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Natural Monuments

Capitol Peak Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Natural Monuments

Capitol Peak Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Highlight • Trail

Capitol Peak Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Name: Capitol Peak Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park
Rating: 2

Recommended by 8 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Palo Duro Canyon State Park

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Location: Randall County, Texas, United States

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Best Hikes to Capitol Peak Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

hikers

1. Lower Comanche Trail loop — Palo Duro Canyon State Park

15.1km

04:03

180m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Intermediate

4.7

(3)

hikers

2. Lighthouse Peak Trailhead – Lighthouse loop from Canyon

22.0km

05:47

180m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Expert

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3. Lighthouse Trail Trailhead – Lighthouse Peak Trailhead loop from Canyon

2.78km

00:44

20m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Easy

Tips

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

July 20, 2020

The distinctly multi-colored peak is close to the parking area and can be viewed from here. It can be approached a little closer either along an easy multi-use loop trail that includes Capitol Mesa, or directly on an easy half-mile trail that also continues 3 miles from the road to the Lighthouse, the most famous rock formation in Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This popular trailhead for these hikes is half way along the park drive, on the west side. It has an information board and parking area, from which the wide trail heads off westwards, through bushes and over sandy ground, towards the colorful, eroded cliffs that border this side of the valley, about half a mile away. The Lighthouse trail then turns right to skirt around the base of the Capitol Mesa cliffs, mildly up and down small hills and stony washes. The vegetation thins out to a mixture of small bushes and cacti, including two species of spiny opuntia: tree cholla and pencil cholla, which has bright red berries in the fall. The path may also be used by both horses and cycles, and remains generally level and well marked, with distance signs at half mile intervals and several rest stops with some tree-shaded benches. A trail guide and map can be downloaded at tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon

Brookso

July 13, 2023

Really easy trail, fitting for beginners. A lot of picture-worthy views and stops to recover while doing it, both for on-foot hikers as well as using bikes. It kinda reminds me of a few spots near Big Bend here in TX(not exactly in BB, but close-by, my folks and I used to go there to camp/shoot some cans with out Taurus guns from gritrsports.com/taurus pre-Covid)

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Details

Informations

Elevation 840 m

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Thursday 30 October

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Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

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See hikes here

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Location: Randall County, Texas, United States

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Palo Duro Canyon Observation Point

Trail along the butte

The Lighthouse Rock Formation

Trading Post

Upper Comanche Trail

Lower Comanche Trail

Middle Comanche trail

Palo Duro Canyon - State Park

Rock Garden Trail

View of Palo Duro Canyon

Shaded area

Goodnight Peak Scenic Loop

Capitol Peak Trail, Palo Duro Canyon State Park

1. Lower Comanche Trail loop — Palo Duro Canyon State Park

2. Lighthouse Peak Trailhead – Lighthouse loop from Canyon

3. Lighthouse Trail Trailhead – Lighthouse Peak Trailhead loop from Canyon

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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