Merus 101

Total Miles
4.3

Elevation

1,026.10 ft

Duration

Technical Rating

Moderate

Best Time

Spring, Fall, Summer, Winter

Trail Overview

Merus 101 is the main canyon floor trail running through Merus Adventure. This trail offers varying difficulty levels, but any high clearance stock 4WD SUV or truck can master this in good weather conditions. The trail is mostly rated a 2/10; however, with the initial grade that tops 20 degrees as you descend into Palo Duro Canyon, the trail gains a rating of 3/10. 4WD Low is recommended for the drop-in and climb out of the canyon, and the views are breathtaking. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of Barbary Sheep, a rattlesnake, or even the rare Texas Horned Lizard, aka Horny Toad. Over 40 designated dispersed camping sites are available in the canyon for single and group camping; just book on their website.