hiking and camping. Made a reservation online @ Texas Parks and Wildlife website for a day pass $8/person. Will be back to try the jeep/horseback riding tour. Fall and Spring would be nice time when its a cool weather ;)

A great place to enjoy the outdoors with your family. There is a nice little creek that runs through the bottom of the canyon . Lots of wildlife you can see up close, wild turkeys came through our campsite several mornings, deer and Buffalo are plentiful. There is food and ice available near the campsites. Lots of trails for every level of enthusiasts. Horse stables. You can rent a horse to ride in the park.

Awesome vistas. Try the in the park glamping. Their setup looked great.

Absolute must see the Grand Canyon of Texas. Breathtaking views at every turn. We went thru quickly and it took us 4 hours to see just whats off the main road! Definitely coming back to camp and any other chance we get such an awesome state park in Texas!!!

Loved this place to hike. Lots of trails. There is a bathroom next to the entrance. $8 per adult. Not sure about child. Make sure to make reservations during COVID online.

The view was amazing and there is lots of trails. If you come I highly recommend the Lighthouse Trail. At the end of the trail there is a scenic viewing area.

Really fun state park to go and explore. The scenery is beautiful. Hiking trails are very well marked. Awesome place to take kids. Well worth the drive from Amarillo. I highly recommend a day trip to Palo Duro Canyon.

The nicest part is the overlook where you can ride a horse, right before the entrance.

Very peaceful and you can CAMP in the canyon! Perfect stop if youre headed to see Cadillac Ranch

Enjoying the majesty of God in this place. Men should feel small here. Beautiful place. When you reach the bottom, enjoy the burgers and onion rings.

Amazing place! Did not know that such place exists in Texas! We hiked along the lighthouse trail, it was super hot, so I suggest if you are planning on hiking, start really early in the morning. But otherwise, phenomenal experience. The stuff was super nice as well, will definitely revisit in future for hiking.

Amazing place! Pictures dont describe the beauty here. This is Texass Grand Canyon.

Something for everyone. Hiking biking horse trails. Great way to spend a day or bring your camping stuff and stay longer.

Photos don’t do this place justice. Trails are awesome and even a noob cyclist can enjoy *some* of them. Facilities are top notch. Highly recommend and worth the trip.

March trip at the canyon was perfect. The weather was in the 60s and the trails were doable. The Lighthouse trail was easy for kids and the Goodnight cabin we stayed in had amazing views. Would definitely come back and try a few more trails.

This canyon is majestic. So beautiful with plenty of trails and sites to see. Perfect for families and the outdoor type.

Amazing state park! Beautiful desert canyon filled with wonderful views and fun creatures. Definitely worth a visit!

An experience of a lifetime. Lots of geology and sacred terrain. Though mountain bikers have pulverized the main Lighthouse trail into a gully the width of a semi-truck, we found some less trodden trails and really enjoyed them. The scenery is spectacular. We went in March and the weather was perfect. The campsites and restrooms were very well maintained and spacious. Top notch.

Beautiful park. Did the lighthouse trail and had a great time. Great sights and the lighthouse rock formation is worth the 2.7 mile hike for sure. If in the area definitely stop by.

Breathtaking views and many hiking trails of different difficulty levels for the novice or expert hiker. Give this park a few days if you want to see everything. The lighthouse trail alone is 6 miles roundtrip. Take lots of water, especially on hot days.

We spent 8 days here hiking and enjoying the park. Spectacular place. We are already planning a trip back.

The Grand Canyon of Texas lives up to its name. Isolated in the north area of Texas, there’s hiking, horseback riding, sunsets and camping, complete with water and electric hookups. Gorgeous overlooks and the famous lighthouse hike. Staff around the park is friendly and helpful. Bring lots of water!!! Don’t over look this park on your tour of Texas.

