Reviews of Palo Duro Canyon State Park (Tourist Attraction)

Donna Bryan

Would have loved it if there hadn't been some fundraising bicycle event going on. Looks like it could be a beautiful, peaceful place. Would like to come back sometime but will check the calendar first. Certainly not worth the money today!

Chase Wischmeier

Beautiful park with great mountain biking. The best way to truly see the park is by getting out on the trails. Staying on the road doesn’t do it justice!

James Pelletier

Fun place! Lots to do in and around the park - Jeep tours, horseback riding... Highly recommend the Texas show.

Daniel Herbert

Awesome scenery and you get to camp right in the middle of it. Water and 50 amp service at all RV sites. August in Texas is extremely hot and that made for a very empty camground. We will be back.

G man

Absolutely beautiful! Worth a day trip for sure. If you choose to enjoy the beauty take bug spray, sunscreen, snacks and plenty of WATER. but it gorgeous!

alan heuston

Always an enjoyable state park to visit on our travels through the area. We've camped here numerous times. History and great views abound.

Corbin Voges

It's a fun place to go and visit. It's the 2nd largest canyon in the US and there is over 30 miles of hiking trails to go on.

Charles Maxey

Great views and very interesting. Park staff very friendly and helpful.

Dan Hearn

Beautiful historical State Park originally built by the CCC. Called by some a mini Grand Canyon, although it reminds me of the Moab / 4 Corners area as well. Lots of great natural rock formations, including the iconic Lighthouse. Historic sites too. There's even a monument commemorating the US Cavalry defeating Indians by slaughtering their horses (must have been a proud moment) If you get the opportunity to go into the canyon, try to take at least a short hike to really get a feel for the place. Appropriate shoes will make things more pleasant.The more you get out of the car the more you'll appreciate what you're experiencing. Don't forget to take lots of pics, and if it's hot don't forget the water.

Michael Verhoest

This place is very nice. Drove in for the afternoon. Had picnic lunch at picnic area. Made a few stops and took a few pics. Nice afternoon!

Son B

Nice place for a hike! The scenery is beautiful. If you can, visit in the summer when the plants are at their peak. The admission fee is reasonable ($8 per adult) and there are a variety of activities. The Lighthouse trail is pretty popular and well maintained. I definitely recommend checking out the Palo Duro Canyon if you're in the area. Bring bug spray because the horseflies are aggressive.

Teresa Barnett

Love this state park. Everyone must see it especially if you live in Texas. Be ready for a long walk or hike. You can drive thru in about an hour or 2. Gift shop sells burgers and such. About half way in. Bring coolers and lots of water if you plan on staying a while. Pet friendly. Hats and sunscreen recommended

Jane Miller

It was incredibly beautiful. It is the 2nd largest canyon in the US, just behind the Grand Canyon. It's a beautiful drive, with plenty of scenic outlooks. They have camping areas that look nice, but we didn't camp. There are lots of hiking trails, but they were closed at the time, due to flooding after days and days of heavy rain.The visitors center had a lot of interesting artifacts and information and a gift shop with some nice items. It was a 45 degree, rainy day when we visited and it was well worth it. Pictures just don't do it justice! It costs $8 per person for a day pass.

Juan Hernandez

A must see when visiting Amarillo or Canyon. Great place to take the family on a hike and picnic. Trails for all levels of experience even toddlers. Things to do is hicking, bike riding, and climbing. However it is very hot down there in the summers. Drink and take plenty of water.

DJ Leonard

This is one of the best kept secrets. We absolutely loved this park and plan to return in the future

Bob Gegenheimer

Great TX state park. Camp sites have electric and water. Bath houses have showers. Both are clean and we'll maintained. Beautiful vistas. And this park has the best mountain biking trails in Texas. Trails are very well marked and listed according to difficulty. If you're looking to ride, forget Caprock's and head here. Extremely HOT in summer, so ride early or late afternoon.

Sharper Lance

2nd biggest canyon in the country. Scenery is stunning. The musical in the canyon is a must.

Robert Sierra

Beautiful drive through the canyon. Trading post has more variety compared to the gift shop. Trail heads are well marked but in the summer hikes are brutally HOT! Junior Ranger/Naturalist sheet/program; nice patch.

Randy Holley

Really senic part of Northwest Texas... very beautiful wild red vividly coloured hills

Luke Ahn

On the way to Colorado, and we made a small detour here. Pictures doesn’t do justice for this great canyon. I went on a small hike, and I could’ve easily spend all day here. If you have the time, plan an all day hiking trip here. Kids 12 and under are free.

