Pushawalla Palms Indian Trails

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY NINE

Pushawalla Palms is one of the many oases along the Indio Hills, on the San Andreas Fault. It can be reached by a trail from the 1000 Palms Visitors Center, a trail along a ridge that comes by Horseshoe Palms that I discovered about a month ago, or from the Pushawalla Canyon Wash. The latter is how I came today.

The land here is part of the State Park System and is managed by the Coachella Valley Preserve. It's closed to all but hikers and equestrians and, personally, I wish they'd keep equestrians out. I hate hiking through horse manure.

The canyon is full of palms and mesquite and so it was surely well used by the Indians. I'll be looking around for some evidence of their presence here.

There is ample water here and it runs in a very small stream for several hundred yards.

The problem with finding any Indian relics here is that being in a canyon nothing much is permanent. Numerous floods over the years would have pretty much swept anything away. What I will be looking for are trails on the hills surrounding the canyon.

Trails like this one here. This trail climbs out of the wash beyond the last oasis.

It heads up to a little plateau above the main canyon. This would have been a terrific area to camp. It's flat, offers a good view of the surrounding area is near food and water.

But the only thing I find is the remnants of what could have been an old campfire ring. Or not.

Over on the hillside, though, is a pretty well worn trail which I head over to. I don't have time to follow it in the direction that it goes but I'll follow it back.

It is pretty well worn although there are no footprints on it, not even those of an animal.

Heading back I spy yet another trail up on the hillside and wonder where that one goes. Although I've been to Pushawalla Palms many times I never ventured much beyond the oasis. Now I feel like I've discovered new worlds to explore, and I have.

Wilhelm Palms to Willis Palms

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN

Today was another of my easier hikes because I'm resting up for some harder adventures next week. Just because it's easy, though, doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. This morning I went to a ceremony at my son's school because he made honor roll (way to go, Harrison!) and after that I headed over to the Coachella Valley Preserve. I want to do a loop trip there of about eight miles but there's one section of the loop that I've never done. That is what I did this morning.

Pulling into the parking lot I was surprised and delighted to see about thirty cars. During the summer month I was often here alone. It's nice people are enjoying this area but I can guarantee that no one will be doing the same hike I will be on.

There are Nature Hikes now on Friday mornings at 8:30. It's not really my kind of thing but if any of you are interested here's the schedule.

There's a college group getting a tour and a talk about the geology of the area. They're hearing about the San Andreas Fault as I walk by.

I study the map but it doesn't show the way I plan on going so I guess I've just wing it. It won't be the first time.

I head south from the oasis and walk out near the road. I move toward the hillside as soon as possible and find a trail. This doesn't look like a manufactured trail but is more like an Indian trail or a use trail.

I climb a small hill and find that the trail is well defined and easy to follow. It drops down into the wash that heads over to Willis Palms.

There's the palm oasis.

The Willis Palms is a large oasis that's readily visible from Ramon Road or the 1000 Palms Canyon Road. There's a shorter hike that gets here but the way I came today will be part of a larger trip later this month or sometime next month depending on when I get time.

I head back to the Wilhelm Grove and wish I had enough time to do the loop today because the weather is perfect for it. That's OK because the weather will be pretty much perfect for the next six months.

Pushawalla Ridge

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND TEN

It is hard to fathom that over three hundred days into hiking this year I could discover a new trail that I hadn't done or known of but I did. It is over to the east of Washington Street near the Coachella Valley Preserve. On the past couple of times I've driven out that way I noticed what looked like a road or trail going up a ridge west of Pushawalla Canyon. Since this is an area that has been used for four wheeling in the past I figured it was an old Jeep trail but I decided to check it out anyway. I'm glad I did.

I take the Jeep on a little 4X4 drive over the where the trail starts and discover it actually is a trail. There's no parking area and you need a 4X4 to get there but it definitely is a trail.

The trail has seen recent work and a few hikers. I'm surprised to see footprints; I guess someone else saw this from Washington Street.

The trail climbs straight up the ridge and offers nice views of the valley below.

From the top, you also get nice views of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. This would be a good place to watch a sunset or moonrise.

The trail splits and one section heads over to Hidden Palms and the other goes toward Horseshoe Palms and then to Pushawalla Palms.

It comes to this barricade made of palm tree logs.

It is a good thing it is here because there's about an 80 foot drop on the other side.

I hike over to the main Pushawalla Palms and drop down this canyon to the palms.

Before getting to the oasis you have to do the limbo.

Pushawalla Palms is one of the larger oases along the San Andreas Fault.

The palms are tall, mature and loaded with palm fruit. Mesquite also grows throughout the canyon indicating that water is readily available beneath the surface.

It's such a nice day I really wish I'd brought a lunch along. I'll know next time.

Indian Palms, Coachella Valley Preserve

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THREE

Today I did the hike I should have done yesterday. After doing a long, challenging uphill hike with a sour stomach and irritable intestine I needed a break. The Coachella Valley Preserve in 1000 Palms offers several easier hikes and I took one of them today, the hike to Indian Palms.

From the parking lot, it is easy to find the oasis. Just follow the signs.

Indian Palms is the closest and easiest to reach of the oases at the Preserve.

In case you're directionally challenged they have lined up these rocks to make sure you go the right way.

Of course, if you get off course you can just look to where you're going.

The oasis appears to be strong and healthy but there's not any indication of Indian inhabitation, at least that I can find.

There's plenty of evidence of later visitors, though. I guess Trash Heap Palms doesn't sound as enticing, though.

New growth is widespread in the oasis with cute little baby palms like these all around.

The second oasis is also doing very well.

There's no surface water at the oasis but it is just beneath the soil. Some animal has dug a shallow hole here to allow water to percolate to where they can utilize it.

While there's no obvious Indian artifacts to be seen, I wonder who put these rocks like this.

Hidden Palms Oasis Loop

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO

The Hidden Palms Oasis is one of many oases along the San Andreas Fault on the northern end of the Coachella Valley. It can be reached via a well marked trail from 1000 Palm Canyon Road. That's not the way I chose to get there, however. I went on an old Indian Trail that I discovered earlier this year. I then came back the main trail making for a nice little loop hike.

From the obvious parking area on 1000 Palms Canyon Road, follow the trail until you get to the base of the hill. Then, instead of going up the trail, go left and follow the wash along the hillside.

Continue past a marked trail until you see two trails heading diagonally up the hill on the left. Take the higher of the two trails. The terrain here is loose and rocky so be careful.

When you get to the top you may have to look around a bit for the trail but it's there.

A good thing to look for are rock piles like this one. There are several rock monuments along this trail. Last time here I counted over forty.

From the trail you can look over and see Horseshoe Palms. That will not be my destination today but you can make a larger loop and include this oasis time permitting.

Hidden Palms is tucked into this little canyon with the Coachella Valley in the background.

The oasis is very large and healthy.

And apparently I'm not the only one who feels it's a nice place to visit this afternoon.

The wind is blowing as it often does over in 1000 Palms. It makes for very pleasant hiking and after all those 100+ degree days I suffered through this summer I am enjoying it.

The coyote is probably here looking for dinner. I saw a Jack Rabbit on the trail over but he was too fast for me to get a picture and I'd imagine too fast for the coyote as well. He may just have to settle for some of the Palm fruit that is in abundance.

The trail back is much more traveled than the trail I took to get here. The trail I used to reach the oasis didn't have any footprints on it while this one is like I-10.

Except for the steps, of course.