Most people picture Texas as flat, and on the Llano Estacado it is. Then the land simply drops away. Palo Duro Canyon, carved by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River into the eastern edge of the caprock, is generally described as the second-largest canyon in the United States — roughly 120 miles long, up to about 20 miles wide and around 800 feet deep. Its walls are striped in red, orange, yellow and white layers of rock laid down over some 250 million years.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park, opened in 1934 after work by the Civilian Conservation Corps, protects the most spectacular section, about 25 miles southeast of Amarillo and just east of the town of Canyon. From Lubbock it is roughly two hours’ drive north — an ideal day trip, or better, a night in Canyon or Amarillo so you can hike in the cool of the morning.
Top things to do: Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Hike the Lighthouse Trail
The park’s signature hike is about 6 miles (around 10 km) round trip on a mostly flat trail to the Lighthouse, a tall sandstone hoodoo that has become the symbol of the canyon. The last stretch is a short, steep scramble. Start at sunrise in summer, carry more water than you think you need, and turn back if the heat builds.
Drive the park road to the canyon floor
The paved park road descends from the rim past the visitor center to the canyon floor and loops along the river, with overlooks, picnic areas and trailheads. Even without hiking, the drive and a stop at the rim-top visitor center (built by the CCC) are worth the trip.
Ride a horse or rent a bike
Horseback rides with a local outfitter and mountain-bike rentals have been offered inside the park in recent years; there are many miles of multi-use trails. Check what is running on the Texas Parks and Wildlife site before you go.
See TEXAS Outdoor Musical
On summer evenings (typically June to mid-August) the Pioneer Amphitheatre, built into a 600-foot cliff, stages TEXAS, a lively musical about the settlers of the Panhandle with fireworks, lighting on the canyon walls and a chuckwagon-style dinner option. Book ahead.
Learn the history
The canyon was a winter refuge for Comanche and Kiowa bands until the Battle of Palo Duro Canyon in 1874, during the Red River War. Two years later Charles Goodnight drove cattle into the canyon to found the famous JA Ranch. The nearby Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon tells the whole story superbly.
How to get there
- From Lubbock: take I-27 north about 100 miles to Canyon, then TX-217 east for around 12 miles to the park entrance. Allow about 2 hours.
- From Amarillo: about 25–30 miles, roughly 30–40 minutes via I-27 south and TX-217.
- Entry: a daily entrance fee per adult applies (around $8 at the time of writing; children under 13 free). Texas State Parks recommends reserving day passes online, especially on spring and autumn weekends.
- No public transport: you need a car. There are no guided tours bookable on GetYourGuide for the canyon at present.
Insider tips
- Summer temperatures on the canyon floor regularly exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Hike early, carry at least 3–4 litres of water per person and wear a hat.
- Flash floods can close low-water crossings after storms — check park alerts and never drive through running water.
- Spring (April–May) and autumn (late September–October) are the most comfortable seasons; sunsets on the rim are superb year-round.
- Stay overnight: the park has campsites and a few cabins (book months ahead), or stay in Canyon or Amarillo — see our where to stay guide.
- Combine with Cadillac Ranch and Route 66 in Amarillo for a full, easy weekend.
Pair it with a tour
GetYourGuide has no bookable tours in Lubbock itself yet, so these are the best-rated experiences that fit naturally into a trip that includes Palo Duro Canyon State Park:
Outdoor adventure from $160 Terlingua: Rio Grande Full-Day Guided Raft, Kayak or Canoe Trip
If Palo Duro Canyon gives you a taste for West Texas canyons, Big Bend is the grand finale. It is a long drive (roughly six to seven hours south of Lubbock), so treat it as a multi-day extension: this perfectly rated full-day river trip takes you through the canyons of the Rio Grande, with the United States on one bank and Mexico on the other.
- Float between Texas and Mexico on the Rio Grande
- Canyons of the Big Bend region
- Raft, canoe or kayak depending on water levels
Private tour from $161 Terlingua: Private Big Bend Stargazing Tour with Telescopes
The South Plains already have big, dark skies, but the Big Bend region is one of the darkest places in the lower 48 states. If your West Texas road trip reaches Terlingua, book this private night with a guide and telescopes to chase galaxies and star clusters under the Milky Way.
- Private session for your group only
- Telescopes on a 60-acre dark-sky property
- Galaxies, star clusters and the Milky Way
Balloon flight from $215 Albuquerque: Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Flight with Toast
Albuquerque sits on Route 66 roughly four and a half hours west of Amarillo, and it is the hot-air-balloon capital of the United States. After driving the Mother Road across the Texas Panhandle, this sunrise flight is a spectacular reward: calm dawn air, the Rio Grande valley below and the Sandia Mountains glowing in the first light.
- Sunrise flight with views of the Sandia Mountains
- Celebratory toast and light snacks after landing
- Perfect 5/5 guest rating
