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| | | Comanche Rylander Fortress Loop, TX | | | |
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Comanche Rylander Fortress Loop, TX
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| 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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| partners | | 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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