Palo Duro Canyon State Park opened on July 4, 1934 and contains 29,182 acres of the scenic, northern most portion of the Palo Duro Canyon. The Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930’s constructed most of the buildings and roads still in use by park staff and visitors.
Looking north into the canyon, from the south rim, on Highway 207. Photo by Pi3.124
The Canyon is 120 miles long, as much as 20 miles wide, and has a maximum depth of more than 800 feet. Its elevation at the rim is 3,500 feet above sea level. It is often claimed that Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States. The largest, the Grand Canyon, is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and 6,000 ft. deep.Palo Duro Canyon was formed by water erosion from the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The water deepens the canyon by moving sediment downstream. Wind and water erosion gradually widen the canyon.
Early Spanish Explorers are believed to have discovered the area and dubbed the canyon “Palo Duro” which is Spanish for “hard wood” in reference to the abundant mesquite and juniper trees.
Palo Duro Canyon by Patty
Palo Duro Canyon by Richard Smith
Palo Duro Canyon at sunrise by Amy Moore
Palo Duro Canyon at sunrise by Texas Wild
Palo Duro Canyon sunset by Jeff Lynch
Palo Duro Canyon sunset by Scott Booth
Palo Duro balloons at sunrise by Jeff Harbin
Palo Duro SP by TPWD
Palo Duro Trail by shoelessjosh
Sunset at Palo Duro by Stephen O’Brien
The Falls at River Fall by Palo Duro by Greg Dodson
Capitol Peak, Palo Duro by Clinton Steeds
Fall in Palo Duro Canyon by Vonda Higgins
Fortress Cliffs Ranch, Palo Duro by Orvis Cushman & Wakefield
Lighthouse, Palo Duro by FredlyFish4
Lighthouse at Palo Duro by Wesley Luginbyhl
Lighthouse Peak, Palo Duro Canyon by Michael Schumacher
