Sunset Over Palo Duro Lighthouse from Palo Duro Canyon State Park - I had just finished packing up my camera gear when all of the sudden the clouds started to back light after the sun went down. So I was scrambling trying to get my camera gear back out of the bag to capture this wonderful sunset display before it was gone. My plan was to try for a sunset which depends on the sky cooperating and the weather in general, well it just did. I only wanted to hike it once so it all turned out great for my first trip here and to capture a great sunset colorful sky over the lighthouse in Palo duro canyon state park it was a win win kinda of day. I wasn't sure if it was going to be too dark, lucky I had already taken a handful of photos earlier, but this was the wonderful finally of the trip and it turned out great. Earlier the sky to the north had been very dark and stormy, but then it start breaking up moving away and after a brief shower it slowly move on which gave me a nice sky. Even though it was looking dark to the north and I could see lighting in the sky it was still looking pretty good to the west so I stay a bit longer to add few more shot which I am glad I did as had I left I would of missed this one.
Palo Duro Canyon was formed millions of years ago by water, wind erosion. Water erosion over the millennia has shaped the canyon's geological formations. Palo Duro Canyon is part of the Caprock Escarpment and it is 800 feet deep and has over 30,000 acres and 15,000 miles for hiking, biking trails. Palo Duro Canyon was formed by water erosion from the Red River. The water deepens the canyon by moving sediment downstream. Wind and water erosion which gradually widen the canyon. Now I can say when it come to wind this whole area of the Texas Panhandle was windy the whole time we were in the area so this is not a shock. Most of the terrain in the panhandle is very flat and as you drive up to the state park you start to see some major changes in the landscape from flat to big wide gullies until you get into the park. There you can see for a good distance across the vast area of the canyons with peak and valleys. Palo Duro Canyon is the second largest canyon in the United States with the largest being the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Another Texas jewel in the rough!
Included are photos of palo duro canyon from the overlook, the amphitheater, the trading post, and other views of the park.