Canyon Floor Camping

Sketches from a one-night stay at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas, home to the second-largest canyon in the United States.

View from the top of an offshoot off of the CCC Trail (wish I could have filled this in a bit more, but it was <i>so</i> windy at the top that I couldn't sit for too long) — View from the top of an offshoot off of the CCC Trail (wish I could have filled this in a bit more, but it was so windy at the top that I couldn't sit for too long)

I really wanted to do the Lighthouse Trail and scramble up to the park's famous Lighthouse rock formation, but sadly most of the park was closed due to hunting season. Instead I managed to hike across all the currently open trail mileage, starting from the floor up to the canyon rim (only about 500ft of elevation).

Although I was a little spooked at first to be camping solo for the first time, I loved the peace and quiet at night on the canyon floor. After a restful 8+ hours (impressive for tent camping), I woke the next morning and enjoyed some freshly brewed french press coffee before my drive to New Mexico.