The only negative thing I can say, is I literally didn’t have enough time to explore this gorgeous park. Will definitely return to camp here and walk all the trails. Every angle of this canyon is breathtaking. Highly recommend.

Awesome place to visit! Did the lighthouse trail and visited the cave with the kiddos.

Bring plenty of water and snacks, dress appropriately. Park is are from 7am to 7pm, on the site it says 8am. The earlier you can go the better. Toward the end of the trip nack it got hot and uncomfortable. Lighthouse trail is 6miles round trip so little kids might not favor the long journey. There is also some tricky points and climbing. Walking sticks may help elderly and watch out horse the little ones that have balance issues. Otherwise, we enjoyed it immensely. Beautiful place and the red dirt reminds me of Sedona.

This place is absolutely beautiful when my family & I went. But, be sure to bring some water & stay hydrated because it can get extremely hot outside. It went from 100° to 109° within an hour. Regardless, it was cool to experience (except the heat lol) & fun to take some pictures with our children.

The park is gorgeous. Lots of hiking trails, both long and short. Rock formations are really beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful park right outside of Amarillo. We went around dusk and it wasnt even too hot inside the canyon. The scenic trail was a perfect activity after our long drive from Austin earlier in the day. Definitely would like to come back and try out some of the hikes!

A real Gem in the state. Definitely a must-see once per habitation of a spirit shell.

Absolutely gorgeous!!! We loved hiking and the views. Plan ahead and but your day passes in advance as they are limiting the number of people allowed in the park. BRING WATER!!! Everyone in the car made fun of me for bringing gallons of water but we drank most all of it.

This is probably the best state park in Texas. Its amazing how under-rated this canyon is, because I thinks its up there with great Texas Wonders like Big Bend, Hamilton Pool, and the Narrows. The Canyon is shockingly deep, the rocks are vivid red, and the Stars at Night are truly Big and Bright.

Absolutely beautiful!!! We camped for 2 nights and walked the Lighthouse trail (which is brutal BTW but so fun and worth it, listen and take LOTS of water and plan on 4-6 hours of your day. It is very steep at the end and you think you wont make it but you will.) Bring a lot of water it is Texas after all.

Awesome we got fee waved an had a blast

Palo Duro was an awesome state park. There were lots of scenic looks, trails, and canyon rock walls. The restrooms were nice. They even have portapoties in the more primitive campsites. They do sometimes have toilet paper in the portapoties but they are also cleaned out too. The showers are very nice too. I went backpacking on the trails to the Lighthouse and elevation hike with my Boyscout troop. Overall, I think the camp is great.

So I gave this Texas state park a 4/5. It may have been because CV19 has limited the amenities here, but still a very cool place. Especially, if you are heading further west to the really big ditch(GC), than this is a must 1st stop to gain appreciation for whats to come.

Camping or hanging out for a day or a week would be fun here. Its hot (Aug 2020) but to come in late Sep, early October on a nice day would be amazing! I hope to go back soon and camp with the family. When we were there it was safe to let your kids run around and ride bike around the camp sites. Definitely a gem of a park in Texas.

Wow was amazing! Spent the whole day there was beautiful!

Gorgeous views! Hot, hot, hot, so bring lots of water! Snow cones available to cool you down. Signage could be better. Road is well maintained. Various campgrounds, at least two with wheelchair accessible restrooms and showers. Worth the entry fee, even if you just drive the loop through the park.

A gorgeous spot to hike and camp with plenty of tours in the area! Friendly park staff and amazing views! Definitely a must for adventurers in Texas!

Great state park! Beautiful scenery! Good for driving and hiking.

Loved mini Grand Canyon of Texas. Amazing views close to the driving path and entrance.

They only had availability to host us one night but wished we could have stayed more. We were in the Mesquite camp area in site 96 in the canyon. There is a 10% grade getting in and rv camping is way in the back, but totally worth it. We camp with 3 kids (10, 6, and 7 months) and recommended doing the Lighthouse Trail or atleast half way. We will be back!