Hannah

The main gem of the panhandle. The trails are perfect for experiences of all ages. I grew up in and around the canyon and it never gets old and I'm always discovering new area in it.

Elizabeth Looney

Such a beautiful place to go and spend the day. Rangers, though seldom seen on the trails, do an amazing job of keeping the park clean and safe. The trails are clearly marked and easy to follow for the most part. Perfect place to be, all year round.

Kathryn Leonard

Majestic best describes the park. Somewhat remote but worth the drive — about a half hour outside of Amarillo. We drove the loop rode and spent about an hour doing so. I deeply regret not having more time to admire the park in all its beauty. Plan on paying $8/person for a day pass. Plan ahead to camp as sites are limited and appears to be fully booked.

Oscar Ayala

They don't call it the nation's second biggest canyon for nothing. The canyon is beautiful to look at. Just don't hike during the summer. I learned the hard way...

Patti Stroh

Nice hiking trails. Horses and bike trails. Gets really hot in the summer they have added water stations. The canyon is very pretty

john allard

Epic park, worth the drive. I had no idea we had this kind of natural beauty in Texas. Clean and has more services than most state parks (trading post is excellent). Definitely check out the lighthouse hike trail with the big caveat that it is HOT in the summer. There are many places along the way to see the lighthouse, but if you want to get close, the last section is strenuous and we had leave my wife behind with a 7 & 5 year old to complete. Bottom line, gorgeous just come prepared.

Cody Capps

Beautiful place, something about it calmed my soul. I grew up in FL I have never seen anything like that before. Absolutely beautiful!

John Goerzen

One of the most amazing hidden gems around. The third-largest canyon in the world, and some absolutely gorgeous hiking trails any time of the year. One of our favorite spots to come back to over and over.

Nathan

Breathtaking views! My wife and I stopped here on our way to Colorado to have a picnic lunch with some views. This place really exceeded my expectation. I will be planning a trip to come camping here soon!

William Fritzsche

Camping at the bottom of the canyon was great! Walk out to a trail and see the raw canyon and cliffs... can't be beat. Take the jeep tour. It's well worth it!

Kristina Derosier

Somewhat remote but worth the drive — about a half hour outside of Amarillo. We drove the loop rode and spent about an hour doing so. I deeply regret not having more time to admire the park in all its beauty. Plan on paying $8/person for a day pass. Plan ahead to camp as sites are limited and appears to be fully booked.

David S

Beautiful park with plenty of campsites and activities. One day I'll reserve one of the brick cabins, those look like an amazing place to stay.

Green Beach Sox

Better than the grand canyon No crowds! Beautiful Picturesque Serene Worth the visit!

Bryan Thibodeaux

Absolutely beautiful! I would have never thought this gem was hidden in the middle of nowhere... Highly recommend anyone to come and visit, hiking and biking trails, jeep tour trails and horseback tours to!

Kathy Harcourt

Only 2 days it rains and trails were closed! Oh well. Beautiful clean!

Joseph Stiles

You truly can't beat a day out at the second largest canyon in the United States of America. The lighthouse trail is actually my favorite trail to hike when coming out to the park. It has the iconic lighthouse rock formation that you see in the attached picture. If you are looking for a little bit of a challenge I suggest the Rock Garden trail. You hiking up the side of the canyon wall and get a full view of the park once you reach the top.

Kristina McClenan

Stunning colors and beautiful rock formations allow for amazing photographs year round. The staff is helpful, pleasant and knowledgeable as well as caring. From horses to trails this is an amazing gem tucked in the Panhandle. Campsites are large and with a nice trading post nearby, there is no worry about forgetting something. They serve burgers and sandwiches as well as ice cream. There is a rich history in this canyon and whether you spend a day or a month here you will always discover something new and beautiful.

richard gaughan

Interesting for the history, particularly interactions between southern plains Indians and the us army, and it is very accessible, with both walking and driving paths on the rim and valley floor. If you're looking for stunning and soul-stirring scenery, it just doesn't have the...uh... grandeur... Of the grand canyon.

jaclyn schmitt

Love the trails... They run it extremely poorly though.... Kinda all the way around. But if you are driving through it's worth a stop... Just don't expect anything to be open during posted hours or the employees to be friendly... Still... The Spanish Skirts are beautiful!! And the Lighthouse trail is not near as hard as everyone says--But bring water!!!

