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Amarillo Tour Operators See Surge in Canyon and Walking Experiences

Amarillo operators report rising demand for guided walks and canyon outings as summer peaks.

By Amarillo Things-to-do Desk · Published July 24, 2026

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Amarillo Tour Operators See Surge in Canyon and Walking Experiences — Photo by joncutrer / flickr (by)

Amarillo Visitor Center staff processed 2,800 tour reservations for July by the morning of July 12.

Global events including fresh U.S. strikes near the Strait of Hormuz and Typhoon Bavi’s landfall in China have prompted residents to choose shorter drives over distant flights. Local operators say the shift has filled weekday slots that sat empty in prior summers.

Downtown and Canyon Routes

Two programs anchor the current schedule. The Amarillo Convention and Visitors Bureau runs a 90-minute Polk Street walk that starts at the historic Santa Fe Building and passes the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. A separate operator, Texas Canyon Adventures, offers daily van trips from the Don Harrington Discovery Center parking lot to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, 25 miles south on U.S. 87. Both programs added extra departures on July 10 after online calendars showed full capacity.

Amarillo CVB data released last week showed 12,500 participants in organized tours during June, up from 9,200 in June 2025. Adult tickets for the Polk Street walk cost $22; the canyon van trip runs $45 including park entry. Morning departures leave at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. through the end of August.

Walk-up space remains limited, so the CVB recommends checking availability on its website or calling the center at 806-374-1497 before heading downtown. Same-day cancellations sometimes open slots at the Discovery Center desk, but advance purchase secures the listed price and avoids the $5 walk-up fee.

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