I just wish we had reserved our pass for Saturday. But we got in Sunday, had a great hike. Beautiful scenery. Take a lot of water, snacks, and extra shoes, your feet will appreciate it when your done. Drivi g through is nice but hiking you get views that you cant in a car.

One of the best state parks we have stayed in...large campsite, gorgeous scenery, hiking and mountain biking trails.

So much to see, plan on spending 2-3 days to get in a few of the good hikes. Lighthouse, Rock Garden, Goodnight Ridge are all highly recommended. Plan on some challenging distance and climbs in order to see the best spots! Wear proper shoes, sunscreen and take lots of water.

Beautiful state park canyon with multiple hiking and biking trails, and campsites and cabins for rent. The drive is a breathtaking and winding course down into the canyon with Spots o pull over and take everything in. Just beautiful.

Perfect place to go for some Texas history,and awesome folks running the park.they know everything and more to do with this canyon.its like a mini grand canyon but better cuz u can drive to the bottom of this and the grand canyon u can not.so beautiful,only thing is the heat is ungodly.140 degrees at the bottom.next time well go in the fall or winter so we can see the play thats said to be incredible.

What an unexpected gem! This place has to be one of the most beautiful state parks that no one would ever expect. It has to be America’s Cinderella for state parks. Absolutely stunning scenery! It’s a little out of the way from I-40, but if you some free time, it’s absolutely worth visiting. Seeing all the red rocks is really stunning. Definitely go and experience this yourself. Jaw droopingly beautiful!

Glamped for 2 nights and 2.5 days. Palo Duro Canyon is not Grand Canyon. However, it does offer everything a family, or any individual would look for.Great views, Nature at its best, sunshine and sunset views, mountains, hills to touch, feel and take it all in. Several hiking trails, of different severity level and much more.Best of it is .. No cell service...while in the canyon.You will find your true self here..... believe me.Nothing beats it...with total peace and quiet for yourself.We all loved it.

An amazing experience. Definitely recommend the CCC trail.

Wow, amazing place! Short drive from Lubbock with lots of hiking trails to explore! Make sure to do the Lighthouse trail!! Very beautiful views at the top.

This is a beautiful and beautifully cared for state park. Trails are well marked with good information. Amenities are clean. I love PDCSP and plan to be back again soon.

Very nice state park. We took the lighthouse trail and it was easy for the most part up until you have to climb up but it only takes about 10 minutes.

Beautiful place. Check out the lighthouse hike.https://youtu.be/oSojdGL0yh0

Beautiful scenery and weather. This is the second largest canyon in the USA. These pictures were in October and it was perfect for hiking and picnicking. You can drive through if you have an elderly person or the hiking is phenomenal! The summer has the beautiful play about Texas, but fall weather can’t be beat! Camping sites clean and great trading post with food and gifts. Bring lots of water!!!

Expansive park with great amenities. We did the Lighthouse hike and loved it! Make sure to hike up to the top once the flat trail ends. Lots of bugs and wildlife — we were greeted in the morning by about 6 turkeys at our campsite :-D

One of the most beautiful and amazing places in Texas. 2nd largest canyon in U S and you get to drive down into it. Rangers are also awesome.

The nature is beautiful! If you go well stocked on food and water, the outing would be most enjoyable. But beware when planning your routes: trail turns and intersections are not clearly marked, trail outlines on the map often dont match the reality in many places. We had to hike for extra hour which was horrible on our kid because we missed a turn which was not marked in any way. It was frustrating and ruined the whole walk. Cranky kid is not a joke. Please, update your trails!!!!! Theres no such thing as too many signs.

We like being outdoors and hiking, so we decided to travel to Pao Duro from Houston. We stayed in Fort Worth for one night and continued to the canyon the next day. We hiked for a total of 9-10 hours and stayed at a guest house in the canyon. This canyon in Texas is very good, I think it is like a mini version of the Grand Canyon. The hiking difficulty is low and the scenery is beautiful.

