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.

Did you make the snow bunny?
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Nope. Someone made it at the park headquarters before we got there. It was pretty cute!
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Jenny, I loved these photos. I’m so glad you’re making these trips. You’ll never regret it!
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It’s so much fun discovering Texas with you. I love the photos as well. And your wonderful descriptions.
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Thank you!
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good job
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Beautiful. I can just smell the clean crisp air.
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It was so fresh! I wish I could bottle it and taken it home.
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Wonderful!
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Thank you!
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[…] In early January 2021, Steve and I took a two-week, 2,000 mile road trip across Texas. We visited six Texas State Parks between Houston and Amarillo. […]
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