Austin Conner

The park has been undergoing renovation and the results are fantastic. The park looks great and is easy to navigate. There are plenty of trails of varying degrees of difficulty for hiking enthusiasts. The camping stays full so you know they must be doing something right. And don't forget to check out the cabin rentals.

Jared Bull

As always love Palo Duro Canyon! Camped over night and it always amazes me how many stars you can see! it's very peaceful.

Rachel Francis

Don't miss this National Treasure. Beautiful. Easy to maneuver. Pictures of a lifetime. Experience on Lifetime

Julie Payne

Amazingly beautiful. Trails were well-marked and park well-maintained. I wish I lived closer so that I could hike there all the time.

TIffany Hebert

Stunningly amazing views and gorgeous hiking. BRING WATER AND SUNSCREEN! We had both in spades and I still got overheated. Be careful and have fun!!!!

Jerry Webb

Great place for families! Great for hiking and mountain biking. It does get hot during the summer. Lots of camping spots. There are plenty of restrooms, and plenty of trails. You can watch the Texas musical (a little on the expensive side, but a great show.) There are trail rides, and just outside of the park, there are zip lines.

Christy Heun

Beautiful place and good hiking trails. The show was great

Dutch Shepherd

Incredible! What's not to love? Views are amazing. Anyone can enjoy the views, you can drive it, hike it, bike it, ride your own horse, ride their horses, take their jeeps, etc. Very nice camping spots and tons of wildlife. Can bring your dog on a leash.

Sue Woodard

Enjoyed the drive, but no hiking any trail due to recent rains.

Ben Lake

An amazing park! It's quite large so we didn't feel like it was crowded although it's one of the most visited parks in the state. There's plenty of trails to hike, bike, and ride horses. Lots of wildlife! We saw 8 tarantulas, a dozen turkeys, a bull snake, mule deer, and several barbary sheep during our stay. Research weather first, though - it can be very hot in summer and snow in winter. This is one of those parks you will never forget visiting.

Savannah Keller

Never knew this place was here in Texas. Absolutely stunning views and plenty of hikes of different types and levels. I really had a fun time. We went on the Lighthouse trail and I definitely advise you to listen to the sign and bring plenty of water. We went when it was 95 degrees but definitely worth it. I would come back again.

Rita Edmonds

This is a wonderful park. Go hiking early in the morning and take lots of water for any 4-legged hikers too. Bicycles were plentiful too. We reserved the cabins 10 mos in advance and they were pretty cool too. They don’t have coffee makers though so byo.

Johanna Q.

A large and very well kept park with both marked trails and the ability to blaze your own. Mind your surroundings, there are tarantulas, scorpions and rattlesnakes

Pit Vins

An absolute must in the Panhandle: nature at its best, with gorgeous views. The rim cabins are fantastically located. Unfortunately there are three only and they are booked LONG in advance. But it's worth while to constantly check the availability. The trails in the park have plenty of opportunities for different abilities of hikers. One serious point of criticism, though: the signage both to and on those trails leaves much to be desired. Finding the trails and staying on them often is pure guesswork. One more point: be aware that there is no cell phone reception and that there are no emergency phones.

Mike Nuncio

Awesome place to go. I had NO idea a place like this existed in the panhandle. My wife and I were so surprised. What a Gem.

Cody Case

I grew up two miles from this place, every time I am in town I try to get out there. If you love the outdoors, hiking, gravel biking or just like nature then this is the place for you! They have a lot of trails from easy to pretty hard. There is a gift shop, multiple bathrooms and camp grounds. Check it out!

Basem Istanbouli

So so so so amazing. It's the second largest canyon in the USA so you already know I had to pull up! The views are incredible and there's so much to see. All of the photos I took below were at night too (that's the moon not the sun!!). We were there during a full moon and it was breathtaking. I would definitely come back to explore more of the canyon as we only got there before it closed at 10 PM. Make sure to bring cash if you come closer to closing time because there isn't an attendant to pay for entry. You can find the self-pay papers and pencils underneath the sign that'll be on the left hand side when you drive in the park in the parking lot. The way you self-pay is by filling out one of these papers attached to a yellow envelope. Open the yellow envelope, put your cash in, and deposit the paper with the envelope in the green self-pay box. Definitely a must if you're in Texas!

