Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Washburn, Texas

Park Road North is an easy road that provides access to the best canyon rim views in Palo Duro Canyon. Departing from he Merus office, it transitions across a cattle guard into pasture land before quickly turning towards the canyon rim. Vehicles travel g North past the cattle guard on this road req...
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Park Road West extends along the western boundary of Merus Adventure Park. Traveling south along from the Merus entrance you will gain access to the Merus Test Track, the Arch Cabins, Boondock RV sites, and remote camping at Camp Point, Eagle Point, and East Rise. This road also leads to Merus 101 a...
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The Cut Through is a short access road that connects Park Road West, Park Road North, the Hilltop Festival camping area, and trailheads for several mountain bike trails. The road avoids congestion around the Merus front office and ranch complex by bypassing the area to the south of the Sunrise Rim c...
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Truck Point Trail will take a driver on a short drive through some of the more recent history of the ranch that makes up Merus Adventure Park. Named Truck Point for the 1950s era, trucks that were abandoned near the road, the trail winds around a loop where one can find a stash of old cedar logs re...
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Hetz's Bluff Trail leads to Hetz's Bluff, where you can see Palo Duro Canyon. The trail is short and easy on the suspension yet long on picturesque views from the high ground above the bluff. This is the one trail everyone who comes to the park travels each time they visit.
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Camp Point Trail bisects the largest and most popular camping area on the canyon rim. While it provides easy access to numerous remote campsites, it also takes you to the trailhead for amazing hikes and even more spectacular views at Eagle Point. This is a chronic bed-down site for both aoudad she...
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The Meadows Camp trail is a great trail with seven campsites leading off in multiple directions. It does have some Rocky areas in the creek beds. As you get further back in, larger trees, mainly Cottonwood, Oaks, and Cedar, provide some protection from the wind and weather. This beautiful area is a...
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Landry's Landing, our newest access trail into the canyon, is named after Clint Landry, the man who designed and built many of the trails at Merus, and for the landing near the top of the trail that provides an exceptional vista across the canyon. Designed to be our easiest access into the canyon, t...
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If you find yourself running short of time or talent, this punch-out is conveniently placed. This short trail provides a quick exit from Kate the Great. This is a mild dirt road leading back to North Bound without any major obstacles. If you only want to do part of Kate the Great this is a great exi...
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Roundabout is an easy trail providing access from North Bound to Tin Tin. This scenic trail is tree-lined with a creek crossing and panoramic views of the canyon. This is a beginner-level trail that is perfect for a novice with a fairly stock rig.
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Merus 101 is a 4.5-mile trail that runs most of the length of Merus Adventure Park. Starting with a breathtaking drop into the canyon at the "Drop-In), Merus 101 winds its way through the geological history of Palo Duro Canyon. Clearly present are the signs of the destructive power of nature that cr...
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Camp Road West runs between Merus 101 and Park Road West. This is a short flat run that connects to East Rise Trail and a number of exceptional campsites. Like Truck Point Trail, Camp Road West also has remnants of lumber and ranching equipment from its early 1900s history scattered along the trails...
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First Camp Trail is a short easy trail providing access to camping areas with a great view of the Drop In, one of the main entrances to the canyon floor. There are 13 sites along the trail with cover from mesquite brush and plentiful cactus between sites. This is a great area for a base camp on your...
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North Bound is an easier scenic way to explore the north side of Merus Adventure. This trail runs through creek beds and next to the canyon walls, weaving toward the back of the canyon. Trails that can be accessed from North Bound are Salt Fork Section 1, Tin Tin, and Kate The Great, also leading to...
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The East Rise Point Trail provides access to the Area 300 campsites and some of the most spectacular views in the canyon. Whether you want to sit and watch rigs entering the canyon via the drop-in or you want an eagle-eye view of the trails in the central part of the canyon, you will find plenty of ...
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Salt Fork Section 3 North Punchout is an easy trail that descends down to Salt Fork Section 3. This Punchout is considered an easy route but does lead to a difficult creek bed trail. Please read the description for Salt Fork Section 3 before proceeding on to this trail.
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Spicy, like green chili on steroids. Entering from Merus 101, this trail starts out easy as it rises towards the trail head for the Boulders hike (a must-do stop). Turning south from the Boulders, it gets interesting fast! With quick, sharp turns that follow the arroyos along the eastern boundary of...
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This is an easy trail that provides an escape from the Sagissor Blue and Black trails. Whether you need to drop a broken vehicle, just need time to sort out mechanical issues, or want a place to take a break, this trail provides a great pull-out to get out of traffic.
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Boots Off Camp Trail is a nice trail leading to 13 semi-private campsites. These campsites are in the southern area of the park and will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to navigate. This area of the park is quiet and secluded. This is an amazing area to stargaze due to very little light pollutio...
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The original entrance to the Bergflow Trail has a very narrow ledge with sharp rocks that are notorious for ripping holes in the sidewalls of tires. This bypass provides a more tire-friendly approach to the start of the Bergflow Trail. Don't worry about missing an obstacle. There are plenty ahead on...
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This is the Main Road, used to access many trailheads, campsites, and the only bathrooms in this area of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (on this westerly side.) The first half is sandy, and the second half is packed clay. The road is easily traversed in any 4x4, and most any 2WD in dry condi...
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This an easy trail that can be traveled by any high clearance 4x4, as long as conditions are dry. The first section is deep sand with a scenic drive along the side of the river. There is a small, hidden, little known primitive campsite along the back of the trail that makes a great picnic area away ...
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This is a trail to a scenic spot overlooking the Canadian River and a train trestle that spans it. It looks west, making it picture perfect for those legendary Texas panhandle sunsets or stargazing. Cell service is generally good due to the trail's proximity to the highway and elevated middle sectio...
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