Hot-air balloon pilots flew inside Palo Duro Canyon during the 2026 Pirates of the Canyon rally, part of the Amarillo Invitational Balloon Rally that ran Oct. 23-25.
The rally took place at Palo Duro Canyon State Park and John Stiff Memorial Park. Activities included balloon launches, a fun run and 5K, food trucks, games, trick-or-treating and a balloon glow.
Aircraft are generally restricted from the canyon, and flights need permission from state park officials. Will Blizzard, a pilot from Albuquerque, New Mexico, said only two days a year allow pilots to set up inside. "Normally, we'd have to be 2,500 feet above the canyon," he said.
Blizzard said pilots control their altitude but rely on winds at different heights to guide them. "Every day is different," he said. Karen Convers, also from Albuquerque, returned to Amarillo after weather kept her out of the canyon the year before. "I can't pass up a chance to fly in this canyon that you normally can't fly in," she said.
The rally also pushed families to explore parks in Potter and Randall counties and supported families in need. Dawn Jones, a Pirates of the Canyon board member, said organizers handed out cards listing local parks so families could find places to visit.
Common questions
When was the 2026 Pirates of the Canyon balloon rally?
- The rally ran Oct. 23-25 as part of the Amarillo Invitational Balloon Rally. Hot-air balloon pilots flew inside Palo Duro Canyon during the 2026 event. Activities included balloon launches, a fun run and 5K, food trucks, games, trick-or-treating and a balloon glow.
Where was the Pirates of the Canyon rally held?
- The rally took place at Palo Duro Canyon State Park and John Stiff Memorial Park. Balloon pilots flew inside Palo Duro Canyon, where aircraft are generally restricted. Flights need permission from state park officials, so the canyon launches are not an everyday event.
Why is it rare for hot-air balloons to fly in Palo Duro Canyon?
- Aircraft are generally restricted from the canyon, and flights need permission from state park officials. Pilot Will Blizzard of Albuquerque, New Mexico, said only two days a year allow pilots to set up inside. Normally, he said, they would have to be 2,500 feet above the canyon.
