Palo Duro Canyon

Landscape

The canyon was formed by erosion from the Little Prairie Dog Town branch of the Red River.

The park is home to many unique geological formations, including many hoodoos-- thin, irregular columns of sedimentary rock sticking up from the canyon floor, capped with a harder rock which prevents further erosion. The Lighthouse is the most famous of these in park, and is one of the quintessential postcard shots in the state.

Prominent features:

the Lighthouse, reachable via a 5.75 mile-long round trip on the Lighthouse Trail.

Capital Peak

the Spanish Skirts

the Devil's Slide

Understand

Palo Duro Canyon is 120 miles long, up to 20 miles wide, and up to 820 feet deep, making it the United States' second largest canyon.

Flora and fauna

Aoudad sheep

are agile climbers, a rare but special sight.

Whitetail deer

and Mule deer

Coyotes

and red foxes

Bobcats

and mountain lions

Diamondback rattlesnakes

and Bullsnakes

Longhorn cattle

but only two of them. They are named "Biscuits" and "Gravy".

Wild boar

and wild turkeys