A camera teaches you how to see without a camera.
Dorothy Lange
Palo Duro Canyon is one of the two places I had identified on my bucket list before we left home. It is located in the Texas Panhandle Plains area. Now, according to the Texans we met, this is their version of the Grand Canyon. I must say it was quite impressive, with it’s spectacular geologic wonders and panorama of views and colors which you definitely cannot capture on film. All that being said, the Grand Canyon is definitely in a league of its own. Sorry, Texas…
One neat thing about it is you actually camp on the bottom of the canyon floor and look up instead of looking down. This four-night stay at Palo Duro Canyon State Park meet all my expectations and more. We hiked, biked and explored everyday. Let me tell you there is some spectacular scenery here. We did want to go horseback riding, but at $150/hour we decided not to.
Our favorite hike was the iconic Lighthouse Rock Formation which is the symbol of the park. This was a 6-mile (10 km) hike in total. Now, the first and last 2.75 miles were a breeze. The last quarter of a mile was straight up, which means on the way back it’s straight down… ugh! Next time I will bring more padding for my butt to make it easier to slide down the decline. 😊
I now know why this trail has the most injuries in the park. Unfortunately for one hiker today, she was carried off the trail in a stretcher and an ambulance. Speaking about injuries, one of the most frequent injuries, and occasionally even death, in this park is related to the heat. They have signs posted everywhere about how to prevent sun and heat related injuries and proper hiking trail etiquette. Take plenty of water 1 quart per mile, take snacks, wear a hat and sunscreen, wear appropriate clothing and footwear, know your limitations. Even with all these signs I still find it mind-boggling how many people we saw on this hike with no water, no hat, improper footwear and wearing a tank top. I know, I am not their mother…