Lower Comanche Trail • Hike • Texas • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

login for filter options

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

Linked

linked

Lower Comanche Trail

Rock Garden Trail

Tub Spring Duck Pond Trail

Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail

Partners

partners

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

_____________________

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

Linked

linked

Partners

partners

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.

_____________________

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

Linked

linked

Lower Comanche Trail

Rock Garden Trail

Creekside Trail

Partners

partners

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.

_____________________

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.

username		X
password		X