Rock Garden Trail • Hike • Texas • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Oct 16 2024

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Tub Spring Draw Loop, TX

Hiking		Oct 16 2024
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	7.59 Miles	1,032 AEG

Hiking	7.59 Miles	5 Hrs 39 Mns	1.48 mph
	1,032 ft AEG	32 Mns Break

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Lower Comanche Trail

Rock Garden Trail

Tub Spring Duck Pond Trail

Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail

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mamakatt22

Back in Texas where the hiking is slim but Ginny and I took a couple days to hike in Palo Duro and Caprock Canyon. I have done most of the trails in Palo Duro but I have never been up Tub Spring Draw. This is an off trail hike up to Duck Pond then a trail/two track back to our start point.
Started the hike at the end of the park road at the Equestrian Trail parking and headed down stream following the Prairie Town Fork of the Red River (wow what a name). About a half mile down is the junction with Tub Spring draw. I didn’t have a GPS route or a map other than the park map which is kind of worthless, but Google Earth made it look like going up the draw could be done. The creek is easy going with a couple of minor rock scrambles until about .5 miles from Duck pond there is a 100 foot waterfall (dry at this time) in a slot canyon. Not wanting to return the way we came I decided to check out a route that would allow us to climb around the falls. Turned out to be a fairly easy scramble/climb to the top of the falls. Looks like the goats and deer also use that route. Great views on top looking over the falls. Duck pond was a short walk from here. Not much water in Duck Pond, much less than last time I was here. Took a break here then headed back to our starting point along park trails.
The Rock Garden and Lower Comanche Trails have great views overlooking Palo Duro Canyon. The trails are well maintained and easy to follow. Didn’t see anyone on the trails except toward the end where there were a couple hikers. Great weather high in the 70’s and a light breeze. We will head to Amarillo, stay the night before heading to Caprock tomorrow.

Red Canyon

Light flow

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Apr 23 2024

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Palo Duro Loop, TX

Hiking		Apr 23 2024
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	6.40 Miles	730 AEG

Hiking	6.40 Miles	3 Hrs 38 Mns	2.09 mph
	730 ft AEG	34 Mns Break

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mamakatt22

On our second day at Palo Duro we did a loop around the lower section of the park for a 6.4 mile hike. Started from the Soapberry Day use area and took the Spur trail up to the Lower Comanche Trail. Great views of Palo Duro Canyon and the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. This trail follows along and below the Fortress Cliffs. Lots of ups and downs as the trail goes in and around the side canyons along Fortress Cliff. Took the Rock Garden Trail down to the lower Canyon and returned to our start point on trails along the creek. Very few people along the Lower Comanche Trail but as you get closer to the park road it got a little busier. Took a break along the creek under a bridge on the park road. Soaked our feet and I almost caught a fish by hand in the shallow stream. I can totally see how this would be a method of catching fish if you had to and didn't have fishing equipment. This probably explains why all the racoon tracks we saw. Plenty of Turkey tracks and bats in the belfry (under bridge).

Headed back to Lubbock after finishing the hike.

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May 12 2021

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Comanche Rylander Fortress Loop, TX

Hiking		May 12 2021
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	13.14 Miles	1,499 AEG

Hiking	13.14 Miles	6 Hrs 16 Mns	2.17 mph
	1,499 ft AEG	13 Mns Break

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6 linked trail guides

Upper Comanche Trail

Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail

Rojo Grande Trail

Rock Garden Trail

Paseo Del Rio Trail

Tub Spring Duck Pond Trail

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mamakatt22

The second day of our Palo Duro Canyon trip we took a 13.5 mile hike along the Comanche and Rylander Fortress Cliff Trails. We returned via the Rock Garden Trail, Rojo Grande and Paseo Del Rio Trails to the start point.

We started this hike on the Soapberry Spur Trail which is a short .3 mile trail that connects up to the Upper Comanche Trail from the Soapberry day use area. The Comanche trail follows along and below the Rylander Fortress Cliffs. Interesting trail with plenty of interesting rock formations. When I was on the Rylander cliff trail last year walking along the edge we ventured out to the edge crossing over foot wide fissures in the rock going quite a ways down. If I had done the hike we did today first and looked at what was holding those cliffs up I may not of been so willing to go out on the edge. On the other hand I probably would have thought that the rocks have been hanging on for a long time why would they break away now, but on the other hand (I think that's 3 hands) is my 175 pound weight all it needs to break away. Any way this is a very fascinating trail.

Once we connected up to the Rock Garden Trail we headed up to the rim. Once on the rim we headed south along the Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail to its terminus where there were great views overlooking the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River as it heads southeast exiting the park. On the return trip we took a short side trip off the Rylander Trail to Duck pond on the Tub Spring Trail. Nothing too interesting about this trail, Duck Pond was dry and not exactly sure where Tub Spring is. We returned via the Rock Garden Trail.

