The 2nd Largest Canyon In The US Is In Texas And Is Now Protected

Good news for Texas hikers, nature lovers and Texans in general - the upper rim of Palo Verde Canyon is now protected by the Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

Not many people realize that the 3,048 acres sitting along the rim of Palo Duro Canyon were privately held. The Owens family has "owen-ed" all that land since the 1940's.

Thanks to this conservatorship between the Owens family and the lone star state, the land and its amazing beauty will be forever protected from development.

Zillions of people visit Palo Duro Canyon annually, it's one of the most visited parks in Texas, but nobody ever really knew that Rim Ranch, located along its rim, was private land.

"This partnership ensures that one of the most iconic views in Texas will remain untouched for generations." - chron

This partnership between the Owens family and TALT may very well inspire other private land owners to do the same thing and arrange similar conservatorships with the Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

TALT is hoping that will be the case anyway and they're already actively trying to talk the Owens' neighbors into following their lead.

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The entire area is amazingly beautiful and the more of it that can be protected from developers, the better. Castner Range here in El Paso was marked safe from developers when it was declared a national monument in 2023.

Palo Duro Canyon, located about 25 miles southeast of Amarillo, is the second-largest canyon in the United States and one of the most visited parks in Texas. Its steep mesa walls, vibrant rock layers, and over 30 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback trails continue to draw visitors year-round. - chron