Snow Hiking at Palo Duro Canyon

Our fourth stop on our January journey across Texas was Palo Duro Canyon State Park. 

Palo Duro is Texas’ version of the Grand Canyon.  Located in the panhandle, just south of Amarillo, the canyon is 120 miles long and 20 miles wide, and 1,000 feet deep.

As though expecting our visit, Nature laid out a cozy blanket of snow to welcome us. It was just  enough to brighten the landscape and give a crunchy texture to the trail.  

We hiked three miles of a trail called the Lower Comanche. It was a steep climb with expansive views of mesas and colorful rock canyon walls. 

We also hiked the Lighthouse Trail, a seven-mile out-and-back to an unusual rock formation. 

It was a pleasant uphill climb until we got to the turn where it became a 250 foot vertical scramble. It was ridiculously scary and fun, humbling and exhausting.

It reminded me of gleeful winter days spent outdoors when I was a kid in a much snowier place than Texas.