Entrance fees and opening hours
- 8$/person
- Not covered by the Anual Pass*
- Open daily from 7am - 10pm.
*The Anual Pass is so to speak the "flat rate" for all Parks managed by the National Park Service. The pass costs a one-time fee of $80 and can be purchased at the entrance to each National Park, National Monument, etc. The pass is valid for 13 months.
Our visits: So far 1 visit in February 2018
During our visit in February 2018, we hiked a combination of three trails. Since you can hike each of these trails separately, we will describe them separately below.
We hiked the following trail combination: Givens Spicer Lowry Trail, Lighthouse Trail to the Lighthouse and then the complete Lighthouse Trail back again. Finally we hiked the Paseo des Rio Trail back to the car. In this combination the trail is 9mi long and you have to overcome 1263ft of altitude. The thing we liked about the whole trail were the trail markers, which were placed every 0.1mi on the side of the trail. They were very helpful because you always knew exactly where you were on the trail. I would like to see something like that in the southwestern parks as well. This trail map of the park, shows the trail connection very well.
Givens Spicer Lowry Trail
Description: The trail is very well developed and good to hike. Since it is also used by mountain bikers, you should always have an open eye. However, sharing the trail was not a problem, because the cyclists were always very attentive. On this section of the trail is always up and down, but it is not really strenuous.
Trail length: 3.1mi
Altitude difference: 328ft
Time needed: 2-3 hours
Difficulty level: easy
Our rating: The Givens Spicer Lowry Trail is by far the most scenic part of the entire trail. You hike past a beautiful colorful mountain with several hoodoos. The trail climbs up and down a hill every now and then. This makes the whole trail varied.
Lighthouse Trail
Description: After crossing with the Givens Spicer Lowry Trail, the trail is completely level all the way to the base of the mountain where the Lighthouse stands. It is very easy to hike and well maintained. If you want to go up to the Lighthouse, you now have to go up a steep, rutted hill. Here the trail becomes a little difficult to hike. There are also one or two high steps to overcome.
Trail length: 2.7mi
Altitude difference: 820ft
Time needed: 1-2 hours
Difficulty level: leicht bis moderate
Our rating: Except for the last part of the trail, where the path climbs to the Lighthouse, the trail is not very exciting. But from the top you have great views of the valley and of course beautiful photo opportunities at the Lighthouse. The Lighhouse Trail seemed to me a bit like the highway of the park's trails. Since it is very easy to hike up to the Lighthouse, there was a lot going on here. No comparison to the solitude on the Givens Spicer Lowry Trail. If we were to hike this trail again, we would take the Givens Spicer Lowry Trail back to the car.
Paseo del Rio Trail
Description: The trail leads relatively level along the small river. Not very spectacular, but we had to get back to the car. Shortly before the parking lot the trail ascends again moderately.
Trail length: 1mi
Altitude difference: 98ft
Time needed: 1/2 hours
Difficulty level: easy
Our rating: For us, this was a connecting trail back to the car. Certainly not a must see. By the way, there was still something nice, namely the legend of Shal-A-Ko. After months of drought, when he was born, it started to rain again and so Shal-A.-Ko was worshipped as a rainmaker all his life. Here on the way you pass his resting place.
Canyon Overlook
Description: Even if Palo Duro Canyon is not as spectacular at first sight as the well-known parks in the Southwest, it is still big. It is even the second largest canyon in the U.S. and is therefore also called the Grand Canyon of Texas. He is 120mi long, has an average width of 6.2mi and a maximum depth of 800ft. From the Canyon Overlook right next to the Visitor Center you have a nice overview over the canyon.
Our rating: A beautiful viewpoint where you should definitely stop for a moment.
