4/23/09 - Palo Duro Canyon

"Grand Canyon of Texas" Palo Duro Canyon is approximately 120 miles long and 600 to 800 feet deep and is the second largest canyon in the United States. There is all this flat - flat land and then here is this huge canyon. The "Battle of Palo Duro" was fought here. This was the decisive battle of the Red River War, 1874-1875, also known as the Buffalo War, was the final campaign against the Southern Plains Indians. The canyon is approximately 25 miles from Amarillo. 'Palo Duro' is Spanish for "hard wood" in reference to the Juniper trees common throughout the canyon.