Discovering Palo Duro Canyon: Trails, Wildlife, And Hidden Caves

Palo Duro Canyon is one of my favorite spots in the Texas panhandle. It's easy to spend an entire day in the canyon, exploring the trails and taking in the amazing sights that it has to offer. Whether you stay on the marked trails, or follow some of the unmarked trails, there's plenty to see and enjoy in the Grand Canyon of Texas.

Palo Duro Canyon Has Some Of The Most Beautiful Trails Around

If you're wanting to go for a hike and come away seeing something truly special, there are trails for that at Palo Duro Canyon. Some of my favorite trails are the Rock Garden trail and the Lighthouse Trail. The views and the formations you get to see are among my favorite. There are many more trails, and you can find a full list with descriptions here.

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If you decide to hit the trails, take your time. There's so much to see, and there's a lot of wildlife out there. You don't want to miss anything. My kids love watching lizards dart across and along the trails when we go. A hike in Palo Duro Canyon is something that you really want to have enough time to really appreciate.

Yes, There Are Caves In Palo Duro Canyon

There are a lot of caves in Palo Duro Canyon. One of the most popular is on the marked trail map you get when you arrive at the park. The other most popular cave is on a trail not far from where you first enter the bottom of the canyon. That one is a popular spot, and you will usually find people taking the quick hike to go check it out.

If you find the second cave, you'll need to make sure you've got a light source with you. At one point it gets completely dark; so dark that you can't see your hand in front of your face. When you come out, you'll wind up with a fantastic view looking out into the canyon.

It probably isn't the best idea to go around randomly crawling in holes you find along a trail. It can be incredibly hazardous to go exploring random "caves". The last thing you want is to come across some wild animal, or to get stuck. Probably best for the majority of us to stick to what's on the map.

Keep reading to see photos of Palo Duro's trails, caves, and impressive views.