Best Cabin Camping near McClellan Creek National Grassland

We stayed a cabin for one night and loved it!! The views are amazing!

We stayed in one of the cabins that overlook the Canyon, situated right on the ridge (Sorenson was the name of ours I believe). The cabin was small but fit our family of 5 well since we had a cot and sleeping mats. Beautiful and night and in early morning/late afternoon, but the middle of the day was so hot there wasn’t much to do. Trails closed at 11 am since there was a heat advisory, and we hiked some anyways but didn’t go far since it was dangerously hot. We backpacked a minimal distance the second night and had a beautiful view of the canyon walls, although some trouble with avoiding cacti. The established campgrounds were mostly empty and we didn’t see anyone else when we camped in the backcountry area. The heat was bearable at night, but we had to sleep with the tent doors open for airflow. No fires were permitted.

To start with, this is a beautiful park! Wildlife was abundant when we visited including little lizards and roadrunners. Beautiful sunrises and sunsets! This park had nice overnight facilities as well- cabin and campsites. Campground, Fortress Cliff, a somewhat primitive camp area, even has beautiful views from the sites! We wished we could have gone to the bbq dinner and a show, but our schedule was filled with hiking and relaxing after the hot hikes.

Some of this park feels like Utah. Absolutely beautiful area, wildlife. Lots of Native American history here too. Didn’t seem crowded when I was there (May). Lots of great hiking trails and I saw a lot of people on horses in the area. Most sites are standard basic state park facilities, clean and well-cared for. I always like the most primitive camp sites I can find, but there are beautiful stone cabins (modern interiors) for rent here.

Several different campgrounds in the park. Lots of RV spots and many separate sites for tents. They even have a few rustic cabins for rent. Stayed at Hackberry campground. We went last year during COVID and many RV spaces were closed, I don’t know why because they were well spaced. Hackberry campground had many RV spots well spaced and many trees. Some of the other newer campgrounds in Palo Duro state park have RV sites rather close together without many trees. There was wildlife which was nice. We saw several deer in the park and a couple of turkeys running down the road.

this state park is very strict about public consumption of alcohol. hiking here is amazing! bring lots of water, lots of water! you are in the desert, the days are extremely hot. the lighthouse and rock garden hike are musts. rock garden is a hike up and ends with beautiful views. the lighthouse is easier until the end, then gets a little strenuous. nights in the park are cool and beautiful. there are cabins available to rent, but reserve them FAR in advance. the breakfast sandwich in the park restaurant are delicious. campsites are close together, unless you are camping in primitive sites.

Wow, Palo Duro Canyon sounds like a dream outdoor getaway! Can't wait to explore the trails and catch a TEXAS Outdoor Musical. Any hidden gems you recommend checking out? unscramble words

After a cloudy week and my off-grid rig nearly out of power, I was super glad to find this rv park just outside of Palo Duro Canyon! Palo Duró was sold out but this little gem was just outside. They have canyon zip lines and really cute little cabins. Wifi was a little patchy due to intense winds that day but it was good enough for me to work remote. I just needed the bare bones plug-in to charge up my battery bank but I’ll definitely come back to zip line over the weekend! The front office staff are also really great, friendly and helpful.

Half of this one was tucked behind some trees so it can’t be seen from the road. Behind the campsites is lots of trees, some water and a big rock wall. The bathrooms were a bit of a walk. There is lots of trees but not much shade and it was hot. There is a little picnic table with some shade but there are gaps in it so I had to use a tarp to block the afternoon sun from my hammock. No trees to hang the hammock so I hung it on the pavilion for the picnic table. It is a really amazing park with some cool history. The next time I come I am planning on trying a cabin out.

This campground is only .5 miles from the park. It was really convenient. It’s pretty basic but sufficient. There are bathrooms in a hard sided building next to the store. I was car/tent camping and when I reserved online I booked site 3, however when you receive your welcome email it explains that all the field area around the RV pads are open for camping so choosing a stir is not necessary unless you’re in an RV.

They have tiny cabins that looked nice and we’re occupied. The grounds are very dark at night, could use some security lamps.

Wind coming off the canyon is STRONG, keep that in mind when you choose your site.

Has some really nice views of the canyon and I saw some deer roaming around the camps.

There is not a lot of shade, I found the only tree and claimed it.

It’s a good spot!

This is a pretty big state Park located in the Panhandle of Texas. It is sometimes referred to as a mini Grand Canyon.

There are plenty of trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. You should check out the Lighthouse Trail while you are there.

