Amarillo Excursions
The Lighthouse, Palo Dura Canyon © Amarillo Convention and Visitors Council
Palo Duro Canyon
Starting about a million years ago a branch of the Red River
carved a massive canyon through the northern Texas plains. The
walls of the Palo Duro Canyon plunge down to 1,000ft (305m) at
points, exposing the multi-layered coloured rock strata. The
colours are particularly brightly picked out on the spires and
pinnacles that the forces of nature have carved out on the canyon
floor. The Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a few miles east of
Amarillo, reached via Texas 217 highway. The park offers picnic and
camping facilities, a visitor's centre with a shop, an amphitheatre
where shows are staged, and horseback riding trips. The park also
has a famous historic site where the last great battle between
troops and Indians took place in Texas. In 1874 Colonel Ranald
Mackenzie and his 4th Cavalry defeated a large band of Native
Americans camped in the canyon and transported them to reservations
in Oklahoma.
Address: The park is located about 12 miles (19km) east of Canyon on State Highway 217;
E-mail: pdc@palodurocanyon.com;
Website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/paloduro/paloduro.htm;
Telephone: (806) 488 2227;
Opening time: Gates are open daily: 8am to 5pm (November to February); 8am to 10pm (March to October);
Admission: $4 (adults), children under 12 are free
