This trail’s claim to fucking fame is that it is the one and only trail in the park that takes hikers from the floor of the canyon to the rim. Once I figured out that this was probably the steepest trail in the park, I simply had to put my legs to the test on Rock Garden Trail.
Table of Contents
Essential Gear
- 2.5 L water minimum – more if doing in hotter temperatures
- Sunhat
- Rain jacket
- Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen!
- 500 calories of food/snacks (minimum)
- Park map
- GPS navigation app with gpx file downloaded – I recommend Gaia GPS
- Sunglasses
Hiking Rock Garden Trail: 2.4 Miles One Way
This virgin trail is a newer addition to the Grand Canyon of Texas, having been opened in 2012. For reference, the park was established in 1934.
The glorious gains! Be prepared for a lot of uphill hiking on Rock Garden Trail.
To be fully transparent, I did not start at the trailhead for Rock Garden. I took Lower Comanche to its intersection with Rock Garden trail and then hit up ol’ Rock Garden, leaving me to hike a mere 1.39 miles of this trail rather than the full length.
Accessing the Trail
So details: This trail begins at Park Road 5. There is a small dirt parking lot off the road. The trail is 2.4 miles one way and gains 600 feet of elevation (Coloradians try not to laugh at us, please).
I’ve highlighted the trail on this map in orange. It’s just as squiggly to hike as it looks here.
This is the type of hike where I expect to get passed by some fucking trail runner on their 2nd ascent at 7am in the morning. If that’s you, say hi in the comments you crazy, crazy motherfucker.
The Steepest Trail in Palo Duro Canyon
Rock Garden Trail is rocky and narrow.
While Rock Garden was definitely the steepest trail that I encountered in Palo Duro, it wasn’t steep enough that it made me want to give up or question my life choices. That is something that often happens in other state or national parks, but let’s not think about that right now.
The trail is a fairly quick, moderate trip for the experienced in-shape hiker. For those with children or not in peak physical condition, the trail is still very doable but might be more of a half to three quarters day round trip.
Rock Garden Trail is narrower than some of the other trails in Palo Duro Canyon and there are places that the brush or cedar trees reach across the trail. Be aware that there are multiple switch backs, especially approaching the rim of the canyon, and it is quite rocky underfoot.
Too Long: Didn’t Read;
The trail itself wasn’t super pretty but the views at the top and while descending are arguably some of the best in the park. Be prepared for a decent climb (for north Texas).
Would recommend.
References
https://www.theoutbound.com/texas/hiking/hike-palo-duro-canyon-s-rock-garden-trail