Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Canyon, Texas, USA - 1000 Places to See Before You Die on Waymarking.com

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is about 20 miles south of Amarillo. The beautiful park is dubbed The Grand Canyon of Texas, and visitors will immediately notice the similarity between the two parks. Day passes are $8/person, and reserved tickets are recommended as the park is a hugely popular recreation destination. They even offer "Glamping" cabins that provide all the comforts of a hotel room, for those who want to spend the night. 132 campsites offer a variety of amenities.

From the park website:

Grand Canyon of Texas

The second largest canyon in the country lies in the heart of the Texas Panhandle. Visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park; experience the canyon's rugged beauty and enjoy its colorful history.
Things to Do

Explore the canyon by foot, mountain bike, horse or car. We have more than 30 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Camp, geocache, study nature or bird watch. During the summer, enjoy a performance of TEXAS Outdoor Musical.

Choose from campsites with water and electricity, tent sites, equestrian sites, or backpack camping areas. Stay in one of three cabins on the canyon’s rim or four Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. Rent one of our pavilions for a wedding, reunion or meeting.

New to Palo Duro Canyon: Glamping (luxury camping)! Each glamping site is fully furnished with air conditioning, luxury rustic furnishings, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, games, bicycles, gas grills and gas fire pits, covered porches with rockers, porch swings, and much more. More information on glamping at Palo Duro Canyon.

Stop by the Visitor Center on the canyon rim to learn more about the park. The park store at the Visitor Center sells books, pottery, jewelry and more. Look for souvenirs, snacks and meals at The Trading Post on the canyon floor.

Take a virtual tour with our Interactive Trails Map.

Trails and backpack campsites may close due to wet weather or poor conditions. Contact the park, or check our Facebook page, for trail status.
Horseback riding

Ride on trails through 1,500 acres set aside for horseback riding. You can also share two other trails with hikers and mountain bikers.

Bring your own horses (original Coggins papers required). Park your trailer at the equestrian campground. Bring a water bucket for your horse.
Take a guided tour. Old West Stables on the canyon floor leads tours for the whole family to Timber Creek Canyon. They also offer souvenirs and a snack bar. Reservations required; call (806) 488-2180.

TEXAS Outdoor Musical

TEXAS Outdoor Musical runs Tuesdays through Sundays in the summer at the Pioneer Amphitheater in the park. Watch the stories, struggles and triumphs of early settlers. The family-friendly show has singing, dancing, fireworks and lots of Texas humor!

Come early for a barbecue dinner on our covered patio.

For tickets, visit the TEXAS Outdoor Musical website.
Get involved

We need you! Visit our Volunteer page and search by zip code (79015) to see how you can help. Or visit the Partners in Palo Duro Canyon Foundation website to learn about other ways to help.

Support state parks by donating to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation.
Ranger Programs

We offer programs on the park’s history and natural features. Learn about birds or Longhorn cattle, or take a driving tour with a park ranger. Visit our Events page for upcoming programs. Call the park to schedule a group program.

Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Civilian Conservation Corps: Workers with the CCC built Palo Duro Canyon State Park more than 70 years ago. Learn more on our History page.

Name of Source Book: 1000 Places To See Before You Die, USA and Canada, 2007 Page Location in Source Book: 761 Type of Waymark: Scenic Location of Coordinates: Palo Duro Canyon view from CCC Overlook Cost of Admission (Parks, Museums, etc.): 8.00 (listed in local currency) List Available Hours, Dates, Season: Open Daily. Gate hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Official Tourism Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Because of the vastness of many of the "non-localized" sites (Gobi Desert, Great Wall of China), waymark owners are encouraged to allow visits that reflect different perspectives and experiences.
Localized waymark sites (Structures, Landmarks, Businesses) should reflect standard waymarking visit criteria (Logs & photos).

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   10/11/2023 The Snowdog visited it