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A steady climb with tight switchbacks, broken up with occasional rolling sections.


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Map Key

2.3

Miles

3.7

KM

Point to Point

3,409' 1,039 m

High

2,800' 854 m

Low

687' 209 m

Up

78' 24 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (4°)

35%

Max Grade (19°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Views

Description

Look for the trailhead on the east side of the road shortly south of the Sunflower trailhead. Head up and wind through large boulders, working your way up to the top of the canyon. There are some really nice views along the way and from the top.

At the top, there's a fork in the trail. Go right at this fork to continue on Rock Garden Trail that ends shortly at Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail, a dirt road. Going left at the fork takes one to a second fork. At this second fork, going left dead ends at a great overlook, great place for snacking and lunch. Going right at the second fork (after going left at the first fork) puts one on Rock Garden/Fortress Cliff Connector, a short, narrow singlepath trail that also leads to Rylander Fortress Cliff Trail.

Drop back down from whence you came. The combination of loose trail, tight switchbacks and more climbing than you may expect, could make the way back challenging.

Contacts

Shared By:

Bracken C with improvements by Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  4.1 from 15 votes

#7310

Overall
  4.1 from 15 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
47%
3 Star
20%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Trail Rankings

#114

in Texas

#7,310

Overall
32 Views Last Month
1,910 Since Oct 2, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

0%
7%
80%
0%
13%
0%

Photos

Rock Garden Trail
Mar 12, 2024 near Canyon, TX
Looking Northwest into the canyon from a lookout near the first rim.
Oct 23, 2018 near Canyon, TX
Along the Rock Garden Trail
Feb 22, 2018 near Canyon, TX
Rock growing in the rock garden that Rock Garden Trail goes through.
Feb 17, 2019 near Canyon, TX
Palo Duro Canyon, looking southeast about halfway up Rock Garden Trail.
Feb 17, 2019 near Canyon, TX
Top of Fortress Cliff from high on Rock Garden Trail.
Feb 17, 2019 near Canyon, TX
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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 19 days ago
Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Mar 12, 2024
Stewart Carnes
Oct 24, 2022
Maggie Wenthe
Apr 30, 2021
Jan More
Jul 23, 2020
Laura Garrett
Mar 22, 2020
Jarrod Clark
Oct 18, 2019
Lawton Jung
Good hike. 2.3mi
Feb 17, 2019
Joan Pendleton
Nov 24, 2018
Beau Jennings
2.5 one way. 2.5mi
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