Palo Duro is a jaw-dropping destination some 250 million years in the making.
They say everything ’s bigger in Texas , though it ’s toughened to contend against the Grand Canyon .
Palo Duro Canyon State Parkstill tries . It ’s 27,173 Acre but still manages to find like a obscure hoarded wealth , even to lifelong Texans like my family . It ’s certainly more undervalued ( and less overproduction ) than its national ballpark cousin . Despite being a long movement from most major cities in the Lone Star Department of State , Palo Duro is the variety of billet that inspires household in match T - shirts to get together at the entrance sign . On our recent trip in June , my husband hop out of our SUV to assist snap a photo of one such group .
They thanked him and extend to take a photo in return , but my husband was just grabbing a warm picture of our quondam next to the sign . We ’re on a foreign mission to visitall 88 Texas State Parksbefore our mount seventh grader graduates high-pitched shoal — Palo Duro Canyon was number 23 .
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We smiled and wave good-by , mother the exposure , and began our journey into the stunning landscape250 million years in the making .
Stopping near the visitant ’s center , we took in the vista at the Civilian Conservation Corps ( CCC ) Overlook . It feel trite to line the views as breathtaking , but after drive nine hour from our bayou city , breathtaking was exactly the impact as we drank in the immenseness of the canyon .
In the now tidy scenic smudge , it ’s hard to imagine the young men ( range from 17 to 25 twelvemonth onetime ) that build the park over five geezerhood beginning in 1933 for “ habiliment , food , aesculapian charge and $ 30 a month . ” The 1.4 - mil route they hiked in and out of is now fuck as the CCC trail and classified as “ unmanageable . ” Too precarious for us to tackle as a home , the path descends 500 human foot , through four geological layers , from the canyon rim to the canyon level .
Photo by Saba Khonsari Blanding
The marchland of prison term , visible through the delineated layers is a real monitor of our prehistoric environment . Humans have inhabit Palo Duro for 12,000 or so years — theClovisand Folsom cultures , followed by the more recent Apache , Comanche and Kiowa . ( by and by , Spanish settlers named the canyon , after the Spanish word for “ hardwood . ” )
Then came our crime syndicate , on a hot summertime good afternoon — another set of footprint in the canon ’s story .
Theater is not something usually tie in with a country park , but it has been a fundament of summers at Palo Duro Canyon for almost sixty age . Our visit was perfectly time with theTexas Outdoor Musical , which run from June through August . ( If you are a little more precise with our visit , you could be regaled withShakespeare in the Canyon . )
Photo by Saba Khonsari Blanding
Playing to the historical kitsch , we signed up for an “ bona fide chuckwagon Texas BBQ dinner ” ahead of the show , filling up on brisket , sausage , and all the sides . If you materialise to visit on October 5 , check out theChuck Wagon Roundupfor what they call the “ cowboy food hand truck consequence . ”
A tolerant woman at the visitor ’s center advised us to bring a jacket when we cease by earlier that afternoon . However , we did n’t call for any extra layers . As dusk descended , we filed into the amphitheatre , nestled in the canyon . A bright stamp of part satisfy the point , accompanied by a bouncy band . While the fully grown Texas sky fill with star , the summer heat remained .
Thankfully we ’d booked the last available , endearingly rusticcabinfor $ 60 , which included air conditioning , a mini fridge , and a warning to keep our food put off , lest we tempt one of thePalo Duro miceinto our cabin . ( For only $ 125 , you may book one ofthree cabinsthat peer over the canyon rim , and include a bathroom and linens . ) While luck was on our side and we were able to snag cabin adjustment this slip , it ’s honorable to plan ahead . Reservationsfor prescribed Texas State Parks website open up five months in betterment and take up just as quickly .
Photo by Saba Khonsari Blanding
Rustic accommodations are nice when the weather is too , but campers seek even more sumptuosity can book one of four glampsites withPalo Duro Glamping , get down at $ 299 a night . gratis breakfast , methamphetamine emollient , coffee , and a s’mores kit are admit . work by the family - possess Palo Duro Trading Post class , these accommodations arebooked separately — and do n’t command waiting for the five - month window .
The next break of the day my 12 - class - old and I took advantage of rising betimes to hike part of the 3.1 - nautical mile Givens , Spicer , Lowry track . We paused frequently to soak in the panoramas of the ancient stone formations blanketed with lush botany .
“ The most surprising thing when first experiencing Palo Duro Canyon is the staring contrast between the High Plains of Texas and the sudden dip to woody shrubland , ” a commando constitute Jack Determan Jr. later told me . “ It truly can sense like one is at the bound of the world and experiencing the Frontier for many of our visitant . ”
The Grand Canyon tracked4,733,705visitors last class . Palo Duro got about 8 percent of that . Case in point : We were alone on the path , except for a brave mountain biker , the crisp birdcall of the Blue Grosbeak , and a cactus longhorn mallet .
Sprawling more than 30 miles across the vast part , the lead of Palo Duro can be research via foot , hatful bicycle , horse(bring your own , or book a ride withOld West Stables ) , or car . The popular 5.6 - mile Lighthouse Trail , which head to theiconic fetich rock shaping , a symbol of the park , has its owndedicated trail guide .
flood and heat can determine access to Palo Duro ’s lead , socheck the websitefor the latest update on any closures or warnings . Recent rain had close a handful of way during our visit , and we could see the remnants of the flashgun floods as we labor to our cabin .
The park fire warden that checked us in was affirmative the trail would open , but as we drive back from our morning hike the skies opened up and the rain poured down . When it ’s too red-hot , too wet , or your legs are too weary , a scenic drive proffer wholesale views . Our six - year - old much preferred taking in the canon from her carseat .
Though we made our ocean trip in time to take vantage of summertime ’s upshot calendar , the drop is an equally marvelous , and less hot , clock time to have the canon . “ Seasonal patterns switch the park drastically , ” Determan Jr. state of the idyllic transition . “ This is especially straight between fall and winter when the Tree change colors with chromaticity of fleeceable , white-livered , and maroon . This is the time we urge for those look for a serene and sight - worthy misstep . ”
The rain continued to pour down as we discontinue by theSad Monkey Mercantilefor some caffenation on our way home from the park . frigid breaking wind whipped around us as we run from the car to the protection of the storefront . It turned out the kind charwoman who ’d warned us about needing jackets was correct . We laughed at the belated fruition of her advice — and at the continued joyousness of Palo Duro Canyon .
