Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Texas

Today we are back to my pictures and descriptions of our 2008 Birthday Road Trip. We are traveling from California to Florida on this first half and visiting many of the southern states.

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Palo Duro is the nation’s second largest canyon, It is located in the Texas panhandle south of Amarillo. From a distance you would never know that this canyon exists. You drive along on flat prairie then all of a sudden..... there it is. A local man told us that this canyon was one of the reasons the Indian wars lasted so long in this area. The Indians could practically disappear into the canyons and then reappear, seemly out of the flat prairie.
This longhorn steer is an old West icon. It is kept near the visitors center as a mascot.

With the combination of hot wind gusts, glaring sun and air so hot it almost hurt to breathe ......we had the curiosity but no real desire to hike the dusty trails down the canyons or doing any sight seeing on foot.
We drove around the canyon for quite awhile, even fording a few running streams that crossed the road. There appeared to be plenty of water as the roadside plants were lush and green. Although, green in this country always seems to have a more silvery, dusty look to it. And you can bet that there will be thorns, stickers or other sharp forbidding edges to the plant.

There looked to be plenty of camping spots, with cabins, RV and tent spots. The area offers photo opportunities everywhere you look and hiking trails galore. This is interesting country and would be worth hiking and exploring in cooler weather.

Texas! Is a spectacular outdoor musical drama performed here every year in a permanent amphitheatre carved out of a natural basin in the canyon. The play brings to life the stories, struggles and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle in the 1800s in song and dance.

You can check here for more information on the park and the show.
http://www.palodurocanyon.com/
http://www.texas-show.com/