Is Palo Duro Canyon worth visiting? (Houston, Amarillo: theater, living in, association)

[SoHoVe]

I heard a lot about this state park and like to hike with my dogs. Unfortunately its quite a drive from Houston...about 3 hours further than I had hoped. Just wondering if it would be worth it to head up there for a weekend of hiking and mountian biking?

[TheOverdog]

It's the second biggest canyon in the US to the Grand Canyon supposedly. I like it because it's closer to civilization than Big Bend, but I never drove 2/3s the way across the state to go there either. I've never biked it, but I free hiked around it way more than I did the actual Grand Canyon. If you like canyons and canyon hiking, then it's worth it. If not, west Texas is pretty dry and dusty.

[magnum0417]

It's at most 1000 feet deep or so but the red rocks and the lighthouse make Palo Duro very unique for those in the East used to rolling hills and deciduous trees. I find desolate beauty in that whole Texas Panhandle landscape. Watching tumbleweeds blowing around is unique and cool to me. That's why I love living in Arizona so much. Canyon, TX BTW is the nearest town and has plenty of infrastructure for lodging and dining too. Or, stay in Amarillo and make sure you stop at The Big Texan Steak Ranch.

[Willsson]

PALO DURO CANYON | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)

Palo Duro Canyon is the most spectacular and scenic landscape feature in the Panhandle of Texas. The Spanish name Palo Duro means "hardwood" and refers to the hardwood shrubs and trees found in the canyon. Palo Duro Canyon was carved into the eastern Caprock escarpment of the High Plains during the past ninety million years by the headwaters of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River and by attendant weathering.
.
Today the park, which includes more than 15,000 acres, annually receives over half a million visitors. A summer musical pageant, Texas, is presented annually in the outdoor amphitheater.

More at the link....

[case44]

Originally Posted by SoHoVe

I heard a lot about this state park and like to hike with my dogs. Unfortunately its quite a drive from Houston...about 3 hours further than I had hoped. Just wondering if it would be worth it to head up there for a weekend of hiking and mountian biking?

It's well worth your time. You've got a great opportunity to see lots of Texas, and Houston to Amarillo by car will give you much more than just canyons, depending on which way you go. The only way to know is go.

[cBach]

In my opinion the Grand Canyon isn't much better to be honest. The Grand Canyon is huge, but it is so crowded. In Palo Duro, you pretty much have the whole place to yourself. I found the landscape more interesting than the Grand Canyon to tell the truth.

[SoHoVe]

Originally Posted by cBach

In my opinion the Grand Canyon isn't much better to be honest. The Grand Canyon is huge, but it is so crowded. In Palo Duro, you pretty much have the whole place to yourself. I found the landscape more interesting than the Grand Canyon to tell the truth.

This sounds good...I was going to ask if it was generally crowded. I lived in the mojave desert for over 10 years so dust and scrub doesn't bother me. I love Texas but miss being able to escape the city into the desert...very grounding for me.
I've also never been to the Panhandle so it would be interesting to see more of the state.

[Westerner92]

I'd say a nine hour drive is too far for a weekend, no matter the location, but Palo Duro is pretty cool. I might suggest stopping there for a day or two on the way to places in Colorado or New Mexico. It's colorful, it has decent biking trails if I recall correctly, and there's a cheesy yet fun play at the amphitheater during the summer.

[Campeador]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

I'd say a nine hour drive is too far for a weekend, no matter the location, but Palo Duro is pretty cool. I might suggest stopping there for a day or two on the way to places in Colorado or New Mexico. It's colorful, it has decent biking trails if I recall correctly, and there's a cheesy yet fun play at the amphitheater during the summer.

I agree with this take. I don't know that I'd want it to be my lone destination for a trip, but it makes for a great stop over for a night or two when one is heading to the Rockies or points further west. I really quite enjoyed the bike trails there and it's much more scenic than you'd expect. Nothing near there is very aesthetically pleasing and then BAM! there's suddenly a gorgeous canyon. OTOH, it's not as impressive as Big Bend NP, which I believe is a worthy destination in and of itself.

[TX75007]

Yes.