Cathedral Gorge is the stop that makes Panaca matter to travelers. Soft bentonite clay has eroded into fluted walls, narrow side passages, and pale spires that look almost built rather than carved by rain and time.
The park is easy to sample in an hour, but better if you wander slowly through the slots and wait for the light to move across the formations. Summer heat can be brutal, so early morning and late afternoon are the kindest times.