Palo Duro Canyon State Park

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Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Zosia Zgolak and I paid a visit to Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo, Texas on 1 April 2024. The canyon itself is apparently the second largest in the US, but oddly enough, I had never heard of it until I was researching for things to do on our current trip. We started our visit with a short hike up Goodnight Peak near the entrance to the park. This entailed hiking up the east end of the CCC Trail and then connecting with the Goodnight Peak Scenic Loop Trail. While tagging the summit was easy enough, we added some extra challenge by scrambling a subsidiary high point to the south. From there, we took a short cut back to the trailhead by descending a steep drainage to the east which led us to the backstage area of an outdoor theatre. We returned to our parked car by exiting stage left.

	Zosia begins hiking up Goodnight Peak (far left).
	Zosia gets a good look at Palo Duro Canyon during her ascent of Goodnight Peak.
	Sonny and Zosia stand on the summit of Goodnight Peak (995 metres).
	Zosia wanders to the south end of Goodnight Peak for a more comprehensive view of Palo Duro Canyon.
	Lighthouse Rock is visible in the distance in this zoomed-in view from Goodnight Peak. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia scrambles up a short cliff band to access a subsidiary high point south of Goodnight Peak.

Nice perch for a memorial.

Zosia examines what appears to be a memorial stone on top of the subsidiary high point.

	Zosia carefully down-climbs the cliff band guarding the subsidiary high point. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Sonny takes a short cut down a rocky gully toward an outdoor theatre near the trailhead. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 2.1 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 1 hour 17 minutes Net Elevation Gain: 105 metres GPX Data

Zosia and I next drove to the trailhead for probably the most popular hike in the park--Lighthouse Rock. Near the start of this hike, we took a short detour to scramble up Capitol Peak which, from certain angles, resembles the US Capitol Building in Washington D.C. The off-trail route up the south side of the peak is short but steep and loose. We managed to ascend most of the way without too much difficulty, but the summit is an airy knife-edged ridge which can only accommodate one person at a time. As such, we had to take turns tagging the top and could not set up for a group summit photo.

	Sonny grabs some complimentary sunscreen at the trailhead for Lighthouse Rock. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia approaches Capitol Peak which resembles the US Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
	This loose gully provides a reasonable ascent route for Capitol Peak.
	Zosia prepares to surmount a short rock band guarding the upper mountain.
	Sonny stands on the summit of Capitol Peak (950 metres). Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

She's the Queen of the World!

Zosia takes her turn to stand on the summit of Capitol Peak.

After carefully retracing our steps down from the top of Capitol Peak, Zosia and I returned to the main trail and settled into a lengthy but generally straightforward march to Lighthouse Rock. Lighthouse Rock itself is a technical climb, but some people scramble up a neighbouring tower to the south. A well-worn trail circles around to the south side of this tower, but reaching the summit requires a short technical move to surmount a rather awkward 2.5-metre step. We both gave the step a half-hearted try but ultimately backed down after deciding that it was not worth risking an injury. A couple of young men that arrived after us successfully surmounted the technical step after a lengthy deliberation, but we were content to enjoy the same panoramic views from our safe perch nearby. We stopped here for a short break before some light rain prompted us to get moving and descend the way we came. The hike back to the trailhead was long but uneventful.

Back to the grind... Back on the trail to Lighthouse Rock, Zosia circles around the north side of Capitol Peak.

Castle Peak...how original! Lighthouse Rock appears in the distance as Zosia is about to cross a wash. At left is Castle Peak.

Insert your favourite phallic joke! Zosia approaches the base of Lighthouse Rock.

Minas Morgul? Lighthouse Rock looks dark and brooding under cloudy skies.

I'm gettin' too old for this sort of thing! Sonny stretches over a big step at the base of Lighthouse Rock.
Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

Not a scramble...thankfully!

Here is a view of Lighthouse Rock from its south side.

	Zosia takes a pause on her way up the tower to the south of Lighthouse Rock.
	A short technical move up an awkward step is required to reach to top of the south tower. Zosia would back down after giving it a try.
	On the hike out, Zosia stops for one last look at the north side of Capitol Peak.
	Total Distance: 11.4 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 4 hours 53 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 158 metres GPX Data

Before leaving the park, Zosia and I made one more stop to visit the Big Cave which is little more than a large recess in a rocky bluff. The walk to the cave is short which was ideal for us after a long day of hiking.

	Zosia heads for the Big Cave.
	A hole can be seen in the ceiling of the Big Cave.
	While it is possible to access the top of the hole in the cave ceiling (by scrambling around the outside), this is not the best way. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

	Back on the trail to Lighthouse Rock, Zosia circles around the north side of Capitol Peak.
	Lighthouse Rock appears in the distance as Zosia is about to cross a wash. At left is Castle Peak.
	Zosia approaches the base of Lighthouse Rock.
	Lighthouse Rock looks dark and brooding under cloudy skies.
	Sonny stretches over a big step at the base of Lighthouse Rock. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak