Palo Duro Canyon, "The Grand Canyon of Texas," is located in the Panhandle plains of northwest Texas near Amarillo. Campgrounds are plentiful. Take your pick from backcountry primitive sites to designated car campsites with tables and grills. Near Palo Duro you can scuba dive, mountain bike, ride horseback, hike, sail, fish, swim, star gaze, bird watch and dirt bike.
Lake Meredith National Recreation Area
Lake Meredith was built to provide water for the cities of the dry Texas Panhandle. It is also as outdoorsmen's mecca. The large lake offers opportunity for scuba diving, boating, sailing, fishing and swimming. The surrounding land has several no-reservation campgrounds on the shore, high on a bluff and in the trees. Tables, grills and a combination of vault or flush toilets are provided. There are no showers or utility hook-ups. Most of the drive to the lake, 50 miles north of Palo Duro, is on a two-lane road.
Caprock Canyons State Park
This state park is in Quitaque, 75 miles southeast of Palo Duro. It has its own set of canyons, but they are not as spectacular as Palo Duro. The park offers front country and backcountry camping and horse camping. Car campsites have tables, grills, flush toilets and showers. Caprock maintains 30 miles of hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails. The main attraction at Caprock is the trailway, a 64-mile multi-use trail for horses, hikers and non-motorized bikes. The trailway runs through fields and canyons and a 742-foot abandoned railroad tunnel where thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats live during the summer months. The highway from Palo Duro is a combination of interstate and two-lane roads.
Lake Mackenzie Park
This park is in Silverton, 55 miles southeast of Palo Duro. It is operated by the Lake Mackenzie Municipal Water Authority and welcomes dirt bikers and all-terrain vehicle riders. Horses are welcome too. Other activities are swimming, fishing and boating. The campground has tables, grills, cold showers and flush toilets. A playground is close to the campsites. The City of Silverton Municipal Park also welcomes campers. The drive from Palo Duro is on a combination of interstate and two-lane roads.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Camp inside Palo Duro to enjoy seeing the sunrise and sunset on the canyon walls. The park has over 150 campsites; many can be reserved. Bring your own horse or take a trail ride from the park stables. Palo Duro has hiking and mountain biking trails that take you right up among the formations. Pack a lunch and plenty of water and spend the day in the backcountry. The campgrounds have water, flush toilets, hot showers and full hookups. Wildlife and bird watching, star gazing and studying rocks are other popular pastimes.
Private Campgrounds
Palo Duro RV Park is located in the nearby city of Canyon just a few minutes from Palo Duro Canyon State Park entrance. There are convenient campsites for those wanting to spend their days in the canyon hiking and biking. Amarillo has several privately owned campgrounds, including a large KOA. Cool off in the swimming pool after a long day hiking in the canyon or play horseshoes or basketball. KOA has a large playground and bike rentals. These campgrounds are 25 miles north of Palo Duro.
Member Comments