From the rugged mountains of West Texas to the mystical canyons of the Panhandle, Texas is home to some of the most spectacular hiking in the Southwest. The best part: You don’t have to rough it in a tent. There are many fine cabins, hotels, and inns to return to after a long day on the trail.
At 120 miles long and 20 miles wide, Palo Duro Canyon is visible from space, but the vast plains around Amarillo conceal it so well that the dramatic red rock formation almost sneaks up on visitors. The canyon cuts a gorgeous swath through the Panhandle, and the 28,000-acre Palo Duro Canyon State Park protects the northwest corner of the canyon. That’s where hikers can find the headwaters of the Prairie Dog Town fork of the Red River and numerous satisfying hikes, including the iconic Lighthouse Trail.
CCC CABINS
Park Road 5, Canyon
Staying inside the park guarantees hikers can be the first to hit the trails. The cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression are popular options that often book up six months in advance. These small structures are made of local stone and integrated into the landscape. The two Rim Cabins—Sorenson and Goodnight—are perched on a precipice and each feature two bedrooms, one bath, a kitchenette, a fireplace, and a private lookout into the canyon. “The Rim Cabins offer views that you don’t get anywhere else,” park superintendent David Fischer says.
The CCC built four additional cabins at the bottom of the canyon in Cow Camp. These rustic single rooms include bunks without bedding, a shared bathhouse, and a fireplace. The only indoor cooking element is a microwave, but guests can prepare meals on an outdoor grill with supplies purchased at Sad Monkey Mercantile near the park entrance. Enjoy a sunset picnic after the day-trippers have departed and get a taste of how wild Palo Duro Canyon once was. Rooms start at $60/night.
tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks
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1 / THE PLAZA PIONEER PARK, EL PASO
This historic 130-room hotel in downtown El Paso blends classic border town aesthetics and modern luxury. It’s also about 10 minutes from top-notch hiking in Franklin Mountains State Park. From the La Perla rooftop bar, enjoy views north toward the park and south into Mexico. Rooms start at $184/night. plazahotelelpaso.com
2 / HOTEL EL CAPITAN, VAN HORN
Guadalupe Mountains National Park has some of the state’s most scenic and challenging trails. An hour away, Hotel El Capitan, named after a prominent peak in the park, is an ideal base for enjoying a satisfying meal and comfortable bed after tackling the tallest mountains in Texas. Rooms start at $129/night. thehotelelcapitan.com
3 / HOTEL LIMPIA, FORT DAVIS
Fort Davis has the honor of being the highest-elevation settlement in Texas. Davis Mountains State Park looks down on the town and the surrounding undulating yellow grasslands from a high ridge. Hotel Limpia has been a mainstay for travelers to this area for over a century, and a new owner is refurbishing it with plans for a pool and a new dining program. Rooms start at $95/night. hotellimpia.com
