Of the canyons that break the eastern edge of the Staked Plains, Palo
Duro is by far the most spectacular. As one approaches the edge, the
earth opens up into a vast gash, a geological and ecological wonder. And
whether you come to Palo Duro as a novice or veteran canyoneer, the
thrill and the mystery are always intense. How did the canyon get here?
What caused the vari-color of the walls and formations? Why do some
formations stand completely separated from the canyon walls? Did the
little stream running along the canyon floor form this canyon all by
itself? Who were the first people to find this canyon and how did they
react? On this last question imagination goes to work and contemplates
what ancient people must have felt when they, even less aware than we,
stumbled upon the chasm rim and quickly realized that they had found a
bonanza, an immense concentration of water, wood, game, and
protection--all they needed to sustain life.--Frederick W. Rathjen
Originally published as an edition of the Panhandle Plains Historical
Review, The Story of Palo Duro Canyon, with its seven essays devoted to
geology, archeology, paleontology, vegetation, park development, and the
amphitheater, and its road log from Canyon, Texas, through the Palo Duro
State Park, has become a classic. This Double Mountain Books edition,
with a new introduction by Frederick W. Rathjen, makes 04 Activeable
once again a comprehensive discovery and invaluable memento for the many
thousands who visit the park each year.