Kurt Weber

Great hiking and trail running in the morning hours during the summer. Triple digits late afternoon and cooling off during the evening hours. Great stopping point for Dallas to CO or NM destinations although this park holds its own as a destination. Next visit we will bring our gravel bikes. Primative and camper spots. We picked one with great shade and trail access. The website now allows for booking specific sites which is great. Pull the park map down from the website and pick your activities before come out. There is a play they do with the mountains in the background and it's pretty cool.

Gary Preston

Camped one night and attended the Texas Outdoor Musical. We really enjoyed the performances at the musical. The tribute at the end to our military men and women was exceptionally good!

Rose Heller

I enjoyed it, although it was more expensive than most state parks. I was glad to see that they had modern restrooms.

Toria Palmer

Great state park. Equestrian trail where you hike in for primitive camping is not marked well or super maintained. Grass over 4 ft tall and you must hike 1/2 mile in to camp which is not marked at all.

Stephenson Joel

Very hot in the summer. The show Texas is pretty cool. Nice place to camp in the fall and spring.

Chris Whitaker

Even on a rainy day this was a wonderful place to visit. As the second largest canyon in the United States it is truly breathtaking and a must see. I’ve been here many times over fifteen years and it has never gotten old. There are trails for every level hiker. There is diverse wild life, however turkeys were the animals that were enjoying the rain. If you have the opportunity make this a stop!

Alfonso Ortiz

I haven been in awhile,. The construction of the roads payed off,. What a great ride! The people that own the jeep rides and horse rides are awesome! What an experience you can have

Elizabeth Gordon

Beautiful area. Restrooms were clean. Nice picnic area...Gift store was rather pricey.

Kendall Messer

Absolutely gorgeous. The trails are amazing, however I recommend starting earlier in the morning because it can get quite hot by 11 in the morning. There is wildlife to be seen everywhere if you keep your eyes open. Also, if you go in the summer months (June, July, August) definitely see Texas the musical.

Patrina Slack

After just being diagnosed with a spinal disease, this was my first time hiking. I did not think I would be able to finish the trail and at one point needed to stop for a min. The scenery was amazing; the air so fresh and the sun just perfectly touching my face. I loved EVERYTHING about our hike, which totaled 6 miles! I became a hiker this day. Although it’s been a while to-date

Larry JOHNSON

I'm disabled but it was fairly easy to get around inside on the paved road . Thank you for the beautiful flowers and mountains . God bless and keep it beautiful .

Jason Padilla

Very nice place to get a way. One star less for a major update / remodel that is much needed to the trails.

schyler davis

It's always nice and clean. The showers are great but there could be a 1 or 2 more bathrooms in the whole park for when people are hiking. The animals are great to listen to at night just put everything out of reach of the super fat raccoons. Take charcoal and firewood!

Rodney Heckman

I grew up close to here and LOVE this place! It's truely beautiful and is the second largest canyon behind the Grand Canyon. My dad actually grew up in the canyon before it was a state park. Charles Goodnight was a good family friend as well. My great grandfather, grandfather, and father all worked for / on the JA Ranch which included the majority of the Palo Duro Canyon.

Angel Waldrop

Breathtaking beautiful. Quite unexpected to come over the rise and see such a beautiful, serene and well kept park. My photos today are of the Canyon backdrop to the musical... but 6 years ago I hiked a huge portion of it on my wedding day. Love this place!

Cody Wall

Beautiful display of erosion the second largest in the US. The colors in the canyon are vibrant and contrasting from orange to yellow to white and to purple. Definitely worth the drive to see and hikes were fun! The lighthouse trail and the big hole were amazing experiences.

DJ Wrekd

Friendly staff & great scenery. I say to add some shade to the free picnic areas or to also mention the rental prices as well. Other than that, it was great! I go there every year

Julien Boussontié

Will go back soon. So fun and just beautiful

Lou Ann Young

Fantastic preformance of Texas Drama in the open air theatre, the staff and crew were very gracious hostesses to the Palo Duro Canyon. Encourage everyone to go and experience the wonderful scenic view and tours. Thank you to the guides for a great time.

Hannah Thompson

SO beautiful. It's amazing to see how deep the canyon is and literally took my breath away!

Kenzie L

Absolutely beautiful. Family friendly trails and also trails for adults ready for adventure! There are also places to camp that looked really nice. We had such a great day there, good for a little adventure!

Geoff Boggs

Loved it. Brought back a lot of memories. Sad to see the water crossing had bridges built now. That was part of the fun.

