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Old 02-22-2017, 10:24 AM   #1
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Palo Duro Trip Report

I made my first trip to Palo Duro Canyon State Park this past weekend. It was a trip that would be hard to beat. We drove up from Houston Friday, hiked for two days then drove back.

Friday night it froze, the tent campers in the group were predictably cold, except for the one smart guy who brought an electric space heater. My space heater kept the camper at a very nice temperature.

We did the obligatory Lighthouse hike on Saturday, but used a number of trails to make it a nine mile walk. Sunday, i led the group on the new Comanche Trail and climbed up the mesa on the Rock Garden Trail. A total of 11 miles. We had about 40 people in the group with most of them camping.

Saturday and Sunday nights were very comfortable in the upper 40's to 50's.

The only problem with the camper is the continuing desire of the microwave to liberate itself from the confines of the cabinet. My next step is to fill the now striped out screw holes with a hardwood dowel and then reset the screws.

That is my A122S in the background at the group's second campsite.



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Old 02-22-2017, 10:31 AM   #2
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Sounds interesting. We want to make the trip to a few TX Parks this spring and Palo Duro is at the top of the wife's list.
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Old 02-22-2017, 10:43 AM   #3
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I should visit there. We live north of Dallas and Palo Duro Park is "ONLY" 372 miles from our house. I've been near the park on the way to Colorado but have never been there.

Thanks for the report!
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Old 02-22-2017, 10:46 AM   #4
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I stayed there ~18 years ago. We have a camping trip to CO planned this summer and will be staying a few nights at PDC on the way. Looking forward to it.
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Old 02-22-2017, 01:24 PM   #5
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Palo Duro

We were there in Nov of 2016 and stayed in the new just opened pull thru sites and loved it. Palo Duro is just beautiful and it was 80 during the day and down to mid 50s at nite. We could not have a fire per restrictions due to dryness but it was great all the same, a fire would have been great. We will definitely stop there again this year on our trip out west
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Old 02-22-2017, 01:29 PM   #6
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I was near Palo Duro but didn't visit. I stayed at Fritch Fortress for 4 days. BTW, drill into the cabinet face from the edge, centered on the stripped hole...past the stripped hole a half inch or so... tap in a glued dowel (5/16" - 3/8") cut flush or a little short... drill a pilot hole for the screw ... It will hold solid.
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Old 02-22-2017, 01:41 PM   #7
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I love in Amarillo and haven't camped at PD. Hope to soon.
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Old 02-22-2017, 01:50 PM   #8
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Kick me in the seat of my pants. Tbonz I live in Amarillo and have never camped in palo duro state park.
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Old 02-22-2017, 02:35 PM   #9
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I grew up in Amarillo and have been camping in Palo Duro Canyon since I was about 6 or 7. It is the second largest canyon in the US. Those of you who live in the Amarillo area and have not camped the "shame on you" It is an easy pull both in and out, don't let the entrance road scare you, just down shift and ease on down.
For those of you who would be coming from the south there is another state park on your way, that is Caprock Canyons State Park located at Quitaque, Tx, approximately 50/60 miles east of Tulia, Tx, take exit 74 off I27 and drive east following the signs. Caprock will make a nice break in your drive and you'll have a chance to see the Official Texas State Buffalo herd which is the decendents of the buffalo calves saved by Charles Goodnight back in the 1880s.
BTW the best time to go to Palo Duro is in the spring or fall as temps down in the canyon will be fro 5 to 10 degrees hotter that the temps up on top and this part of Texas is usually in the high 90s to over 100 for day time temp during the summer.
Come on out and enjoy West Texas.
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Old 02-22-2017, 03:12 PM   #10
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Yes,shame on Me,spent a lot of time there just never camped..
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Old 02-22-2017, 04:28 PM   #11
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We have spent time in the park but; have not camped there. How do you think that entry Road would be pulling a 40' fifth wheel?
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Old 02-22-2017, 05:20 PM   #12
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Surprised that the night musical "Texas" wasn't mentioned. Is one of the highlights
that was fantastic. Shouldn't miss it but you'll need to get tickets in advance so you don't miss out. Love the Big Texan Restaurant in Amarillo. It's a hoot. Not a bad steak at a reasonable price.
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:11 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Rollingdunder1 View Post
We have spent time in the park but; have not camped there. How do you think that entry Road would be pulling a 40' fifth wheel?
Shouldn't be a problem. I pulled a 35 foot toy hauler fongue pull in with a long bed crew can F350..just have to watch for the folk coming up like they are racing..
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:12 PM   #14
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I love auto correct!!!!
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:22 PM   #15
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We've visited Palo Duro many times but not since we got our MH. I think this will be the year.

As far as the musical "Texas", it used to only be put on during the summer when the college kids were on vacation. I'd google to see when and if it's still being done.
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:35 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by Lexi2007 View Post
We've visited Palo Duro many times but not since we got our MH. I think this will be the year.

As far as the musical "Texas", it used to only be put on during the summer when the college kids were on vacation. I'd google to see when and if it's still being done.
It is still performed, but only in the summer. Well worth the time! I enjoyed it when I lived there 45 years ago, then again last year. Great BBQ dinner too.
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Old 02-22-2017, 07:12 PM   #17
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We visited PD many years ago on a trip from NC to AZ to deliver a 5'ver I had sold. We were actually camped at the KOA Amarillo, however we did make a side trip to Canyon, TX and Palo Duro. Both were well worth the time. In Canyon there is an amazing local history museum, they have anything and everything. There was also a great little Mexican restaurant around the corner, margaritas were cold and food was very good.

Hope to make the trip back again... soon!

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Old 02-22-2017, 07:33 PM   #18
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I've pulled a Toyota FJ40 Landcruiser down and back out behind my pickup with a 11' cabover camper on it and a few years back my 34' TT behind a Dodge 2500 Megacab, no problems either time. The next time it'll be a 43' XLR Toy Hauler behind my F350 CC w/6.7TD, don't expect any problems either.
As others have said, "Texas" is only performed June to August, but is well worth the trip.
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Old 02-22-2017, 09:29 PM   #19
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Fantastic scenery. Stayed last June. Few notes, forget cell signal. I had to drive up out of the canyon every morning to deal with work related activities and that got old quick. Fair warning some of the trails are poorly documented, we went on a "short hike" down a trail with a half full camelbak with the kiddos. 3 miles later and almost out of water we turned back. Lesson learned, always take as much water as you can. Can confirm Texas musical is well worth going to go see. Last thing, if anyone in your party doesn't like spiders, best not let them outside dusk to dawn. Tarantulas were a plenty.
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Old 02-22-2017, 10:16 PM   #20
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We enjoyed camping in Palo Duro park several years ago. We did a jeep tour and horseback ride as I wasn't healthy enough to hike. We thought the "Texas" musical was great! My kids especially loved it. There is plenty of wildlife and lots of colorful rock. Though the area isn't as big, I would compare the scenery to Sedona, AZ.
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