1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Where's the best place to camp at Palo Duro

Discussion in 'Texas' started by Killbuzzjrad, Dec 26, 2015.

  1. Dec 26, 2015 at 8:22 PM
    #1
    Killbuzzjrad

    Killbuzzjrad [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2009
    Member:
    #17059
    Messages:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jared
    San Antonio, TX
    Vehicle:
    2009 DCLB TRD Sport 4x4
    Like the title says, where's the best place to camp at Palo Duro? I would like a site where I can just pull in with the truck and use my RTT. Some of the sites I've seen in pictures look like you have to park to the side of the actual camp site.
     
    Landpirate likes this.
  2. Jan 5, 2016 at 9:03 PM
    #2
    rooney2oons

    rooney2oons Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Member:
    #117168
    Messages:
    265
    Gender:
    Male
    Dallas, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD Off Road Silver
    Nothing yet....im a poor bastard.
    ashris and Killbuzzjrad[OP] like this.
  3. Jan 6, 2016 at 4:12 PM
    #3
    Killbuzzjrad

    Killbuzzjrad [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2009
    Member:
    #17059
    Messages:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jared
    San Antonio, TX
    Vehicle:
    2009 DCLB TRD Sport 4x4
    Awesome. Thanks for your response.
     
  4. Jan 6, 2016 at 4:27 PM
    #4
    rooney2oons

    rooney2oons Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 23, 2013
    Member:
    #117168
    Messages:
    265
    Gender:
    Male
    Dallas, Tx
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD Off Road Silver
    Nothing yet....im a poor bastard.
    If you've never been, it's beautiful. Check weather and snow before you go. You can get stuck in the bottom.
     
  5. Jan 7, 2016 at 1:42 AM
    #5
    Luke01

    Luke01 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2013
    Member:
    #100703
    Messages:
    622
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luke
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Tacoma DCSB MGM lifted dented and armored
    Grillcraft Grill, Leer 100q top, 5100's on four corners, OME 885x up front, OME Dakars with add a leaf in rear, Lighting, a mix of Rigid and Chinese LED's, US Off Road hidden winch front bumper, SOS offroad conceprs skids, and rear bumper with swing out
    I love me some Palo Duro, not really a bad site in the place.

    If there is a chamce of flooding stay up towards the front. I got stuck in the furthest back campground one year for a day. Flash floods closed all of the low water crossings
     
    rooney2oons likes this.
  6. Jan 8, 2016 at 4:58 PM
    #6
    tx_shooter

    tx_shooter This place is a cesspool of bfo and spacer lifts

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2010
    Member:
    #39745
    Messages:
    7,738
    Gender:
    Male
    Subbed for good info.
     
  7. Jan 9, 2016 at 8:39 AM
    #7
    Luke01

    Luke01 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2013
    Member:
    #100703
    Messages:
    622
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Luke
    Dallas, TX
    Vehicle:
    2012 Tacoma DCSB MGM lifted dented and armored
    Grillcraft Grill, Leer 100q top, 5100's on four corners, OME 885x up front, OME Dakars with add a leaf in rear, Lighting, a mix of Rigid and Chinese LED's, US Off Road hidden winch front bumper, SOS offroad conceprs skids, and rear bumper with swing out
    Okay well if you want to my absolute favorite campsites and why,

    Mesquite, it's the furthest back in the park and very quite. There is not alot of vehicle traffic. It also opens up to the amazing section of the park, no vehicle traffic bit you can go hike it.

    Hackberry, try to get sight 2-9 these sighrs are right along the creek so you have extra space behind the sights it's also on the outside of the all the low water crossings so you don't have to worry about flooding. There is also a bunch of widlife that moves along the creek I have seen huge deer there, massive flocks of turkey.

    But I stand by previous statement there is not a bad site in the place. Just pick what you need, and prepare to fall in love. Hell the drive from the park office to the park will blow your mind alone
     
    LostHusker and rooney2oons like this.
  8. Jan 18, 2016 at 1:19 PM
    #8
    snowcrabpg

    snowcrabpg Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2015
    Member:
    #170208
    Messages:
    132
    Gender:
    Male
    Houston
    Vehicle:
    2015 Tacoma TRD Off Road
    PelfreyBilt Hidden Winch Mount Smittybilt X20-10K Armor Tech Off Road hilift bed mount RotoPax Tacoma bed rail mount MaxLiner weatherproof floormats Color Matched front grill Plastidip rear bumper Interior LED lighting Waiting full RCI skids roofrack suspension
    When you call to reserve your site let them know what type of camping you want to do (drive in primitive is what it sounds like) and that you have a roof top tent. It's been a while since i've been to palo duro but some if memory serves some "drive-in" primitive have parking and then a 30 yard trail to your campsite.

    I know for sure that you wouldn't be able to use a RTT at some of the primitive drive ups at caprock
    I generally do primitive hike in when I go to state parks to get away from people.

    If it's not set in stone I would recommend caprock canyon state park. It's a great park and has some great scenery (some better some almost as good as palo) it's just that I was there more recently than Palo.
    Caprock Canyon typically has less people as Palo is more popular than caprock. Caprock has a pretty nice OHV road that cuts through the park.


    However this is all just my opinion. This very issue (finding good drive up and secluded locations in Texas) is why I haven't moved forward on an RTT.


    ETA: I don't know how a RTT would classify according to http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/palo-duro-canyon/fees-facilities/campsites "These are drive to sites, you do not have to backpack to them. Tent camping only. No pop-up campers, travel trailers, or motorhomes are allowed in this area."
     
  9. Apr 6, 2016 at 6:11 PM
    #9
    ramonortiz55

    ramonortiz55 Not A Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2012
    Member:
    #92013
    Messages:
    34,648
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ramon
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCSB Offroad 4x4
    stock
    where you able to head out there?

    what was your experience?