Brian Veach

Breathtaking views and scenery. A lot of hiking trails for skills of all ages. Tons of turnouts to just stop and see what's around. Definitely take lots of water with you in the summer as it's very hot. Be mindful of bugs, snakes, lizards, etc and take proper precautions. You can drive the park and still see a lot. It's bigger and deeper than I expected.

Richard Cochran

Outstanding views. This is a special geologic place with a lot of Texas and Indian history. Every Texan should spend time learning from - the rocks, - those that have understood the rocks and the digs - the history of the Indians - the ranching and farming communities in the area

Stella Mandagi

This is the second largest Canyon in the USA. We just happened to stumble across it on out trek to the West Coast. Not very well advertised and no obvious road signs announcing its location, but beautiful views.

N Suvor

Known as the 2nd Grand Canyon, Palo Duro (or 'Hard Wood' Canyon) is a wonderful place for camping and hiking. Best known for its 'Lighthouse' hiking trail. Very dog and biker friendly trails. They also offer horse and ATV tours. Daily admission is $8/person. Park opens at 7am and often has a line of people waiting to get in.

Kimberly Feldt

Nice canyon that a lot of people are unaware exists. I'm especially referring to Texans. You'd think natural Texans would take more interest in the State lol. Being from Canyon I've spent quite a bit of time in Palo Duro. There's hiking, camping, horseback riding, the Red River and the musical Texas. Beautiful landscape with unique features. If you like canyons and hiking you should definitely visit the 2nd largest canyon in the United States.

Donald Martin

Very cool will be back tomorrow to take photos and see more

Michael Massaro

This place was amazing. Felt like i was in a different world. We only paid $8 each to get in and it was a great day just to drive around. Definitely recommend! Beware summer is hot, it can be over 100f.

Hillary Doggart-Greer

Breath taking views! There is a variance of hikes for all skill levels. Be sure to wear pants if walking along the riverbank.

John Davis

Great mt. bike trails. From easy to advanced, it's a great place to go for hiking, biking, and sight seeing.

Vic Pittman

Camped here for a couple of nights....never before have I looked at a night sky so filled with stars and galaxies. The Milkyway was a highway in the sky...and I just don't have the words to describe how stunning it was. Go check it out... especially at night !!

danny laurel

This was a great park with plenty to see and do. Check out my full review at The Texas Trailhead dot com.

Fraser Stanley-Jones

2nd largest canyon to the Grand Canyon and almost zero advertising and/or name recognition. It is definitely worth the drive and the time with spectacular views and awesome hikes.

Piper Jackson

Lots of great hiking and bike trails. A great place to go camping. Really good prices. If you plan on going a couple of times a year especially with friends it's great to get that year pass it really pays off. you should go check it out and go enjoy some nature!!! Warning once you get in the canyon there is no cell service :)

Vidhyacharan HR

This place is quite underrated...visitors from Texas were not familiar with this place. I would say most underrated, yet it's most amazing place to visit. The canyon formation is too delicate and mesmerizing. I wish I had spent like three days just hiking canyons.

Tena Jones

Incredible park! Well kept trails, clean restrooms, fun for the entire family. Everyone we met on the trails were super friendly. The trails are marked so that you can easily find where you’re going, and you don’t always have to go the full trail. It’s nice to see benches set out in shaded areas along the trails. Loved the water fill up stations, and the SPF 30 sunscreen stations. We will definitely stop back in, 2 days wasn’t hardly enough time here!

Marty Troyer

Amazing must see West Texas spot. It's like seeing a 500 million year timeline!

Suzy Willison

Great outdoors. No cell phone service at camp sites. Lots of trails. Cowboy dinner and show option. Star gazing party was a must if offered.

Adam Homeyer

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

Connie Pavolino-Meave

Oh WOW! Was a quick stay over on our way to the Albuquerque Balloon Fest. Can't wait to go back and spend a few days there! Highly recommend!

Bradley Ollivierre

Did 10 miles.. over 21500 steps.. about 5 hours. It was AMAZING. If you love nature, it is a Must. Tip: go as early as you can. It starts out cool and close to the end, it started to heat up. Also, wear long sleeve shirt and long pants. The bees had me as their watering hole. Just saying. But i loved it!!!

matt randolph

We hiked the 3 mile (one way) lighthouse trail this past Sunday. It was hot, but had a nice breeze. Take plenty of water with you. The trail is fairly boring, everything looks the same when your in the middle of the dessert. The horse flies were a nuisance. But if you make it to the lighthouse, it's all worth it!

