Palo Duro Trail Run

The Palo Duro Trail run was started by Red Spicer as a road race and has morphed into a beautiful trail run, with distances of 25K, 50K, and 50 Miles. We feel like we offer a distance for everyone in the family, and it makes for a great way to see a spectacular Texas State Park. The race takes place in mid-October when temperatures can vary from freezing at the start to over 100 degrees during the afternoon. The race takes place on mostly single track red dirt trails with a variety of rolling hills throughout the course. The views of the second largest canyon in the United States are stunning as the sun comes up and the canyon comes alive. The canyon has 60 miles of ravine with 800 ft cliffs and offers camp sites for those who want to experience more of it before or after the race. The Mesquite, Hackberry and Cottonwood trees offer green and yellow foliage, while the canyon itself is painted in red, brown, and white. The hoodoo rock formations are a wonder to look at as well. The course is a loop course, so you will see people most of the day and return to the start/finish in order to meet your crew.

The race has well stocked aid stations that are manned by seasoned volunteers who are there to make sure your every need is met. The aid stations offer a variety of salty and sweet snacks such as chips, pretzels, potatoes and salt, M&M’s, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and our famous “Date Nut Bars”! We also offer water, coke, Gatorade and other electrolyte drinks. The course has a generous 12.5 hour cut-off, and awards are given to the top three overall and masters in each race with the 25K finishers receiving a Palo Duro logo cap and the 50K and 50 Mile finishers receiving a jacket with the same logo. After the race we offer beef and vegetarian burgers with all the fixings, including Red’s famous grilled jalapenos! Also please be respectful, No Dogs allowed in the finish line area or on the trail.

This year the 20K race increases to a 25K distance, with over nine miles of new trail for you to experience. The new course will be more challenging than in past years, with a gain of 400 vertical feet during the race. The course will climb from the floor of the canyon up Comanche Trail and runs along the base of Fortress Cliff. Much of the old trail, including Lighthouse and GSL have been removed.