Hiking in Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Palo Duro Canyon is about 30 minutes south of Amarillo and is the second largest canyon in the United States. According to the brochure, “Palo Duro is Spanish for ‘hard wood’ in reference to the Rocky Mountain Juniper trees still seen in places in the canyon.” We hiked the CCC trail, which was listed as “difficult” and timed at an hour and a half; we’d rate it as easy to moderate, and completed it in far less time than anticipated. If you visit, bring sunscreen and lots of bug spray; along with the beautiful vistas, cactus, and wildlife is an abundance of biting flies.