    @mr optimist how far is Palo Duro Canyon from you?
     
  10. Apr 8, 2016 at 7:37 PM
    #10
    Killbuzzjrad

    Killbuzzjrad [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 10, 2009
    Member:
    #17059
    Messages:
    173
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jared
    San Antonio, TX
    Vehicle:
    2009 DCLB TRD Sport 4x4
    I haven't made it out there yet. Ended up just camping at Guadalupe River State Park last weekend. Not a bad place but I couldn't enjoy it since I had to cut it short due to the weather.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2016
    ramonortiz55 likes this.
  11. Apr 8, 2016 at 7:37 PM
    #11
    ramonortiz55

    ramonortiz55 Not A Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2012
    Member:
    #92013
    Messages:
    34,648
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ramon
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2015 DCSB Offroad 4x4
    stock
    im planning to head out to palo duro also. id be nice if there was a tw meet out there
     
    ETBA likes this.
  12. Dec 22, 2019 at 10:16 AM
    #12
    mandog

    mandog Lesser-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2019
    Member:
    #307297
    Messages:
    459
    Race City, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 4WD Off-Road Quicksand Overland
    2019 now and just visited the park in winter (December). Low crowds and plenty of space. Weather was nice, with high 50’s in the daytime, and low 30s by dawn.

    With regards to the campsite conversation, I’m in line to think a pop-up tent could go into any of the “drive in” sites, such as Fortress or Cactus. They have water but no other amenities. A porta-potty is present at each, but the heated bathrooms are 1/2 mile away at Juniper or 2 miles to Mesquite. It’s a $8 difference between the two options and I hella enjoyed that heated bathroom!

    Mesquite Campsite:



     
  13. Dec 22, 2019 at 1:27 PM
    #13
    MolonLabeTaco

    MolonLabeTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2018
    Member:
    #242953
    Messages:
    2,786
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Dude
    N. Texas
    Vehicle:
    '12 DC 4x4 OR
    Is the any off road driving/trails there?
     
  14. Dec 22, 2019 at 7:50 PM
    #14
    Jeremy Martin

    Jeremy Martin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2019
    Member:
    #286666
    Messages:
    168
    Vehicle:
    1st Gen Taco
    I don't think there is any public land around there with off-road trails. I know the Jeep Jamboree guys hold an event there every year but it is on private land at one end of the canyon. I could be wrong about no public land, but I've looked when I was there last and didn't see any. Anyone in here from the Amarillo area that can clear it this up?
     
    MolonLabeTaco likes this.
  15. Dec 22, 2019 at 8:41 PM
    #15
    mandog

    mandog Lesser-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2019
    Member:
    #307297
    Messages:
    459
    Race City, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 4WD Off-Road Quicksand Overland
    I would have to agree with that statement. It seemed pretty touch and go with the land surrounding it. I did, however, find an access trail leading out to one of the points within the upper rim of the lower portion of the park. It very well could have been a maintenance path, though, but it was visible. Park rules state only to drive where it is deemed drivable, and I saw no offshoots from the main road.

    Edit:
    I forgot.. On the other side of Amarillo is Meredith Lake Recreation Area with TONS of atv trails. That might could be of what you’re looking for.
     
    Landpirate likes this.
  16. Jan 28, 2020 at 9:42 AM
    #16
    mandog

    mandog Lesser-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2019
    Member:
    #307297
    Messages:
    459
    Race City, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 4WD Off-Road Quicksand Overland


    Fun video I made from my time spent in PD Canyon. Hope you enjoy! :thumbsup:
     
    ETBA, LostHusker and rubiconjp like this.
  17. Jul 17, 2020 at 1:12 PM
    #17
    grumpytaco

    grumpytaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2018
    Member:
    #258930
    Messages:
    55
    Gender:
    Male
    Cypress, TX
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD OffRoad
    Dissent Offroad Roof and Bed Racks, SoftTopper
    On my way home from a pacific NE trip. Stopped for an overnight at Palo Duro. This spot was just down at the bottom right after coming into the park. I had been driving all day. Got to the park right before it stated getting dark and just pulled into the first empty spot. 2B49B192-F86D-4EFC-BAEC-FE2F46FC9E34.jpg Woke up the next morning to this.
    E61CF09B-4CB6-4DBA-A44D-2BE83B05A30F.jpg It was a good trip.
     
    LostHusker and ETBA like this.
  18. Jul 19, 2020 at 7:21 AM
    #18
    LostHusker

    LostHusker Just one day at a time

    Joined:
    May 14, 2017
    Member:
    #218979
    Messages:
    27,023
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mark
    South, TX
    Vehicle:
    2021 F150, 2015 T4R
    Nice...:thumbsup:
     
  19. Jul 19, 2020 at 12:56 PM
    #19
    Naveronski

    Naveronski Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2013
    Member:
    #112501
    Messages:
    8,933
    Gender:
    Male
    Fort Worth
    Vehicle:
    2014 MGM DCSB TRD:OR
    Great views! It's hot as hell out there now though; not when I would head out there!

    ... I almost did, though, until @ETXTacoma warned me against it.
     
  20. Jul 20, 2020 at 5:21 AM
    #20
    grumpytaco

    grumpytaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 10, 2018
    Member:
    #258930
    Messages:
    55
    Gender:
    Male
    Cypress, TX
    Vehicle:
    2018 TRD OffRoad
    Dissent Offroad Roof and Bed Racks, SoftTopper
    You are right about right now being "HOT". I should have mentioned in my post that this was first week of November, 2019. Temps were 50's that night.
     
    Naveronski likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top