On this occasion, I wanted somewhere to hike that was less than a day away from home. I decided to revisit Caprock Canyons State Park and Palo Duro State Park in northwest Texas, camp a couple of nights, and see what developed.
I shot well on my drive, then set up camp at Caprock, this time in the Little Red tent camping area.
Upper Canyon and mares tailsThe author poses for a photo at Palo Duro Canyon.
My campsite faced west. At night I heard coyotes, like when we camped at Chaco. Midnight at Caprock: the moon, crescent, and a bright star set in front of me. Above, all the stars there are. Behind me, the flickering orange of my camp fire. It is breezy and warm, and I don’t need my camp coat. It was a good night on the llano estacado.
I hiked so much in 24 hours that it felt like I’d been there a week.
Natural Arch, Lower CanyonUpper Canyon, Caprock
The wind was insane in my tent at night. It kept me awake with the flapping of my tent, and blew sand in through the rain fly.
Trails I hiked: Canyon Loop, Eagle Point, Lower Canyon, Upper Canyon, and Haynes Overlook at Caprock, and The Lighthouse trail at Palo Duro.
Grass and Cliffs, Late AfternoonCanyon Loop TrailFern Cave at the Top of the Canyon Loop TrailFern Cave at the Top of the Canyon Loop TrailAt the Top of the Haynes Ridge TrailYucca and Sky, Lower Canyon TrailHoodoo, Lower CanyonNatural Arch, Lower Canyon Trail, CaprockGypsum Pothole, CaprockCaprock Canyons Access RoadThe wind in my tent kept me awake, so I got up very early and ended up at the Canyon Loop trail before sunrise.Caprock Canyons SunsetThese majestic formations stand deep in the heart of Caprock’s Upper Canyon trail.See from the top of the Upper Canyon trail, this view gives an idea of the overall topography of the area.Upper Canyon and Mares Tails, CaprockUpper Canyon and Mares Tails, Caprock.Sunset, Caprock CanyonsAbandoned Quonset Hut, Interstate 40, Groom, TexasCliffs and Sky, Palo Duro CanyonThe Lighthouse, Palo Duro CanyonHoodoo near The Lighthouse, Palo Duro CanyonPalo Duro Canyon’s Lighthouse formation stands against the sky on a hazy morning.
In a word, awesome. I can’t wait to go.