Josh Wilson

This was a very enjoyable hike in the Panhandle. We tried to take a lower trail that met up with the rim trail and I assume has much better views. The views inside the canyon are still quite good, however I did misread the map a bit and the lower trail did hook up with the upper one... Just about 5 miles into it, we could have parked closer and be done much quicker. So I would caution everyone to check the map a few times.

Aurora Long

The park is well designed to allow visitors to take full advantage of this unique location. From miles of hike and bike trails, winding roads and scenic overlooks to in-park convenience stores, camping in this desert- like terrain was easier to enjoy than expected. Despite the heat, we really enjoyed the park and would definitely recommend it in cooler weather.

Harold F

Simply amazing. Geologist dream. View of history back millions of years. First words at arrival, WOW! A place you & your family will never forget.

pucklizard LogTesLey

So beautiful!!! We only ran in, think in a quick view at the first overlook and left. Can't wait to camp and hike there. I have no issue with the park, but rather visitors who left their dogs giant poo for everyone to step around & those who left water bottles. Clean up your act, folks!!!!

Jay Deyo

Loved it! It was an impressive sight to see. I don’t know if it is so green because we are here at the end of April. We hiked out to the lighthouse, the trail seemed a little long than 2.7 miles. Amazing views and a really nice hike, but be warned the last few hundred feet were pretty steep and they aren’t lying about bringing lots of water. Definitely coming back and exploring more of the trailer around the park!

Benjamin Boyer

Amazing views amd great hikes. We took the travel trailer and the sites are all on the canyon floor. Made for absolutely beautiful mornings. If you stay hydrated the hikes are great and plenty of great pictures to be had. We went on the closing weekend for Texas, the musical, performed in an outdoor amphitheater on the canyon floor. We got bbq before the show at the amphitheater then the performance started after sundown and went until about 11. The one thing I noticed is that too many people didn't read the signs and take warnings. Be sure to bring plenty of water and electrolytes. There were many people starting longer hikes once temperatures were over 100 degrees that didn't have any water with them and thought 6 mile hikes were half to one mile, some had to be transported out by park, fire, or rescue UTVs. Thankfully we brought plenty of water and Gatorade. We took a couple of 5 minute breaks to cool off, but made our through without any issues. Everything about the trip was definitely worth it and would recommend it for any hiking or outdoor enthusiasts.

Jessica Marlar

Hothothot! But the scenery was beautiful! I am not from the south and we saw a beautiful tarantula crossing the road, minding his own business. The fees for everything that the park contains was a little outrageous though. Absolutely no cell phone service though so make sure to download your music or movies before you go

Chris McKinney

What a surprise to find the nation’s second largest canyon deep in the heart of Texas. Incredible views with many hiking options. We were only passing through to view TEXAS the musical (which did NOT disappoint!). Wish we had more time to explore the canyon. We hope to get back here to explore further at some point in the future.

Daniela Chacon

It was a great place to camp or just to go hiking. The lady at the gift shop it's so sweet

Jay Vee

Wonderfully HOT. 100 degrees. Road my bike for two hours and lost four pounds. Fun way to get thin. FCC

Marilyn Coffie

So fantastic. Great hikes. Beautiful scenery.

Chanda Scott

Absolutely beautiful! We hiked the Lighthouse trail. It was amazing! Definitely go all the way and do the climb at the end!

Nightingale1860

No hiking (rained the night before), all restrooms locked except at the Trading Post. Highly disappointed. Not worth the 8 hour drive to get to. Very underwhelmed.

Gabriel Reyna

I spent Easter at the canyon, I have never been to a place so uniquely beautiful. The scenery at the canyon is beyond words. I rode my motorcycle there and was hopeful that the conditions of the roads were good. They didnt disappoint. It's amazing to be in a place where you have complete access to anything and anywhere you want to go. I stayed in the nice little cow camp cabins. Very spartan but you had what you needed. The beds were surprisingly comfortable. I will definitely be back and for much longer.

Poke Pro1

This is a hidden natural wonder. Everyone should visit. You can see every star in the sky! They have every camping option and I highly recommend the cow cabins.

Dora Scott

It was historically a gold mine of information. It was so beautiful and majestic. Also had camping and hiking everywhere. Just a really a cool place to visit.

Victor Wilcox

A great place to camp with a lot of historical significance. Great camping sites with a lodge and you should definitely check out the Texas show if you can. I went on hottest day of the year, but nice breeze in that area makes it tolerable. Extensive hiking trails, horse rides, and zip-lining available as well. Nearby museums and restaurants as well within 15 to 30 minutes. Canyon isn't quite on scale with the Grand Canyon but is more accessible.

