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If you’ve ever heard anyone talk about the “Grand Canyon of Texas,” they mean Palo Duro Canyon, the second-largest naturally occurring canyon in America. Located in the Texas Panhandle region, the top, angular portion of the map that resembles the handle on a frying pan, Palo Duro is 24 miles from Amarillo. This 120-mile-long, 20-mile-wide, 800-foot-deep canyon is partially a state park and partially private land. Palo Duro Canyon State Park welcomes around 400,000 visitors annually, making it one of Texas’ most visited state parks.

One of the most remarkable things about Palo Duro Canyon is that it sort of sneaks up on you. I’ll never forget the first time I took my non-Texan husband to Palo Duro. After nearly seven hours of driving across the state, he glanced doubtfully at me across the cab of the truck and asked, “Are you sure there’s a canyon up here?” We rounded the corner, and lo and behold, there it was, in all its red-banded rock glory.

What to Expect

It costs $8 for adults to enter the park for the day. Kids under 12 are free. Campsites and rustic cabins are available for rent separately. There are 97 campsites with water and electricity, and a handful of sites with water only. Backcountry camping is also available. A private company operates glamping tents and cabins on the floor of the canyon.

This is one of Texas’ most in-demand parks, so while park entry reservations aren’t required, they are recommended, especially from May through August.

Fun Fact

The final scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filmed in Palo Duro Canyon.

Things to Do in Palo Duro Canyon

Watch an Outdoor Musical

This seasonal, family-friendly show runs from early June through early August in a natural amphitheater carved from and nestled into the canyon basin. If you’re imagining that the acoustics and scenic backdrops would be spectacular, you’re 100 percent correct. The show is a fictional account of settlers in the panhandle during the 1800s, told with songs, dancing, humor, and staggering special effects.

Tickets range from $20 to $65, depending on seat location. Book online, and be sure to add on the pre-show BBQ dinner at checkout. The shows frequently sell out, so while last-minute plans can work, consider booking early.

If you don’t have a park ticket, you can enter after 6:00 pm to attend the show with a valid Texas Outdoor Musical ticket.

Hop on a Bike

The trails in Palo Duro Canyon State Park are for bikers and hikers to share, unless signs indicate otherwise. Popular trails for exploring the park on two wheels are the Rock Garden Trail and the Givens, Spencer and Lowry Trail. The GSL can be added on to the Lighthouse Trail to make a 9-mile scenic loop. If you don’t bring your own bike, Palo Duro Canyon Outfitters and Hill’s Sport Shop in nearby Amarillo both offer bike rentals.

Go Horseback Riding

While anyone is welcome to bring their own horse and ride in the canyon, there’s no shortage of outfitters offering instruction and guided rides to people of all experience levels, even if that means no experience.

Old West Stables is located on the canyon rim and offers tours to Timber Creek Canyon. Other nearby outfitters who work within and near the canyon are Cowgirls and Cowboys of the West and Palo Duro Stables.

Take a Hike

Hiking is the most popular pastime in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. There are more than 30 miles of trails—check out an interactive map on the park’s website or ask a ranger for recommendations. The most popular trail is the Lighthouse Trail, a 5.9-mile out-and-back that leads to a towering hoodoo formation that resembles a lighthouse. The trail is listed as moderately challenging, but that rating is granted due to some steepness near the turnaround point as you approach the base of the hoodoo. Other than that, it’s an easy trek on an established, packed dirt trail.

Join Ranger-led programming

The park rangers always have something going on, from themed guided hikes to sing-a-long evenings to art-focused events. The park’s calendar lists ranger-led events about a month out, or you can call the park to get information on upcoming programs.

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Experience Palo Duro Creek Ranch

The portion of the canyon that’s not under the control of Texas Parks and Wildlife is privately owned land. While it’s the same canyon and the same terrain, visiting the non-park side offers a different, less populated experience. The ranch is also known as the Elkins Ranch.

Palo Duro Creek Ranch is a working cattle ranch that offers Jeep and horseback tours. The Jeep tours are offered in one, two, and three-hour increments. The three-hour tour in an open-backed modified Jeep/Humvee is a bumpy ride, but it's worth it. Expect vast canyon views and chances to see wildlife, such as mule deer, prairie dog, Texas horned lizard, and the apex predator of the canyon, the coyote. It’s more expensive than going to the park, and there’s no camping at Palo Duro Creek Ranch. But less human activity increases your odds of seeing animals.

The best scenic viewpoint in Palo Duro Creek Ranch is Yellow Bear Bluff.

Nearby Attractions

Take A Drive on Route 66

This famous road from Chicago to Santa Monica opened up road trip travel for millions of Americans. Amarillo is the largest city on the stretch of Route 66 that runs from Oklahoma to Texas into New Mexico. Even though superhighways have replaced the “Mother Road,” the stretch that runs through Amarillo is still fun to explore.

Most of the things to see fall into the offbeat roadside attraction category, such as the Devil’s Rope Museum, a museum dedicated to barbed wire but it’s good fun and the opportunity for memorable pictures.

Stop in Amarillo, Texas

Nearby Amarillo is a destination in its own right. For anyone who is all about the great outdoors except when it comes to sleeping on the ground, Amarillo has a variety of options for comfy beds and indoor plumbing that’s close enough to Palo Duro’s outdoor beauty to make for an easy commute.

If you’ve got a hearty appetite and love a good food challenge, The Big Texan has a 72-ounce steak with your name on it. If you can finish it, plus fixings, within an hour, the meal is free. The challenge has been going strong since 1962, and there’s no reservation required—when you’re ready, they’re ready.

Amarillo's Art in the Sunset is a reimagined art space featuring galleries, studios, and community events worth checking out. Don’t miss the First Friday Art Walks, a come-and-go evening filled with live music, food trucks, and local art.

Stop at one of the state's newest Buc-ee’s while you're in town. This beloved Texas travel stop opened in Amarillo in late 2024, featuring famously clean restrooms, 100+ gas pumps, local snacks, and endless Texas-themed gifts. A destination in itself for roadtrippers.

Enjoy Time in Canyon, Texas

Stop by the Sad Monkey Mercantile just outside the enterence to Palo Duro Canyon. This stylish outpost blends local goods, outdoor gear, snacks, and coffee with a curated Texas aesthetic—ideal for pre- or post-hike browsing.

Visit Creek House Honey Farm in Canyon, Texas, for a change of pace. This family-owned honey farm offers educational bee tours, a honey boutique, a rooftop mead tasting room, and a charming café for a sweet midday stop.