The "primitive" campsites include a picnic table, running water, and fire pit. If you want to get away from others I highly suggest backcountry camping.

There is a guided tour of the Old West Stables, that is perfect for the whole family. Also, the Pioneer Amphitheater host the play TEXAS, which is a must see if you are in the area.

I would also recommend going to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum just 15 minutes West of the park.

On the rim of Palo Duro State Park, lies a roadside attraction with Zipline tours, cute tiny cabins for rent and a small campground. Offering approximately 30 full-hook sites, and a dozen or so primitive areas to set up camp for cheap. Since we bring our own electricity via a solar panel, we have everything we need without the need for hookups.  This campground does not allow gas generators, so come prepared.  The campground offers drinking water, full-flush toilet facilities and hot showers – just be sure to latch the door when you leave‘ cuz it gets really windy here and the shower doors can go all Dorothy on you. 

The canyon is the reason to come to the area in the first place. Without any knowledge of its existence, the monotonous flats of the Texas Panhandle give little indication of the stunning gash in the earth created by one fork of the Red River. With the park entrance, literally a dozen yards away, all the activities within are just a short bike ride or drive away from this campground. Hiking, walking, bird-watching, and even some very technical mountain biking opportunities are all part of the park’s draw. 

This campground offered us a great back-up plan.  We arrived at the State Park without any reservations, which is normal for us, and of course every site was booked out 5 months in advance. Though later when we in the park, we found dozens of campsites empty. This leads us to two conclusions, either: 1. The state park was severely limiting reservations to keep numbers in the park down or 2. People booked early and when the pandemic numbers got high, they bailed on their plans but not on their reservations.  Public service reminder! Even when you cannot get a refund, be sure to cancel your reservation so that others may take advantage of your spot.

The closest town for supplies, gas, groceries, and such is Canyon, TX which is about 10 miles away.

We didn’t know what to expect with this campground. Wow! Were we pleasantly surprised. Campgrounds have water and electric hook-up. Sites are fairly secluded, have covered picnic area and trill plus fire site.

Hiking and mountain bike trails. On-site horse rentals. Picnic tables & grills under immense cottonwood trees. Interpretive Center & Gift Shop with history, geology, & wildlife exhibits.

Highly recommend!

The Fortress Cliff Camp Area is a great location to camp because of its convenience to many of the best hiking trails in the park. It's a popular campground, and there's no tree coverage but most sites have a covered picnic table to hide from the sun.

Palo Duro Canyon is a fantastic place to hike, mountain bike, and ride horses. Horse rentals are available in the park, or you can bring your own. Some of the trails are challenging physically, but the views are a great reward. Also, depending on the time of day, the sun can be brutal and plenty of water as well as sunscreen and protective clothing are necessary.

The Lighthouse Trail is a wonderful hike to do at sunset, but be sure to bring a headlamp and a trail map.

Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Amarillo Texas boosts where the Comanche Indians lived Where Coronado traveled and where John Goodnight brought in Cattle ...full of history and great views, Including Observation Point Los Cedros Ranch and ofcourse the famous play "TEXAS"..a must see for history buffs. Plenty of campsites and you can call ahead for reservations Check out their web site..you won't be sorry!

A true gem of a park in Texas. Hard to reserve sites, but worth planning for. HOT in the summer.

We love camping at Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This is the second largest canyon in the U.S. It’s 120 miles long and 600 to 800 feet deep. It’s so beautiful that you swear you are on a Disney Wild West set and this is make believe.  It’s awesome cause you can camp at the bottom of the canyons near all these great red cliffs.  There are some epic mountain bike trails here thru Juniper and Mesquite trees.  If you’re looking for other entertainment besides just camping or bike riding there was also a Texas Hoe-Down BBQ, a Texas musical and an interpretive night hike along the canyon floor with flashlights.  Flush toilets and showers are available.

This place is indelibly tied to the history of Texas, and a genuinely gorgeous place to camp. Be careful taking the hairpin road down to the campground at night!

For most people, it is a long drive to this park. The Palo Euro Canyon State Park is located in the Texas Panhandle. From Central Texas it is a 8-9 hour drive. The long drive is worth it. When you arrive at the park you feel like you’ve arrived to someplace special. The park is a typical Texas State Park with a number of reservable developed campsites with a table, water, electricity and restrooms nearby. There are also some basic sites without water and electricity. And of course there is primitive camping. Since we had a long drive we stayed one of the developed campsites for the first night. For the remaining days we hiked into the canyon and camped primitive. While there is a small creek that runs through the canyon, we did not use the water. There is cattle grazing throughout the park and it is rumored that the creek is both a water hole for the cattle and a toilet. We were planning an in and out hike, so we carried a couple extra gallons of water in, stashed them near a tree, then relocated and used them on the way out. The park has some really cool rock formations, cliffs and orange soil. This weather can by dry and hot in the summer, so early spring and late fall are probably the preferable time to visit.

