Palo Duro Canyon is the second-largest canyon in the United States, yet barely known outside Texas. The Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River carved it into the Llano Estacado over millions of years, leaving walls of red, orange, and cream-coloured rock dropping nearly 240 metres from the flat plains above. Standing at the rim and looking out, it is one of the more genuinely dramatic landscapes in the American Southwest — and the surprise of it, given how flat everything around it is, makes it more striking still.
The state park covers about 11,000 hectares and has trails ranging from easy canyon floor walks to strenuous ridge hikes. The Lighthouse Trail (about 10km return) is the most popular, ending at a distinctive spire of red rock that is the park's symbol. September and October bring the best light and the most comfortable temperatures. In summer, a large-scale outdoor musical called "Texas" has been performed in the canyon amphitheatre every season since 1966.
The park entrance is near the town of Canyon, about 30km south of Amarillo via I-27 and Highway 217. Allow at least half a day; a full day is better. There is a small entry fee per vehicle.