Hurley Travels: Outstanding Palo Duro Canyon

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Outstanding Palo Duro Canyon - Flashback Friday

I'm traveling back to a beautiful piece of country we were surprised to find. This canyon is estimated to have been inhabited by humans for 12,000 years. But these two Hurleys can be recorded there only ten years ago. We are glad, however, to have left our footprints in Palo Duro Canyon. It remains one of the most pleasant surprises in our RVing.

As we explored the Texas Panhandle in March of 2004, early in our fulltiming lifestyle, we came across this state park with a stupendous terrain. We were traveling through a stretch of dusty and flat northern Texas hoping to find a nice spot to settle overnight. What we found needed more than overnight attention. It seemed as though the ground suddenly opened up to Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo. As soon as we started our drive down the winding, rapidly descending road we knew we'd situate the fifth wheel in this campground a little while. (This photo shows a view from above the road leading to the campground in the bottom of the canyon.) We had a colorful few days surrounded by the ruggedness and beauty of nature. I remember we rambled down the many roads throughout the park, finding several picturesque picnic lunch spots. We also learned about the centuries of inhabitants, southern Plains Indians, ranchers and the CCC who built structures in the 1930s for us to enjoy today. And as the sun set and the array of colors shifted, we'd relax at our site to watch the wild turkeys roam the campground, visiting with everyone.

It's nice to reflect back on these unique experiences! Some of them occurred before our Hurley Travels blog, so they're receiving their first mention at this late date. Now Palo Duro Canyon has a place here with many more interesting times. I think it would be good though if I stop talking now and let a few extra photos tell the story this time.