I have been guilty of complaining that “there are no cool hikes in Texas”. Did anyone else think Texas is just miles and miles of flat land? WEELLLL, after driving 5 hours from Dallas, TX, and hiking The Lighthouse Trail, my mind was changed! Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a true hidden gem off the beaten path. Here, you will find the 2nd largest canyon in the United States, miles of hiking trails, and AMAZING views.
Hint:: Combine this stop with this EPIC road trip from Dallas, TX to Colorado Springs!
Table of Contents
Where is The Lighthouse Trail Located?
The Lighthouse Trail is located within Palo Duro Canyon State Park in West Texas. After driving and seeing nothing but flat lands for hours, suddenly you will be greeted with the 2nd largest canyon in the United States!
Distance from…
- Amarillo, TX: 26.5 miles (33 minutes)
- Dallas, TX: 382 miles (6 hours)
- Santa Fe, NM: 303 miles (4 hours 54 minutes)
Palo Duro Canyon State Park Details
Palo Duro Canyon State Park Quick Facts:
- Physical Address: 11450 Park Road 5 Canyon, TX 79015
- Hours: 7:30 am-6:00 p.m (7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays)
- Cost: 8 dollars pp (Reservation Required–buy your pass here!)
- Camping: 100+campsites and glamping!
- Other: The park hosts outdoor summer musicals Tuesdays-Sundays at the Pioneer Amphitheater
Best time to Visit Palo Duro State Park
Personally, I HATE the Texas heat and cannot imagine hiking in an open canyon under the blazing sun. For this reason, I would recommend visiting in the winter 🙂
Texas State Parks are also extremely busy, so be sure to plan your visit during the week or early mornings.
Palo Duro Canyon State Park Average Temperatures:
- Winter (Dec-Feb): 57/28
- Spring (March-May): 77/45
- Summer (June-August): 95/67
- Fall (Sept-Nov.): 77/50
Most rain: May and June
IMPORTANT: The canyon get reach temperatures of 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months. Be sure to bring A LOT of water and sunscreen if visiting during this time. Flash floods have also occurred, so double-check the forecast before arriving.
Before Hiking the Lighthouse Trail
Reservations:
Due to COVID, you do need to make reservations for all Texas State Parks. Although this may seem like an inconvenience, I appreciate the parks not being as busy as normal. I was able to book two tickets the night before visiting.
Quick Packing List
- Water Pack
- Hiking Shoes
- Doggy Boots
- Collapsible Water dish
- GoPro and Tripod
- Hiking snacks
- Travel First-aid Kit
Check out this post if interested in a complete road trip packing list!
Finding the Lighthouse Trail
You can type in “Lighthouse Trailhead” into your GPS (be sure to do so before entering the park because the service was spotty). This will bring you past the visitors center, past the store and finally to the parking lot.
The trail is very easily marked from the parking lot.
IMPORTANT TIP: There is no bathroom at the trailhead. Be sure to stop at the visitors center or trading store before arriving.
Remember: This is the most popular hike in the park, be sure to travel during off-season or arrive early. We were here on a cold day in November and arrived around 2 and had most of the trail to ourselves!
The Lighthouse Trail Hiking Details
The first 2.7 miles are very easy and flat. There are even benches along the way to stop and take in the scenery!
Once arriving at the “Lighthouse”, you will have the opportunity to climb up. I would classify this part as hard (but it’s pretty short) because you are going pretty straight up over rocks. My dog did have a hard time jumping up a couple of times.
Once making it up the hill, you will have a perfect view of the Lighthouse with another bench to rest at.
If feeling extra adventurous you can continue exploring up to the Lighthouse. We even saw some people on the very top of the rocks. We went up a little bit, but our philosophy is always better safe than sorry. A picture is never worth putting yourself in danger.
What else is there to do near Palo Duro Canyon State Park?
If spending more than a day in Amarillo or Palo Duro State Park, there are other awesome things to do inside the park and nearby!
Right inside the state park you can horseback ride and zipline. Our trips are always dog-friendly so we did not try these out, but we did pass them both on the way to the trail.
Palo Duro State Park is located about 30 minutes outside of Amarillo. In Amarillo, you will have many restaurant choices and other things to do such as Cadillac Ranch, The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the Amarillo Zoo, and Botanical Gardens.
If you are looking for an EPIC ROAD TRIP from Amarillo, be sure to check out this complete itinerary from Texas to Colorado!
Where to stay near Palo Duro State Park?
We stayed at the dog-friendly Best Western Hotel in Amarillo. It was clean, and comfortable, and had a great to-go breakfast!
If you prefer a more rustic stay, you can stay right inside the park at the campground for 16+ dollars per night (hike-in and drive-in sites available).
Other dog-friendly stays near Palo Duro Canyon State Park:
The Lighthouse Trail- Palo Duro State Park Recap:
- Location: Canyon, TX
- Physical Address: type “Lighthouse Trail” into GPS before entering the park (due to poor service))
- Length: 5.7 + miles
- Elevation Gain: 492 feet
- Difficulty: Easy (until last climb)
- Dogs allowed?: Yes!
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