Palo Duro Canyon Explodes With Beauty and Life After Recent Rain

Did you know that one of the best state parks in the United States is located just a couple of miles away from Lubbock, just outside of Amarillo? Palo Duro Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the United States, and right now it's showing just how vibrant it can be after recent rains.

This past Saturday, I drove up to Amarillo to broadcast from The Knife Guys on Soncy Road, but before I did that, I took a side trip to Palo Duro Canyon. This was my first trip to the Canyon in at least seven years, and the views did not disappoint. Below are some pictures I took at Palo Duro, but first a few things to know about Palo Duro Canyon.

Palo Duro Canyon Ranked the 10th Best State Park

Palo Duro Canyon was recently ranked by USA Today as the 10th Best State Park in the nation according to ABC7Amarillo.com. There are more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and even equestrian trails. When I visited on Saturday, June 7, all trails were closed due to rainfall.

One of the most well-known hikes is the Lighthouse Trail. The tail leads to the very popular Lighthouse formation that is over 300 feet tall.

No into hiking? Just take a drive around the canyon and take in the beauty. You never know, you might just see roadrunners, wild turkeys, mule deer, or even a Texas horned lizard.

Finally, there is also the TEXAS-Outdoor Musical that takes place in the canyon during the summer in the amphitheater.

Palo Duro Canyon Essentials

The Saturday I drove into Palo Duro, it was overcast and cool. That is not the norm during the Summer. During the summer, the canyon gets hot. So if you plan on hiking or doing any type of activity, bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Gate hours are 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and I would suggest arriving early. First, it's cooler, second, there can be a line to get into the park and sometimes they reach capacity.

There are also plenty of places to camp, GLAMP, and there are even cabins and Airbnb options close by.

So take a day and visit Palo Duro Canyon. Below are just some of the recent pictures taken.

Here are some other great pictures of Palo Duro Canyon over the years from Charlie Hardin in Amarillo.