Jamie Haynes

Amazing like having the grand canyon in your own back yard. So much wildlife and great facilities

BILLY FAYO

Great place to getaway for a weekend. Pretty clean place ill be going back may more times

Chrissy Cearely

I didn't know about this place until recently I'm so glad I took my family here, we were able to experience seeing a canyon and hiking through some interesting terrain without having to drive all the way to the Grand Canyon to do it. This park offers several hiking/biking/equestrian trails of different levels of difficulty and it has a nice day use area with picnic tables and grills, 2 gift shops, an amphitheatre and well stocked restrooms throughout. This is a great place I recommend!

Mack Easley

Amazing vistas, trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. History dating back thousands of years and visual evidence everywhere you look.

Jesús M. Tirado

Amazing! So many different trails to do as well as locations to stay overnight. We brought our sons this time but look forward to doing more challenging trails. There are also picnic areas and you can bring your dogs.

Michael Montgomery

This is a great place to go for the day. Even if you don't hike the views are amazing.

Randy Crust

There are lots of things to love about Palo Duro. I see lots of different wildlife, hike miles of trails, or enjoy it's beautiful views. I can stay in a rustic cabin, or camp out under the stars. It may be hot during the day, but it cools off in the evening.

Ray Wilson

If you are looking for mother nature at its finest, then look no further. Texas State Parks are ran so well and this one is tops. There's often a line to get in and there's a few common sense rules to follow

Hector Gomez

Great place. Would like to see better trail maps with distances.

Melissa Pyle

A fun drive through the park! Kids really enjoyed the views from the top of the canyon, and down on the floor of the canyon as well. Take a minute and hike up to the cave! A fun and easy walk with a little uphill effort. The trading post has great souvenirs.

Karoleigh Armstrong

Had a ball at, Texas, the musical. The bath rooms were clean! The staff was courteous and helpful. The play was high quality, well acted and just fun. Do recommend.

John Wotring

Very pretty. Good lodge with nice displays. Plenty of hiking.

jerry yanello

Great place you can hike bike or drive. I would recommend to arrive early as the line to get in can get long.

Jacqueline Elliott

Hiking, site seeing, eating, camping, horseback riding, bike riding- you can do it all. Its the 2nd best thing to the Grand Canyon here in the U.S ;)

Ricky Vaughn

One of my favorite state parks. Be sure to visit the Lighthouse. (Take the path on the right, your welcome ;) )

Michael Briggs

A really neat park with a lot of trails. It gets very hot in the summer, so make sure to bring plenty of water. There is a store in the canyon that serves food. They also have almost anything you need for camping.

edgarrr166 martinezzz166

Great experience but a little pricey $8 to park and $16 for a primitive campsite. Other than that, it was really cool with great trails.

Douglas Dyar Jr.

Nice views ... but I disagree with it being the second largest canyon ... kings canyon is much bigger and more awe inspiring

Angela Garden

Absolutely beautiful scenery, amazing wildlife, and just a wonderful, clean, enjoyable way to spend the day (or more). Just a place to soothe the soul!

Suzanne Pike

Canyons and thistles and turkeys, oh my! Loved Palo Duro Canyon! Beautiful scenery, wild turkeys, lived all the thistles! We liked it so much we scouted out the camping sites. Can't say enough about how pretty it is . It's the second largest canyon in the U.S., running for over 100 miles. Lots of places to park off the road, numerous trails for biking, hiking, and horseback riding. Be aware that day entry fees at this TX State Park are now $8 each for non senior adults without any type of State Parks Pass. It's worth it! Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy. We visited in early July 2019. They have a gift shop that has drinks and food also. Park road 5 is a nice drive through part of the park. Just about everything is on that hilly, winding road.

D May

Beautiful views and good trails. The play called TEXAS in the amphitheater is simply SPECTACULAR!

Robin Sheffield

We drove the entire length of the park circulation route, stopping at overlooks etc, but to really experience it you have to get out and walk. We took the parks most popular trail, the 5.4 mile lighthouse trail, but still only saw maybe 20 people max. It took our party of reasonably active middle aged (54 - 64) people about 3 hrs and make sure you take water. Combined with the jeep tour that we took in the morning, we really felt that we had experienced what Palo Duro had to offer. Highly recommended, if you’re in the area but beware, you have to drive through a lot of featureless landscape to get here. On reflection, we felt it was worth the effort.

