The second largest canyon in America......

Palo Duro Canyon, just south of Amarillo, Texas IS the second largest canyon.......really!  Stretching over 160 miles, and over 600 feet deep, this canyon has many of the rock formations and colors that we saw at Georgia O'Keeffe's beloved Abiquiu.  And then we discovered that Ms. O'Keeffe spend the first few years of her teaching and painting career here in Palo Duro (before moving on to New Mexico).   She must have known.....

After driving BIW down a 10% grade road built by the CCC in the 1930's, we reached the floor of the canyon.  Unlike the Grand Canyon [the largest canyon in America], our perspective was looking up to the canyon walls and rock formations.  This Texas state park encompasses only the northern 20 miles of the canyon.  The rest is owned privately and used for ranching and grazing.

Setting up our motorhome at Hackberry campground, we noted all of the turkeys camped out behind our site.  Over a dozen turkeys gobbling, wandering for camper crumbs, and strutting their stuff.  A nice campground too, with a lot of very friendly campers from all over the States & Canada.

Our next day, we set out on an 8+ mile hike.  Without much elevation to climb, we enjoyed the walk through the canyon floor and along the walls.  After walking the one mile trail to the trailhead, we set out on the Lighthouse Trail, noted for the Lighthouse rock formation which stands 600 feet from the canyon floor.  Then we returned on the Givens, Spicer, Lowry Trail along the canyon rim.  More really great colors and rock formations. 

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is definitely a place to return to.  We need to tell all of our camper friends not to miss this second largest canyon in America.