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Elevation: 3,463 ft
GPS: 34.9845, -101.7017
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Shared By: Jeremy Bauman on Aug 30, 2009 · Updates
Admins: mattm, Matt Richardson, Tommy Blackwell
Warning Access Issue: Climbing Access Open - Keep a low profile. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

TLDR: A treasure of choss in a prairie landscape. The bouldering is fun, the routes are chossy.

About the Area:

Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the country. At more than 800 feet deep and 120 miles long the canyon is a great place to escape the seemingly featureless landscape of the Texas panhandle. Landmarks such as the Lighthouse, Capitol Peak, Castle Peak, and Sorenson Point capture the imaginations of visitors and inspire the Cherokee Indians of old to come alive within the minds of tourists.

The canyon hosts arguably some of the best mountain biking in Texas. The Lighthouse trail is by far the most popular and makes an excellent day hike that should not be missed. Hiking in the canyon can be very exciting if you make it that way. The clay type dirt is easily excavated by torrents of water leaving the canyon with dozens of caves for the bold explorer. Scrambling in the canyon is sure to give a rush as all the footing is generally loose, as my good friend said, "Everything in the canyon moves!"

About the Rock: DON'T CLIMB AFTER IT RAINS! 

Palo Duro Canyon is pretty much the only local crag in the Amarillo/Canyon area. Rock quality is always questionable but has some good gems providing the Amarillo area with some climbing. Beauty sure is in the eye of the beholder here. I wouldn't suggest traveling far to come climb in the canyon. Though there are a few good routes, the overall the rock quality is generally quite poor. I'm no geologist, but there are really two types of climbable rock at the Canyon. The first is a very brittle and rough conglomerate type sandstone found in the boulder fields and a few select cliffs. The second is a much softer sandstone found on most of the cliffs in the canyon.

Much of the rock is very soft and fragile, please try your best to avoid pulling out on flakes and breaking holds! I know of several classic routes that were quickly sent to the chosspile because people were being dumb and yarding on holds. Climb carefully. As with other desert sandstone locals, don't climb after a rain. If your shoes are tracking dirt, it's still too moist to climb. You risk breaking holds and popping your protection.

KEEP YOUR ROPE FROM RUNNING OVER THE EDGE! The sandstone here is very soft and it is our responsibility to preserve it for future generations. Please be proactive in padding edges and avoid scenarios that allow your rope to cut through the rock like cheese. Warpath is a great example: when we first did it, the rock at the top was clean and beautiful, now, thanks to poor rope management, there are rope grooves worn along the top. If you're going to TR, EXTEND YOUR ROPE OVER THE LIP! If you don't know how to do this, read some books, get help from a guide, or just stick to bouldering. If we can't protect these places, we shouldn't be climbing them.

On a similar note, there is a lot of trash in the canyon from non-climbers. Please bring a bag with you and plan on packing out trash you come across! 

The majority of climbing here is bouldering, although a handful of trad climbs exist. The potential for new routes in the canyon is huge with plenty of boulders and walls being completely untouched.

Getting There Suggest change

A short 30 min drive from Amarillo makes the canyon easily accessed.
Follow I-27 south past Canyon and take exit 217 and turn left. Continue 10 miles on 217 to the park entrance (be prepared to pay $8 per person). Once past the gate, continue on what is now the very windy Park RD 5 down the big hill into the canyon. See individual areas for further approach information.
Approaches are generally short and in the 5-10 minute range.

142 Total Climbs

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Location: Palo Duro Canyon State Park Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
V1 5
 15
Short Stuff
Boulder
V1 5
 8
Oreo Warmup
Boulder
V1-2 5
 12
Unnamed 2
Boulder
V2 5+
 10
Bloody Shnidbit
Boulder
V2 5+
 8
The Johnny Boulder
Boulder
V2-3 5+
 11
Unnamed 1
Boulder
V4 6B
 8
Unnamed 1
Boulder
V4 6B
 5
Acronym Right
Boulder
V5 6C
 5
My Heroes Are Cowboys
Boulder
V5 6C
 4
Transitional Matrix
Boulder
V5+ 6C+
 11
High on Fungi
Boulder
V8+ 7B+
 4
All Star Chuck Taylors
Boulder
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 5
Easy Does It
Trad, TR
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 13
Warpath
Trad, TR
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13
 4
Skinned elbow
Trad, TR
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Short Stuff Boulder Gardens > Short Stuff Boulder
 15
V1 5 Boulder
Oreo Warmup Boulder Gardens > Oreo Boulder
 8
V1 5 Boulder
Unnamed 2 Boulder Gardens > Oreo Boulder
 12
V1-2 5 Boulder
Bloody Shnidbit Boulder Gardens > Mushroom Boulder
 10
V2 5+ Boulder
The Johnny Boulder Boulder Gardens > Johnny Boulder
 8
V2 5+ Boulder
Unnamed 1 Boulder Gardens > Yogi Boulder
 11
V2-3 5+ Boulder
Unnamed 1 Boulder Gardens > Oreo Boulder
 8
V4 6B Boulder
Acronym Right GSL Trail Area > Acronym Boulder
 5
V4 6B Boulder
My Heroes Are Cowboys Boulder Gardens > Dungeon
 5
V5 6C Boulder
Transitional Matrix Boulder Gardens > Mini Blue
 4
V5 6C Boulder
High on Fungi Boulder Gardens > Mushroom Boulder
 11
V5+ 6C+ Boulder
All Star Chuck Taylors Boulder Gardens > Honeycomb Boulder
 4
V8+ 7B+ Boulder
Easy Does It Sorenson Point > Sorenson Main Wall
 5
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR
Warpath Indian Springs
 13
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, TR
Skinned elbow Sorenson Point > Sorenson Main Wall
 4
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a PG13 Trad, TR
More Classic Climbs in Palo Duro Canyon State Park »

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