Palo Duro Canyon State Park

I visited Amarillo as a part of a familiarization trip with Amarillo, Texas.

The alarm rang at 4:30 am. It was insanely early, but I was so excited to be heading to Palo Duro Canyon State Park in time to catch that famed Amarillo sunrise. The drive from Amarillo to the canyon is about 30 minutes. How could it be so close to the nation’s second largest canyon? I arrived in darkness.

I have seen beautiful sunrises before and have loved every one of them, but the gorgeous open sky over the beautiful canyon was awesome.

There are no filters on these photos. They are simply what my camera captured. The colors were fantastic beginning with streaks of gold coming over the canyon. Then pretty soon the sky was pure gold. I felt like I was getting a little glimpse of heaven!

Then as the sun came up the colors changed and the canyon became brighter.

Every moment was breathtaking. I wanted to stay here forever!

In the dark I was mostly looking at sky, but as the sun rose, it began to illuminate the incredible canyon below.

I like to think my lens caught an angel as he flew over the canyon and don’t tell me otherwise! 🙂

It was hard to believe all the beauty I had just seen and then there she was, Palo Duro Canyon–the Grand Canyon of Texas!

The sun highlighted the tops of the canyon as it burst into the sky. Mind blowing!

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a popular camping and hiking area for families. There are cabins available or you can RV. Both would be great ways to catch the beautiful sunrise and sunsets at the canyon. There are also plenty of activities such as horseback riding, bird watching, and hiking. There is a Junior Naturalist program available for kids ages 5-12. 

Palo Duro Canyon is also the home of the famed outdoor musical Texas!

The show will run June 2 – August 19, 2017. Over 60 actors, singers, dancers bring to life the stories, struggles, and triumphs of the settlers of the Texas Panhandle in the 1800’s. Texas is great for the whole family. I can’t wait to take my crew!

My time at Palo Duro Canyon ended with a little hike in which I caught this roadrunner enjoying his morning.

There is so much to see and explore at Palo Duro State Park! Make plans to visit the grand canyon of Texas!

Check out Visit Amarillo for the latest current events and information on planning your trip!