For this week’s travel destination, I will show photos of the first Texas state park I featured in the “My Texas Playground” presentation in Bartlett, Texas, on January 20, 2024. That presentation was part of a pop-up live event of the Texas Photography Festival, with its fifth yearly edition on Saturday, March 16, 2024, in Georgetown, Texas.
With over eighty state parks and seven natural regions, Texas offers a variety of scenes for visitors to enjoy. The natural regions are Big Bend Country, Gulf Coast, Hill Country, Panhandle, Pineywoods, Prairies and Lakes, and South Texas Plains. Although I have visited parks in every natural region of the state, I had to concentrate on just a few parks for my presentation.
I first focused on the Texas Panhandle with Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Caprock Canyons State Park & Trailway. Palo Duro Canyon’s size is second only to the Grand Canyon in the United States. The canyon is roughly 120 miles (193 km) long, averaging 6 miles (9.65 km) wide and reaching a depth of over 800 feet (244 m). However, it’s not as long or deep as the Grand Canyon; its size and dramatic geological features are still awe-inspiring.
Visitors to Palo Duro Canyon SP can stay in one of the three full cabins on the canyon rim or camp or use the smaller Cow Camp cabins on the canyon floor. As with all State Parks, visitors should plan to secure one of those cabins well in advance. The parks now strongly encourage obtaining a day pass in advance, even for a day visit. Some parks are trendy and fill up in high season.
Palo Duro Canyon SP offers visitors several activities, from hiking and biking to equestrian trails. In the summer, the TEXAS Outdoor Musical runs in the Pioneer Amphitheater in the park.
For hikers, the Lighthouse is arguably the main attraction. The Lighthouse trail is 2.8 miles each way and is used by hikers, bikers, and horse riders. Along the trail, a hiker can have close-up views of Capitol Peak.
The Lighthouse trail is easy to moderate until you reach the base of the Lighthouse, shown below. Then, to reach the saddle between those two formations, you will have to scramble through rocks along the trail.
Although the hike to the Lighthouse is fairly easy, getting to the peak requires hard work. There are two ways to do that. You will see two routes when you reach the picnic bench at the end of the trail. The first route is right at the picnic bench. Do not take that. That route will require you to be on your hands and knees to make it to the top, and you also run the risk of going to a dead-end trail (the left fork). If you take the right fork, you’ll make it to the base of the Lighthouse, but you’ll need to use your hands and knees to make it to that base. The easiest route is the one just past the picnic bench. It’s by far the easier route. Once you make it to the base of the Lighthouse, getting to the saddle between the two towers is fairly easy.
Can you see the people next to the rock formation in the photo above? If you climb to the saddle area, you will see the view I share below.
In April 2019, while at Palo Duro Canyon SP, I decided to hike the GSL trail to get another closer look at an impressive hoodoo in the park: the Red Star hoodoo. The park has several hoodoos, the Lighthouse being the most iconic. What I remember about the Red Star hoodoo is how easy it is to get to it, contrary to the Lighthouse, which requires intense climbing on hands and knees if you want to get to the top! To get up close to the Red Star hoodoo, you only need to hike about 1.25 miles (2 km) on the GSL (Givens, Spicer, Lowry) trail. The trail is much longer and even connects with the Lighthouse trail if you want to continue there. For bikers, this is a 100% singletrack trail.
I hope you have enjoyed reading this introduction to Palo Duro Canyon SP. You can find more information by visiting the park’s official website.
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Brad
These are stunning photos Egidio! I love the contrast of red rock formations and deep blue sky. Did you enhance the blues or was there this much contrast? I’d love to visit and explore this region one day.
Egídio Leitão
Brad, I’m so glad you liked the photos. I had to tone down the reds in some instances. Depending on the time of day I was taking these photos, the contrast was intense. Because I shoot in RAW, I use a balanced curve to even out the colors. If you do visit this area, do not go in the summer. It is deadly dangerous. Thanks for your feedback.
patrick mckee
I remember well our group’s inspirational experience at Cap Rock Canyon SP. It’s one park everyone should have on their Texas parks must do list.
Egídio Leitão
I agree with you. It’s underrated.
philosophy through photography
Pure delight in going through the images.
Egídio Leitão
Thank you. I hope you were able to travel along.
philosophy through photography
Thanks Egidio L!
Your travel stories are so vivid that I feel like I’ve earned frequent flyer miles just listening to them. Keep the adventures coming!
👍👍👍
Egídio Leitão
I appreciate your support.
philosophy through photography
You are welcome, my friend.
restlessjo
What an amazing landscape, Egidio. Such a pleasure to see it through your eyes.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks, Jo. I’m glad you liked the area and photos.
restlessjo
🤗🩵
margaret21
What a fabulous landscape. I’d love to explore.
Egídio Leitão
Margaret, it is indeed a fascinating area. Thanks for the feedback.
Tranature - quiet moments in nature
Beautiful images Egidio and what a treat to see these wonderful rock formations 🧡 Thank you so much for sharing! 😊
Egídio Leitão
Xenia, it was a pleasure to share this post. Thanks for your feedback.
Educación y más.
NICE POST 💖💓💚
I am new follower. I hope follow my blog and GROW TOWETHER.
Greetings from SPAIN 🇪🇦
David López Moncada pk 🌎
(https://pkmundo.wordpress.com/)
Egídio Leitão
Thank you.
Anne Sandler
Beautiful Egidio! Thanks for taking us on that hike.
Egídio Leitão
Thanks for coming along, Anne, and for the compliment, too.
SoyBend
Gorgeous color in those hoodoos!
Egídio Leitão
Thanks so much for your feedback.
Wind Kisses
OUTstanding! Such a well-deserved honor for you.
Egídio Leitão
Donna, thank you for the support and kind words.