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Randall County

Lighthouse Trail – Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Randall County

Lighthouse Trail – Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Moderate

4.8

(19)

286

hikers

Lighthouse Trail – Palo Duro Canyon State Park

02:29

9.37km

90m

Hiking

Everyone knows the Grand Canyon. But have you ever heard of Palo Duro Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of Texas? After all, it is the second largest canyon in the USA, which impresses with its multi-colored rock layers. A stop is practically a must on your road trip along Route 66. The starting point of the hike is just 30 minutes south of Amarillo.

You hike over sandy ground past the colorful cliffs. Wind and water have shaped this impressive landscape with its striking rock formations over thousands of years. Such as the so-called Lighthouse, your destination for this hike. Keep your eyes open, you can spot numerous wild animals along the way, such as raccoons, turkeys, deer or the endangered horned lizard. Wildflowers and lush grasses create a great color contrast to the rocks.

The entrance to the Lighthouse Trail is right at the hiking car park. Make sure you have enough water and sun protection before you start the hike. You won't find much shade along the way.

by VisitTheUSA

Last updated: December 16, 2024

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

22 m

Lighthouse Peak Trailhead

Highlight • Trail

7 mile trail behind the backside of Capitol Peak mostly flat to the foot of the iconic Lighthouse Peak natural rock towers. Refill your water bottles at the visitor center or campground before coming out here.

Tip by

941 m

Capitol Peak View

Highlight • Viewpoint

This is a beautiful view, regardless if you're a geology enthusiast or not. The resistant sandstone beds of the Quartermaster and Tecovas formations are prominently exposed, while the overlying Trujillo and Ogallala formations have eroded away. This erosion creates dramatic geological features like the hoodoos, which are visible here. Massive Trujillo sandstone also caps the mesa to the north called Timber Mesa, home to the iconic formation "Santana's Face" by the Trading Post.

Tip by

3.39 km

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Highlight (Segment) • Canyon

Palo Duro Canyon is a canyon in the Texas Panhandle in Texas between Amarillo and Lubbock.

It is the second largest canyon in the United States. It is about 193 kilometers long and has an average width of 10 kilometers, increasing to 37 kilometers in some places. The maximum depth is 244 meters. Palo Duro Canyon is also known as the Grand Canyon of Texas because of its size and impressive geological features, including multicolored rock layers.

The canyon was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River, which meanders through West Texas' relatively shallow Caprock Gorge. The canyon's geological formations, including caves and pinnacles, have been formed by water and wind erosion over thousands of years.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.76 km

Lighthouse

Highlight • Natural Monument

Nicknamed for its resemblance to a lighthouse, this iconic sandstone tower rises high above the canyon floor, offering amazing views. Hike out to this geological wonder to admire its unique shape and sheer vertical walls formed by millennia of wind and water erosion. A stunning photo op!

Tip by

4.99 km

Stone Steps

Highlight • Canyon

The Stone Steps are a fun scramble. However, if you are descending, use extra caution as some of the steps are quite steep and slippery.

Tip by

9.37 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.32 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

9.32 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Thursday 21 May

23°C

13°C

84 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 14, 2024

Everyone knows the Grand Canyon. But have you ever heard of Palo Duro Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of Texas? After all, it is the second largest canyon in the USA, which impresses with its multi-colored rock layers. A stop is practically a must on your road trip along Route 66. The starting

Translated by Google •