Palo Duro Canyon.. Who's been?

[crbeveri]

Hey all, I am thinking of hitting up Palo Duro Canyon when I get back from this hitch for a mountain bike/ photography get away. I am just wondering if anyone that's been there has any advice on the area, lodging, and good photo locations.

Cheers

[tc95]

Great place...used to love to hike there when I was going to Tech...I would tell you to stay in Amarillo...I really wish now that I was into photography back then...a lot of good photo shots...the Gypsum comes out of the ground all over the place....also give yourself a good two days...actually a lot to see...

Have fun..!!!

[Nocturnus]

Austin Bike's Guide to Central Texas Mountain Biking - Palo Duro Canyon, Canyon, TX

Or, head over to bikemojo.com. I know quite a few people there have been up to Palo Duro. It's on my list to shoot and ride.

[Todd Lambert]

I'm not a rider, but I was actually less than impressed with Palo Duro myself. From a landscape point of view, I found it rather dull. There were some smaller Hoodoos in the park that were okay, and of course there's the lighthouse formation, but otherwise, it was a bit dull to me. (of course it's much more interesting than most of Texas though).

On the way up there, near Caprock Canyon, there's a nice Butte as well. I may need to spend some more time up there, but in my two trips into that area, I came away feeling jipped. (they bill it as the 2nd largest canyon in the US - what a crock that is.)

[jeffro20]

Originally Posted by Todd Lambert

I'm not a rider, but I was actually less than impressed with Palo Duro myself. From a landscape point of view, I found it rather dull. There were some smaller Hoodoos in the park that were okay, and of course there's the lighthouse formation, but otherwise, it was a bit dull to me. (of course it's much more interesting than most of Texas though).

On the way up there, near Caprock Canyon, there's a nice Butte as well. I may need to spend some more time up there, but in my two trips into that area, I came away feeling jipped. (they bill it as the 2nd largest canyon in the US - what a crock that is.)

Doesn't live up to the Mini-Grand Canyon tag eh?

[kenw]

Originally Posted by jeffro20

Doesn't live up to the Mini-Grand Canyon tag eh?

define 'mini'.....

[jeffro20]

Originally Posted by kenw

define 'mini'.....

Smaller than maxi.

[SCone]

Originally Posted by Todd Lambert

I'm not a rider, but I was actually less than impressed with Palo Duro myself. From a landscape point of view, I found it rather dull. There were some smaller Hoodoos in the park that were okay, and of course there's the lighthouse formation, but otherwise, it was a bit dull to me. (of course it's much more interesting than most of Texas though).

On the way up there, near Caprock Canyon, there's a nice Butte as well. I may need to spend some more time up there, but in my two trips into that area, I came away feeling jipped. (they bill it as the 2nd largest canyon in the US - what a crock that is.)

Not sure what you went looking for, but Palo Duro is an amazing place to roam. No it's not Grand Canyon, but you start out in the bottom of the canyon & makes everything so much easier to access.

The deer & wild turkey were EVERYWHERE the last time we were there.

[Todd Lambert]

Yes, the turkeys were cool. I don't know, it's just Texas... Texas is not really a great place for landscape photography, that's all. I was hopeful that Palo Duro might be an exception to that rule, but in my opinion, it wasn't. It was still dull (better than most areas of TX, but that's not saying much.)

I mean, I'm just being honest.

[SCone]

Best part of Palo Duro is how close you are to everything. Grand Canyon was fantastic, but everything seemed "out there"... even Yellowstone is kept at a distance... we walked for hours thru the riverbed, climbed up to the caves & watched the wildlife wander thru our campsite.... guess it's up to the individual.....

[Jeff_Green]

I am going there next weekend... got my campsite reserved and I am excited! I have seen a friends photographs from there (and some from this site) and they are anything but "dull". Sure, it's no "Grand Canyon", but nothing is.

[crbeveri]

Hey all thanks for the comments.... even the off topic ones . haha.

Jeff let me know how it goes. I wont be back in the states (on dry land) until after October 1st so I am going once I get back before I head back to the office haha. For me the trip will actually be more a Mountain Biking trip as I am gonna be finishing up my new Mountain Bike and wanna put it through its paces and the trails in Houston wont really challenge it the way I want it to. Of course though I will be taking my camera and hoping to do some video as well.

Thanks again all.

Cheers

[Chief]

I grew up in the area and we owned a few hundred acres in the canyon ( not in the Park ) and for us it was the greatest play ground in the world. I miss it and look forward to annual visits.

Gordon

[ptrd]

I was raised in amarillo and it's a great place for it's closeness to the city (15 minutes) and seeing as there isn't anything interesting for the next few hundred miles, I would say it's pretty cool.

You have to wander around (don't get lost) more. I had a bunch of friends who had parents that owned houses out in Palo Duro club, that area is a little more "wild".

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Todd Lambert

Yes, the turkeys were cool. I don't know, it's just Texas... Texas is not really a great place for landscape photography, that's all. I was hopeful that Palo Duro might be an exception to that rule, but in my opinion, it wasn't. It was still dull (better than most areas of TX, but that's not saying much.)

I mean, I'm just being honest.

Compared to Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana (etc) we don't have much in the way of landscape opportunities in Texas. IMHO Big Bend offers the most variety in that regard. Palo Duro can be pretty photogenic. Idk what it's going to look like at the end of this summer. Not like this:



If I had a choice between driving to Palo Duro or driving to Big Bend I would choose Big Bend but only if I had already seen Palo Duro. If you've never been there I think that it's worth taking a trip. You can see Palo Duro in an easy weekend. It's pretty small. If you add another day to your drive you can be in Canyonlands Now that's some landscape...