Once down to the flats again along the river we took the Sunflower, Rojo Grande and Paseo Del Rio Trail back to the start point. The trails along the river are easy walking and tend to meander a bit. These trails appear to be popular with mountain bikers. Overall a very good hike with great weather, we did not get rained on at all and the temperatures remained in the 50s. The river had the most water in it that I have ever seen on my previous visits here but still really looks like a stream or creek rather than a river.

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May 11 2021

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Lower Comanche Trail Loop, TX

Hiking		May 11 2021
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	4.87 Miles	560 AEG

Hiking	4.87 Miles	2 Hrs 5 Mns	2.36 mph
	560 ft AEG	1 Min Break

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Lower Comanche Trail

Rock Garden Trail

Creekside Trail

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mamakatt22

On the third hike of the first day in Palo Duro we hiked the Lower Comanche Trail. This loop hike actually was the southern part of the Lower Comanche Trail. We started the hike on the very southern end of the park along the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. The trail heads up along the east side of the river up close but below the Triassic cliffs and among the Permian layers. As with other parts of the Comanche Trail that follows along the Permian layers there are hoodoos and rock formations that will amaze you. We took the Rock Garden Trail back down to the river and followed a trail along the east bank of the river back to our start point.

The Southern part of the Lower Comanche trail climbs gradually a couple hundred feet up to just below the eastern cliffs of the canyon. Since there is a Lot to see along this trail you hardly notice the 2.5 mile climb up. We hiked to the junction with the Rock Garden Trail and took that back down to the river bed. The rock Garden Trail seems to be a favorite of people visiting the park, with its massive rocks that fell from the cliffs above. Once down at the river bed I was going to take the Sunflower and Juniper Riverside Trail back to the start point but I couldn’t get across the creek. The river gorge is about 20 feet across but 10 to 15 feet deep. I could see the Sunflower Trail on the other side but the river but couldn't get across easily. Fortunately there was a trail on this side of the creek, not marked on the park map but tenth mile trail signs marked the way. I will be calling this the Creekside Trail, the trail was marked with a C. (most trails in the park are marked with the first letter of the trail and miles in tenths). The Creekside Trail ends at the Sunflower Trail to the north and the Comanche Trail to the south. I will have to come back at another time and complete the Sunflower and Juniper Riverside Trails at another time.

Great hike to finish of the first day of hiking. The weather remained in the upper 40’s providing good hiking weather all day. This hike had the most hikers we had seen all day with about a half dozen other hikers/groups along the trail. This is a great 5 mile loop trail to take that isn’t too difficult but gives you a sample of what all the other trails have.

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Nov 13 2020

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

Rock Garden Rim Loop, TX

Hiking		Nov 13 2020
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	10.45 Miles	1,091 AEG

Hiking	10.45 Miles	5 Hrs 20 Mns	2.11 mph
	1,091 ft AEG	23 Mns Break

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Rock Garden Trail

Rim Trail - Palo Duro Canyon SP

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mamakatt22

On the second day of our Palo Duro Trip we hiked the Rock Garden Trail and the Rim Trail. This trail actually has some elevation gain as you climb the 600 feet to the rim. The Rock Garden Trail has some interesting rock formations but the real prize is the views of Palo Duro Canyon from the rim. We had planned to hike along the rim to "Fracture In the Rock" then find our own route down from the rim to the Lower Comanche Trail and back to our start point. I found a spot I thought might work but my boss nixed the idea. I think it was quite doable but may of been more Challenging for Ginny. We went back the way we came, I didn't want to break my bride of only 6 months. We can do the Lower Comanche Trail on another trip here.

The walk along the rim was quite interesting with views all along the way. Some sections of the rim had cracks back from the edge where eventually the cliff will give way, hopefully not while standing on it. At the end of the hike is what is called "Fracture in the Rock" and is an area where the rock long the cliff and the rocks below the cliff have a large fracture, quite impressive. I will have to check out the lower fracture next time I am here on the Lower Comanche Trail. The Palo Duro Map has a trail labeled as the Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail that goes to the Fracture in the Rock but this trail is actually an old 2 track and stays back from the rim. Doesn't look like many take this route. I recommend taking the trail that follows along the rim. We returned along the Rylander trail for a while but it was quite boring so we cut back over to the rim trail.

This was a great hike and a good workout if you don't stop every few minutes to get pictures of the views or rock formations. It's not like climbing Mount Humphrey but it is pretty good for being on the Texas Panhandle. The drive to Palo Duro is also quite interesting, It is flat, flat to the north, flat to the south, flat to the rear and flat to the front then all of a sudden there is something that isn't flat, a big hole that drops away indicating the end of flat. It is not Grand Canyon but it is Texas' version of the Grand Canyon. Maybe it is god's practice canyon before actually building his master piece.

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WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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