Palo Duro Canyon is considered the Grand Canyon of Texas and the Lighthouse is one of the most unique geological formations found there. In order to reach it you must enter the Palo Duro Canyon State Park and drive down Park Road 5 until you reach the Lighthouse Trailhead parking lot on the right. The trailhead has two paths, one for Capital Peak and one for the Lighthouse, but both will lead you to the same point at the base of Capital Peak. The trail up to that point is relatively flat, but once you wrap around Capital Peak you begin to gain some elevation. From here you have 2.5 miles until you reach Lighthouse Rock. As you approach the end of the trail there is a bench that offers a great spot to photograph the entire formation. There are several ways to actually climb onto the base of the Lighthouse- take the path that appeals to you most. Once you make it you'll find a large rock slab to walk around on. For the more advanced hiker there is a second rock slab you can climb up on that offers spectacular views of the canyon, but the path leading up there is a bit more dangerous. Please use cation and avoid if wet! This can be a touristy hike, especially mid day and around sunset. If you want uninterrupted views I suggest going as early as possible to beat the crowds (and the heat). Accordingly, if you're doing this hike in the summer be prepared to haul a lot of water. Although this is a relatively short hike the temperature can reach 100 degrees in the summer, so being prepared is important. No matter what time of year though, this is a great hike that offers a unique Texas landscape and some fun photo-ops along the way. To log this Virtual Reward Geocache, send the answer to the following question. At or near the posted coordinates there is an observation and resting bench. This bench has a number of screws securing the seat boards in place. How many screws are securing the seat in place? Please feel free to post photos of your journey, however please do not post photos revealing the answer to the logging question.
Caution: When hiking in desert, water is a requirement. This is a more than five mile round trip hike. It is advised to carry one quart of water to be consumed per person per mile. Be sure to pack enough water for return trip. There is no water available anywhere on this trail.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.