Cowboy Morning begins bright and early on the famous Figure 3 Ranch, where the ending scene of ''Indiana Jones and the Final Crusade'' was filmed. At 8:30 a.m. sharp, visitors to the Figure 3 Ranch load up for the picturesque, 20-minute ride across the prairie, five miles of scenic travel in horse- and mule-drawn wagons to the canyon rim. At the campsite perched on the top edge of Palo Duro Canyon, the wagons come to rest at one of the prettiest spots on earth.

Over 1,000 feet deep and stretching for more than 100 miles, Palo Duro Canyon's spectacular colors and vistas impress both visitors and Panhandle natives.

Site of the area's first cattle ranch, Palo Duro Canyon offers camping, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding and a score of other outdoor recreational opportunities.

Since 1981, April through October, rancher Tom Christian and his wife, Anne, have been serving their hardy breakfast atop a spit of land surrounded on three sides by the canyon.

"One impressive thing about the view is you start out at the ranch and you come over the plain and it's so flat," noted one visitor. "Then, all of a sudden, the canyon is there, and it is just amazing,''

After breakfast, time remains to burn off calories with a stroll along the canyon's rim. This scenic spot is rich in Texas history. The Spanish explorer Coronado rode through the Palo Duro Canyon in 1541. Of course, Native Americans occupied this land thousands of years before, enduring to their last Texas battle during the late 1800s.

You'll find a lot to do after your food settles, from pony rides for the children to cow-chip tossing contests and roping lessons by real life cowboys. Create your very own souvenir with a Figure 3 brand on a wooden slat. Or simply enjoy the fresh morning air while soaking up the beautiful colors of the canyon and the morning sun.

The Figure 3 Ranch is located about 30 minutes from Amarillo. For information about Cowboy Morning, contact the office at 1-800-658-2613 or locally at 944-5562.