I certainly understand why they call it the “Grand Canyon of Texas”! This is an absolutely stunning place with rustic camping and great hiking trails. We did The Lighthouse Trail all the way to the top and it was stunning. There’s a Trading Post inside the park with groceries, firewood, and souvenirs, they also make a great burger!

What an incredible entrance! We unhooked our toad before heading into the canyon, and I'm glad we did. The drive was stunning, especially for us Floridians not used to such drops. Our site was beautifully wooded, though cell service was minimal down in the canyon love tester online. Definitely a must-visit if you're in the Texas panhandle.

Read some reviews where they stated they didn't unhook their toad upon heading to the canyon. Well I'm glad we did, being from Florida we don't have drops like this. What a drive. Loved our site, very wooded. Not much if any cell service as you are down in a canyon. This is a must stay if you're in the panhandle of Texas.

Red sand everywhere! The color is truly amazing! The wind storms in the spring are something truly amazing in a whole different way. lol You will find sand in places you did not know existed! The hiking trails are well maintained and are very enjoyable to walk along. The campsites are nicely spaced and have big picnic tables.

Canyon, the small town right outside of the Canyon, is a lovely town with some cool bars and restaurants. It also has Walmart, so if you end up needing anything you can take a quick 20 minute drive into town.

I've been twice now and every time is better then the last! The location is great for visiting near by towns/cities in the pan handle of Texas.

I look forward to going back and camping there!

We camped one night here on our way to Colorado over Labor Day weekend and I’m SO glad we did! We stayed at the tent only campground, Cactus Camp, and it was perfect - short walk or quick drive to the Mesquite camp bathrooms & showers. It was hot during the day of course but for the beginning of September, it was surprisingly cool and comfortable at night! The stars at night, were big and bright... We hiked Rock Garden just before sunset and woke up at 5:30am to hike the Lighthouse Trail for sunrise (highly recommend getting an early start for coolers temps and an awesome sunrise at the lighthouse!). If you’re visiting Texas or have lived here your whole life, this is a bucket list state park! Go ahead and add it to yours :)

I first visited Palo Duro State Park in January of 1980. My wife, dog and I were driving from Virginia to California and planned on spending the night in Amarillo ,TX. We happened upon Palo Duro SP and drove through the park. It was fantastic and I've always wanted to go back and spend some time there. Well, it finally happened in October 2021. I spent 4 nights in the park and had beautiful weather, opportunities for many photos and reconnected with nature. The campsites are very nice- spaced out, large and mine as did most have many trees for shade. I was in the Hackberry loop. The park employees were very helpful and friendly. The bathroom facilities were extremely clean and have been updated. Plenty of trails for hiking and bike riding and the photo ops were fantastic. So far, my favorite Texas State Park.

We stayed here for 2 nights in early May 2019. We stayed in the Hackberry campground. The park was completely full, and we grabbed the last spot 30 ft spot available. This park is beautiful, and I can see where it gets it name “ The Grand Canyon of Texas”. They had some rain recently when we there so everything was green and beautiful against the canyon walls. We didn’t have much time since we were only able to stay two nights, but I feel we were able to explore enough in those two days. I would recommend doing to the hike to Lighthouse Rock. 2.7 miles one-way and then when you get there, it’s about another .4 hike up to the area where you can see it. I would also recommend you go to the Big Cave. Very short walk for that and neat. The park has a 10% grade and all campgrounds are at the bottom of the canyon. We had no trouble in our 30 ft travel trailer with our Ram 2500. The visitor center had a disappointing selection of souvenirs but go there for the view. We stayed on site #2 in Hackberry which was 30 ft long. We had no trouble getting in and had enough room to park the truck in front of the trailer (at an angle). Site was level as well. We had no cell service at all without a booster. With a booster, we had no Verizon, but enough AT&T to use internet. We were even able to stream Game of Thrones one evening. The park was quiet at night. I would have liked to have stayed maybe one more night to explore more, but two days worked for us. Nothing around the park as far as services, so bring what you need. There is a store at the park that has a few essentials at a high cost. Overall, I was a great stay and we would stay again. $24 price reflects camping only. There is also a $8/person day use fee if you do not have a Texas State Park pass.