New Finds in Carrizo Canyon

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN

Today I went back to Carrizo Canyon in South Palm Desert. I went here a couple of months ago and went up one fork of the canyon but today I wanted to do the other. I got a text message from a guy I know (Steve, although some know him as Bluerail) and he came along. It's always nice to have company so if you ever want to come along, just send me an email.

The gate for Carrizo Canyon will only be open until the end of December so if you want to hike this canyon you'd better hurry.

As we walked up the canyon, we stuck to the right hand side and came upon these ruins of an old homestead.

Next time up here I'll have to remember to bring some charcoal and burgers.

People have been feasting in this canyon for centuries as this bedrock mortar testifies.

Last time, I went up the right fork so this time we decide to head up to the left.

We don't get far when we come upon this trail heading up out of the canyon. We take it.

The trail leads to a little flat area that has some poorly organized rock circles.

There is an overlook of Carrizo Canyon but there's no way to get down there.

The one thing that makes this little side trip worth it is the view.

We hike back down and go up the main canyon and climb this dry waterfall. That huge rock at the top is just sitting there and it makes you wonder what amount of water and force did it take to get it in that position.

Above the waterfall is more vegetation than in the lower canyon. There are several Palms and Cottonwoods.

This Cottonwood, though, has seen its better days.

It's nice for it to have a big cliff to lean on.

We come upon another massive boulder stuck in the canyon, blocking our way. We could possibly bypass the boulder by climbing on the right but I know it's much harder to climb down something than to climb up it. I also don't think Steve wants to carry me out if I fall.

There is a good amount of water in the canyon right now and the ferns are lush and green. There are many treasures to be found in this little canyon but the pictographs are modern. Next time I think I'll do a hike all the way up the canyon so I don't have to downclimb anything. Who knows what else might be further up canyon?

Carrizo Canyon, Palm Desert

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE

This week I have gone to Dead Indian Canyon and Magnesia Spring Canyon, both of which are only open for three months of the year, from October-December. Today I went to another canyon with limited access, Carrizo Canyon.

You pick up the canyon by heading south from the Art Smith Trailhead. Nine months out of the year this gate is locked but it's unlocked for now.

If there were any doubt which way to go this sign is here to help the directionally challenged.

The canyon is wide and sandy at the bottom but will quickly narrow and get rocky.

As you enter the canyon the sides quickly become steep. I looked to see if there might be an Indian Trail leaving the canyon but there's no way anything leaves here. It's too loose and steep. I still think there might be a trail leaving somewhere near here and heading south but it'll take a little more detective work to find it.

When you get to into the canyon there's this BBQ in the middle of nowhere. It's crazy and I cannot figure out why it's here. Of course, in the "old days" people used to be able to drive here so maybe this was Party Central back then.

This is a good place to possibly spot a Bighorn but I don't have any luck doing so today.

There is one lone palm in the entire canyon. You know there's water here although none is on the surface. There are numerous barrel cacti in the canyon that have been eaten, a sure sign that Bighorn are present. Maybe I'll try the canyon some morning to see if my luck is better.

At a split in canyon, there are these directions. Too bad they're wrong. Dead Indian Creek is in a completely different canyon and Carrizo is misspelled.

When you turn right into CARRIZO Canyon, you come to a dry waterfall rather quickly. In the spring, this fall often flows and is covered with ferns; it's very beautiful. The fall is easy to climb over to continue up the canyon but daylight is going goodnight and I want to get home to root on my Angels.

Short but sweet says it all.

Car Crash Canyon

DAY NINETY TWO

With the bottom of Carrizo Canyon closed, I decided to see if I could get to the middle of the canyon without having to hike all the way down from the top. There used to be trails that went up the hill where Highway 74 now goes and I'm wondering if I might be able to find one.

I drive part way up Highway 74 and park near this big long turn. There aren't many places to park on this stretch of the highway so you take what you can get.

I head over to the guard rail and start to make my way down the steep, loose, rocky hillside.

I quickly realize that I've picked up a hitchhiker.

Going down the hillside I see this vehicle that was probably last seen by its owner when he dropped it off at valet parking. I wonder, "Did I set my parking brake?".

For the second time in two days I see a wayward hat. If I needed a hat I might venture down to get it but I'm good with hats right now.

I make my way down to the canyon and while it's not Carrizo Canyon maybe it'll lead me where I need to go.

No luck going this way. The canyon is totally choked with bushes that scratch and I wore shorts today. I've given blood before so I don't need to do it today.

This way doesn't look any better.

I look down canyon but all I can see are steep cliffs, loose rocks and certain death.

I make my way up the hill and try to find another possible route but I stumble upon this instead.

Someone got very artistic with this. Maybe one of their kids painted these.

I look around some more and while I spot a trail WAY below me, there is no getting to it from here. I will just have to find another way, another day.

I walk back by the stone wheel and wonder why someone decided to build it here. All I can think is maybe they were inspired by the sounds of car tires on the highway.

Batteries not included

DAY SEVENTY TWO

I am so excited because yesterday I got my camera back from Canon and it's all better now. I'm not a photographer or anything but it does better close-ups and has a 12X optical zoom. I grabbed it on the way out the door and headed up Hwy. 74 to hike in upper Carrizo Canyon. There was only one problem. When I got to the parking area, I realized I forgot to put the batteries back in the camera. Dummy! Good thing my iPhone has a camera, limited though it may be.

I drop off Hwy 74 into the wash of Carrizo Canyon. There's an old road that goes in another way but that's too easy. What fun is that?

I hike for only about ten minutes and come across some water and a few mostly dry falls. Little short ones that are fun to climb.

A bit further up the canyon is this old water tank. With all the bullet holes in it, you can see why it is no longer in use.

There is also a lone Palm Tree. It is obvious that there is plenty of subsurface water here.

I get to this dry fall and end my hike today here. Years ago I would have bombed up this no problem but with a wife and kids at home I decide to come back and do it another day. Perhaps I'll bring someone to back me up or at least call my wife and tell her how I died. Besides, I need to go and get some batteries.

What's with the conflicting signs by the road when I hike out? One says Closed June 15-Sept 30 and the other just says, No Trespassing. I guess the brown one is bigger and on the top of the pole, so I'll just obey that one next time I come. I need to get in the sign making business.

I did get some batteries and then went for a little hike near the Santa Rosa/San Jacinto Monument Visitor's Center (can we give that place a short name, please?). I took a few shots of wildflowers which I'll post next.

Not on a trail of the Ancients

DAY SIXTY FOUR

Trying to find Native American trails and sites is often a matter of guesswork. You look at the lay of the land, the area resources, migration patterns and try to figure out where something interesting might be. Sometimes you are successful and sometimes you are not. Today was not but you never know unless you go and look.

I pulled off at this little turnout just past Vista Point on Hwy 74

Here's another place I don't think I'll have a problem not coming to in the summer.

I figured I'd hike up to the base of Black Hill and see if there is anything interesting to find in any of the rocks at its base.

I found these pot sherds but not the type I'm looking for.

The only other thing I find is a really nice view of the Coachella Valley.

As I look around I begin to realize why there is not any Native American evidence here. There's not anything that would've interested an Indian here. There's no water, no food and no shelter.

I get to where I can look down into Carrizo Canyon but I don't have time to explore any further. Besides, there are better access points than this one.

On my way back I look up to the hillside and see this area that might be a rock shelter of some sort. Could I possibly find something of interest? Nah. But, maybe......