20-21 April 2019 Return to Palo Duro

We thought we would get back down to Palo Duro Canyon State Park on Saturday for a hike. But when we remembered Saturday was National Parks day, given the popularity of Palo Duro, we figured it would be back, so we decided to go Sunday instead. After watching the Easter church service online, we headed down to Canyon for Mexican food Sunday and then on to the park. Being a small town, on Easter, not surprisingly, all the Mexican food restaurants were closed! But we found a café that was open and we got lunch. When we got to the entrance for Palo Duro Canyon State Park, we realized we had forgotten something very important, the southwestern tradition of Easter Sunday Family Picnics!. The Park was packed with families having the Easter picnics. Fortunately, the trails we choose to hike were not too busy. We hiked the Paseo Del Rio and a portion of the Rojo Grande trail. Both of these follow the river in the bottom of the Canyon. It was about 2.5 miles total, being at the bottom of the canyon, it was hotter (95-100F) and since the trees had not bloomed out yet, it was very sunny. But it was a fun hike and it felt good to get out and stretch our legs. Critter sighting: A large Road Runner (but no coyote). 

Palo Duro Canyon

On the Trail

Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River at the bottom of the canyon

Cowboy Dugout from the Ranching period