Jerry Carpenter

Beautiful park with many hiking trails. The play Texas was outstanding.

Micah Covey

Awesome Texas park! Whole family visited for the afternoon and really enjoyed it! Great hiking and very clean park. Staff were very kind. Do bring bottles of water for each person if your hiking. Lots of Cowboy history in this area! I'm coming back again!

Ronnie Layton

We went to see the Texas play there. I recommend you go see it. It was really good. It's and outside theater. Do get seats too close up front. We we're E row and we're perfect.

Chris Smith

This was a great place to take a day trip. We came in from lubbock in Feb and the weather was great! You can go at your own pace but bring food / water / and make sure to be safe! I really enjoy making these reviews and have given my honest opinion on the place reviewed. I am not the hardest person in the world to be pleased but I have taken the time to try to recommend to people the best I can. I simply reward good reviews to those with great business practices / locations and have something valuable to give to the local community. Cheers, Chris!

Vickie Herr

This is very beautiful location. Lots hiking trails of all levels. A very nice store that serves food. Wildlife is great and the wild flowers something to see. We camped here in our 40 fifth wheel and big 5500 truck. Would definitely go back.

Jorge Gonzalez

This place is awesome so many areas to explore, so many things to see. My kids loved it, hike though the areas small mountains to climb, some larger for more experienced climbers. Beautiful wild life, to take pictures of. We went during the winter, was nice it's still gets pretty warm, due to the type of environment the rocks absorb heat so even though cold out they give some warm which makes it comfortable. So be careful in hot climates.

Mark Paul

Not a well traveled or exploited spot. Off the beaten path. Many great photo ops. Bring plenty of water.

Darren Speers

Beautiful Park! They allowed is to show up after dark with a code to the gate, and the park was easy to navigate to our camp site. Staff was super friendly, and the grounds were well kept. August made for a warm night of tent camping, but the temp cooled down and we slept okay. Folks were very informative at the visitor center.

Shelley Culver

We enjoyed watching the storm roll over the top of the canyon wall. The flora and fauna were outstanding. We enjoyed the wild turkey flocks throughout the canyon floor.

Alvaro Interiano

I was so surprised that in a city that is so flat and dry, you can find such a rich park within 30 minutes of a drive. I highly enjoyed and will come back.

Ann Waite

Beautiful park! Just stopped in for a quick visit while in the area, and so glad we did! Highly recommend a visit if passing by. However, it was freaking hot at 102! At least it was a dry heat?! We found a shady table at the day use area to eat lunch before getting back on the road!

Matt Copeland

Been coming here since I was a kid. It's such a fun, educational experience. Getting to experience the Southwest landscape, seeing all the layers of rock, and if course the Texas play. There's plenty of camping spots and the hiking trails are a ton of fun. 100% recommend!

Randi Wallace

Was very beautiful. Too bad we came when the trails were closed. But the park was very clean many sunscreen stations. They have lots of picnic tables all over the park and a lot of places to pull over for pictures.

Kim Piecuch

Beautiful state park. The rangers are really nice folks...very welcoming!

Craig Wallace

Great scenery. The second largest canyon in America. It's cool because you can drive down into the canyon.

Andy Mejia

The park was absolutely stunning. The sights are beautiful, there are ample trails to walk, and there are a few visitor areas to escape the heat and grab a drink. Please be careful though, make sure that you are fit to hike and that you are able to walk uphill, downhill, and across steep cliffs. The heat can be killer; someone in our group nearly fainted on the trail and took a while to recover.

Teresa Masse

Enjoyed the hiking. Restrooms and showers could use daily cleaning and toilet tissue stocking. Was disappointed that the Trading Post didn't offer discount to Texas State Parks and Wildlife cardholders. Overall, we had a good time.

Stephanie Jones

It was super hot, but we were able to do an evening hike comfortably. Campsite was nice and we saw a gaggle of turkeys wandering through. Awesome views and scenery.

Roger Mason

The park is beautiful but don’t try to camp. The rangers say that all the campsites are reserved or occupied but the the reality is the campgrounds look like a ghost town with reserve signs on all the empty sites. Are there really that many people reserving sites and not showing up? Tried calling the phone number listed with no answer, just answer machine. 24 hrs latter and still no call back.

David Boner

Great camping, good trails, fun viewing wildlife upclose. Remember folks to be responsible here. There are dangers that can overcome you but with preperation you will have fun. Listen to the wonderful park staff. They know how to deal with alot of things that goes on here.