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It's said that everything is bigger in Texas. That's true of many things, and it's certainly true of the Palo Duro Canyon, the second largest canyon in the U.S. It was formed by the Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River way, way back in those days that only geologists and such can fathom.

The canyon floor is so vast, it's easy to forget you're even in a canyon. The floor spans an average width of six miles and is 800 feet deep. It has 30 miles of hiking and biking trails that are wide and hard-packed red dirt. Both primitive and RV camping facilities are available.

American painter Georgia O'Keeffe often visited Palo Duro in the early 1900s when she lived in Canyon, about 12 miles or so away, while teaching at the college there. She, as are many people today, was inspired by its beauty. The rich red stone; the myriad colors of the mountains in pastels of orange, purple and mustard; and the contrast between the red rock and the lush green shrubery make for a stunning backdrop to any activity. And its history is as colorful as the mountains, starting with inhabitants about 12,000 years ago. In more recent times, Apache, Comanche and Kiowa Indians lived off the earth until they were driven out by the U.S. Army in 1874. After that, the land was bought by ranchers and was eventually bought by the state. For five years in the early 1930s, the land was made into a state park by the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park is located in the Texas Panhandle, roughly half an hour southeast of Amarillo.

The white horizontal lines is a soft crystal-like rock called gypsum. It can be seen throughout the park in, usually, horizontal lines disecting the red rock. Pieces of it that have fallen to the ground can often, if small enough of a piece, be crushed with the hand or by stepping on it, leaving a chalk-like substance. Not coincidentally, gypsum has many uses, one of which is the making of chalk.

One of the more popular hikes in the park is the Lighthouse Trail. The rock formation that looks pretty much like a coastal lighthouse cannot be seen from anywhere in the park except by doing the hike. It's yet another well-marked, packed red dirt trail about 2.7 miles one way. Or at least, that's what the brochures and hiking guides say. However, most who do the hike continue up the rather steep and rocky incline to reach the base of the lighthouse formation. Anyone my travel partner and I met coming down said the view from there was well worth the effort. We were sorry it was beyond our capabilities. (It appeared to be perhaps another half-hour onto the original 2.7 miles and much more rugged). For those not doing the climb up to the base could probably end the hike at the 2.4-mile post. The view of the rock is blocked beyond that point.

Behind the Visitor's Center is an area of natural habitat for various birds, big and small. A blind has been erected with holes for visitors and bird feeds are full. On the day we visited, there were both male and female cardinals and a male wild turkey who was strutting with feathers fully extended. All I can say about the turkeys is: It's a good thing they have beautiful feathers!! And, coincidentally, the birds, including the wild turkeys, as well as roadrunners, are throughout the park. And they often roam right through the campsites.