We got an early start leaving the small desolate town on old Route 66 behind that had seen better days. We found a local Mexican Cafe in another small town with the best green chilies omelet. Our interstate drive took us along stretches of parched, flat land for miles. We encountered long trains with over 100 cars and then huge corrals of cattle. We passed through Canyon south of Amarillo, Texas into Palo Duro Canyon State Park. The canyon is second in size to Grand Canyon and a spectacular drive winding down into the bottom of the canyon to our Sagebrush campground. We set up in our huge campsite with our own pergola hidden back in the brush with a stunning view of the canyon. We took the Kiowa Trail with great views of Triassic Peak and an original Civilian Conservation Corp bridge over the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River.
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| Our campsite in Palo Duro Canyon State Park |
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| Our own pergola with picnic table |
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| Glamping luxurious campsites down from us |
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| Amazing wildflower collection along the Kiowa Trail |
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| Fields of sunflowers |
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| Surrounded by canyon walls |
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| Red dusty trails |
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| Unusual wildflowers galore |
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| Gorgeous red rock cliffs |
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| Red cliffs with gypsum layers of white stripes |
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| Huge boulders |
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| Park outdoor amphitheater |
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| Amazing peaks |
The next morning was cool as we got up at daybreak to head to the popular Lighthouse Trail that takes you up to the iconic rock formation. We were the second car in the parking lot and had one walker and one runner pass us. On our return trip, the trail was crowded with folks making the 6-mile hike and the parking lot was filled. Even though it was only in the 80's we felt parched and stopped at the Trading Post and gift shop for a cold drink. We drove the canyon loop road and stopped at The Rock Garden Trail to view the avalanche and display of boulders. We then stopped at the Rojo Grande Trail which was supposed to be a shady walk but turned back in the noontime heat. We drove back up the canyon to the Visitor Center and Overlook. After a picnic lunch and a nap back at the campsite, it cooled down to enjoy grilling out steaks for dinner.
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| Precautions about hiking in the heat |
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| Across the flat canyon floor |
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| Meadows of wildflowers |
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| Unusual rock formations |
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| Impressive peaks |
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| A great hike to the Lighthouse Rocks |
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| Red rock stacks |
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| Huge flat-topped rocks |
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| The iconic Lighthouse Rocks |
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| Great horned toad |
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| The Rock Garden Trail |
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| Remains of avalanche |
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| Visitor Center Overlook |
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| A stone wall built by Civilian Conservation Corp at Overlook |
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| Immense panoramic canyon |
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| The huge tarantula spiders roaming the campsite and trails |
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