🗓 Date: May 25, 2025
📍 Location: Palo Duro Canyon State Park
🚶♀️ Trails Explored: Sunflower & Cottonwood
⏱ Time on Trail: ~2.5 hours
📏 Distance: Approx. 5.2 miles
This week’s Trail Tuesday takes us deep into the heart of Palo Duro Canyon, where the wildflowers are thriving, the lizards are fast, and yes—you’ll find yourself stepping through a shady, muddy wonderland affectionately marked Toad Suck Bog.
🌼 Bloom & Buzz on Sunflower Trail
I started my hike on Sunflower Trail, which immediately greeted me with bursts of color—blankets of yellow coreopsis, pops of orange-red Indian blanket, and lavender horsemint lining the path like a painted welcome mat. The trail was warm but forgiving in the morning light, winding through low grassland and toward shaded groves.
🌳 Shady Switch to Cottonwood
From there, I veered left to Cottonwood Trail, a 1.4-mile (one-way) path that threads through one of the more lush areas of the canyon floor. This section was cooler, thanks to tree coverage and a steady breeze. I crossed a CCC-style wooden bridge and paused at a gentle stream cutting through the canyon. Water was running just enough to reflect the cottonwood leaves above and offer a quick break for canyon critters—and hikers like me.
🦎 Lizard Encounters & Canyon Quirks
The cracked clay beneath my boots held tiny animal tracks, and in the tall grass I spotted a prairie racerunner darting in and out of view. I counted at least four lizards by the time I reached a patch of red rock in a shady dry wash, and I couldn’t help but smile when I came upon a simple wooden sign marking the legendary Toad Suck Bog—a little moment of Texas trail humor that stole the show.
🔁 Looping Back via Rojo Grande
After reaching the turnaround point on Cottonwood, I looped back to Sunflower/Rojo Grande Trail for a brief exploration of its slightly rockier terrain and dramatic geological formations. The sign at the trailhead taught me about “gleaming seams”—mineral veins running through ancient canyon rock—and I was able to spot one glowing in the afternoon sun.
🥤 Trail Tips:
- Bring at least 1 quart of water per person—you’ll need it.
- Wear closed-toe shoes with good traction. The red clay is slick when wet and sticky when dry.
- Keep an eye out for wildlife and creek crossings—both were in full effect.
- This trail combo is a great family-friendly option, but it’s long enough to feel like a true adventure.
💬 Final Thoughts
This hike was the perfect blend of playful and peaceful. Between lizards, blooming meadows, trickling water, and a hilariously named bog, it reminded me why I keep returning to Palo Duro even in the heat. Every trail has a new story to tell—and this one definitely had jokes.
☀️ Sunshine says:
Sometimes the most magical paths aren’t the highest ones—they’re the muddy, wildflower-lined ones with a sense of humor.
Kaci’s Ramblings Home 
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