Palo Duro Canyon State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife

06/19/2026

When the rocks make shapes you just can’t unsee! Check out this sea turtle spotted on the GSL Trail by a recent visitor! 💚

What fun shapes or figures have you spotted in the canyon lately?

As we head into the weekend, all trails are OPEN except Sunflower, Rojo Grande, Juniper Riverside, and Cottonwood!

Upcoming Programs:

Saturday (6/20/26)

📸 Photography Hike — 8 a.m.
Meet at the GSL parking lot.

🚐 Van Tour — 2 p.m.
Limited to 12 participants, first come, first served.
Meet at the Longhorn Pasture.

It’s going to be another hot few days! Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for any trail closures due to heat advisories. Carry plenty of water, start early, and hike smart in the heat.

📷: Sarah Richter

06/17/2026

It’s going to be a hot day in the canyon!

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Advisory, and temperatures are expected to reach 110°F on the canyon floor.

This morning, we will be opening Lighthouse, GSL, Juniper Cliffside, and Capitol Peak, in addition to the trails already open.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., (6/17/26) the only trails open will be:
• CCC
• Triassic
• Pioneer Nature
• Big Cave
• Juniper Cliffside

Get out and hike early, carry plenty of water, and don’t forget your electrolytes!

06/16/2026

🚧 Trails Update (6/16/26) 🚧

We have opened up CCC, Triassic, and Big Cave this morning!

This picture is a great example of one reason we close trails after rain. Our canyon’s clay-rich soil becomes extremely slick and dangerous when wet. It also holds footprints and tire tracks long after the mud dries, leaving damage that can remain on the trail for months.

What may seem like a single set of footprints can impact the trail long after the rain has passed.

We reevaluate throughout the day as things have time to dry out. Any updates will be posted on our Facebook and Instagram!

Thanks for helping us protect the canyon!

06/15/2026

Total Monday morning vibes…

Heads up, canyon hikers and bikers—all trails are currently closed due to more rain we received last night! (6/15/26)

If you’re planning a visit, the scenic drive through the canyon, Visitor Center, Trading Post, and Overlook are still open and ready to welcome you.

We’ll post updates here on Facebook and Instagram as conditions change. Until then, stay dry out there!

📷: Chelsea Ramirez!!

06/14/2026

🚧 Trail Closure Update (6/14/26) 🚧

When someone figures out how to keep the cows off the trails, let us know… clearly they can’t read!

Thankfully, we know our visitors can! 😉

After last night’s rain, only CCC, Triassic, and Big Cave are currently open. All other trails remain closed.

We’ll continue to monitor conditions and post updates here on Facebook and Instagram. Thanks for helping us keep the trails in good condition by respecting closures.

The cows, however, seem perfectly happy with the current arrangement!

06/13/2026

We’re not even going to guess what this guy is thinking, but if you’re planning to hike tomorrow, make it an early one.

It’s going to be another hotter-than-hot day tomorrow, and the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory.

The following trails will be closed from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on (6/13/26):

• Lighthouse
• Given Spicer Lowery
• Upper/Lower Comanche
• Rock Garden

For your safety and the safety of our first responders, please respect all trail closures and plan to be off these trails by 11:00 a.m.

There are still plenty of great, more shaded trails available to enjoy throughout the park.

Stay hydrated, know your limits, and stay safe out there!

Contrary to popular belief, turkey vultures don’t stalk dehydrated hikers. They’re scavengers, not predators—and an important part of keeping the canyon clean!!

Photo by: Amy Stover

06/12/2026

We’re excited to welcome our summer interns, Bryce Weller and Josh Rogers, to Palo Duro Canyon!

Bryce is spending the summer gaining hands-on experience and exploring future career opportunities in the park field. Fun fact: he lived in Alaska for 3½ years and occasionally misses the cooler weather.

Josh is excited to spend the summer serving visitors, learning more about park operations, and exploring the many opportunities within Texas State Parks. Fun fact: he can juggle!

If you see Bryce or Josh around the park this summer, be sure to say hello and help us give them a warm welcome to the canyon!

06/11/2026

Looks like we may have taken the #1 spot on the “hottest place in the Panhandles” title yesterday at 107°F—definitely not the ranking we are super excited about!

Today won’t be quite as hot, but summer heat is here!! Use extra caution on exposed trails and carry plenty of water.

✅ All trails are open!

Thankfully, that means you can take advantage of some of our shadier trails during the hottest part of the day:

• Sunflower
• Rojo Grande
• Cottonwood
• Paseo del Rio

Also, think twice before bringing your dog on exposed trails. They can’t tell you when the ground is too hot for their paws!! 💚 🐾

lt felt brutally hot today. According to observations from the West Texas Mesonet sites, the hottest temperature recorded was 107°F on the Palo Duro Canyon State Park floor, with numerous locations across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles reaching 100–106°F. 🔥🥵🏜️

06/10/2026

🔥 Heat Advisory - Trail Update (6/10/26)🔥

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning, with a forecasted temperature of 110 degrees. For visitor and staff safety the following trails will be closed from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

• Lighthouse
• Rock Garden
• GSL
• Upper Comanche
• Lower Comanche

If you do plan to come out and hit the open trails today, please come prepared—bring plenty of water and electrolytes, wear sunscreen, be mindful of your hiking pups and take shady breaks as needed!

Open trails during this time:
• Kiowa
• Paseo
• Pioneer Nature Trail
• CCC
• Juniper Cliffside

Stay safe, know your limits, and remember—the canyon will still be here tomorrow ☀️ 💚

06/09/2026

🚨 Park Alert (6/9/26) 🚨

We had to triple-check that it wasn’t a Monday morning! 😅

It’s a beautiful morning in the canyon, but we’ve had a few unexpected bumps to start the day. The gatehouse is currently without electricity and internet, so if you’re planning a visit, please make your reservation in advance or use the self-pay station upon arrival. *It is expected to be restored by 10:30am*

We are also currently without water service throughout the park. Our team is actively working to restore it, and we’re hopeful water service will be back up by 9am!

The good news? 🥾

✅ Lighthouse
✅ Capitol Peak
✅ GSL
✅ Pioneer Nature
✅ CCC
✅ Goodnight Peak
✅ Big Cave

Thanks for your patience and understanding. It’s going to be a hot one today, so come prepared with plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and stay weather-aware while exploring the canyon!