This is definitely a bucket list spot. Dont overlook it, unless you mean you want to enjoy a look over. The staff are almost all volunteer, which should say a lot. My only reason for not giving 5 stars is the trail marks and maps need a little help.

Amazing park and close to home for us. If you love to hike and want to spend time with the family I’m nature I highly recommend this park. Rangers are all friendly and super helpful. They have camping and horseback riding. They even have cabin rentals. We are local and really haven’t taken advantage of all that this park has to offer. We hope to spend more time there. Please be aware of rattlesnakes down there though. You can let your kids just jump next to any rock you must watch and be aware.

Best place to see the sunrise or sunset seems to be from the scenic lookout near the visitors center. It is fabulous.

Well maintained, very nice park. 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. RV and primitive camping. Just an all around great park. Highly recommended!

Good day or weekend trip! Saw some beautiful scenery, got outside and got active. Trails are very well maintained and parking at trailheads is plenty if you get there in the morning. If you are there for hiking, you really dont need more than a day to see everything.

This is a lovely place, a hidden gems in Texas. I would love to visit again.

I am so glad we decided to drive down the Palo Duro Canyon. So beautiful ! We drove down to the bottom and back up. On our way down we stopped by the visitor center and look out area and we also ate a picnic. I noticed they had many trails for people that like to do that. I recommend going and checking it out. It is hot during the summer but worth it.

Would definitely recommend. Great outing. If you love hiking or bike riding, this definitely is an excellent venture.

Luv the place..Nature at its best...my husband and myself enjoy the rock formation...

This park is beyond amazing. Beautiful rock formations. Extra clean restrooms.Be sure to bring a good insect repellent as the black flies are plentiful.Friendly staff.Palo Duro Canyon is a much see.

Amazing experience! Do the Lighthouse hike if youre able ♡♡.

We were disappointed that you had to have reservations for a day visit. The website only listed that reservations were required for camping. It didnt list that they were necessary for a day visit. But the gate attendant was very nice and helpful in finding alternate entertainment near by

The views are spectacular. It was lovely weather. I was surprised at how pleasant it felt, despite being 90 degrees. The wind is constantly blowing making hiking very enjoyable.

Beautiful state park pops up out of no where in West Texas. Deer were plentiful.

RV campsite is nice, got hot shower. bike trail is awesome. Canyon is beautiful.

This park is so beautiful. The hikes had awe inspiring views and were great. I would definitely come back during cooler weather though

Had one day to spend at Palo Duro Canyon State Park on a vacation. Weve looked forward to seeing it for months now. It was closed, by reservation only. Very disappointed! However there is a awesome ranch just a short distance from the Park entrance that gives amazing tours into the canyon in either a army Hummer or on horseback! Reasonable prices and they are just a amazingly warm and welcoming family. If you get the chance to go ask for Case to be your driver/guide. Very knowledgeable on the history of the canyon plus a great sense of humor!

The staff is absolutely amazing and the scenery is just beautiful. Very enjoyable durning the evening. The donkey is so cute and their horses and mules are adorable!

You can walk up the creek in the canyon at this time of year, its beautiful! Its also full of moss and we saw a snake, too, so watch out. It didnt look like one of the especially dangerous ones though.

Beautiful canyon! Saw my first roadrunner in the wild anywhere.

Do not attempt without getting an online reservation. Even if you just want to drive in and drive out. Whatever you do dont take the advice and drive to Jeep Tour. Over a mile of rough, narrow, dirt trail. Got mesquite scratches all over our vehicle. Drove 3 1/2 hours to get there. What a waste.

Such a beautiful place to visit the canyon was so awesome getting to see the wonders mother nature instills upon us to see I didnt get to hike this time but already planning a hiking trip for the next time I get to visit

Beautiful place we will comeback pretty soon