HIdden Palms The Long Way

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY EIGHT

I am starting to get sick.

The wife has been a seething pustule of infection for the past few days and she's been kind enough to share with me. Right now it's just the start of a head cold, sore throat, tired eyes, minor congestion but I'm sure it'll intensify. It's that time of year.

When determining where to hike this afternoon I could either go with a tried and true route or try to mix it up a bit and do something different. I decide on the latter.

Bad choice.

I went to the Coachella Valley Preserve and rather than doing a tried and true route I decide to try something different. The head cold must be affecting my thinking. I hike toward the cliff area and take a right and follow the wash down toward Ramon Road.

Not only am I walking in sand, I am also heading straight into the blinding light of the setting sun. It's OK, though. There's really not much to see.

I get to the end of the hillside and turn left. The signs for the trail take me across more soft sand along Ramon Road. I'm not near done, I only wish I were.

I round the next corner and am about two and a half miles into the hike and come upon the Covered Wagon Tour headquarters.

At this point, my head feels about like this guy's.

I leave the Ranch area and head over to Hidden Palms.

This is a great little oasis and one day I'd like to visit earlier in the day and stay a while, maybe bring a lunch.

Upon leaving the oasis I get on the regular trail and the going is SO much better. I will never again go the way I went today but you never know until you try.

Finishing up with just enough light I check and see that I've done over four miles instead of the usual two miles it takes to get to the Hidden Palms. I guess this just goes to show that more is not always better.

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.

No Longer Hidden

DAY SEVENTY SIX

A couple of months ago I set out to hike to Hidden Palms in the Coachella Valley Preserve. I never made it there because I got a late start and it got dark so I had to go back. Well, this morning I went back and made it to the oasis. It's a fairly easy hike and a huge oasis, larger than I imagined.

You start on Thousand Palms Canyon Road near the 1000 Palms Oasis and follow the trail that leads out to Pushwalla Palms.

There are a good amount of these Desert Dandelions along the way.

As well as some of these Desert Sunflowers

After climbing some steps you come to a clear trail junction and I'm off to Hidden Palms.

From the trail you can look over and see Horseshoe Palms

The Hidden Palm Oasis is HUGE. I think it is at least as big as the 1000 Palms Oasis although I don't take the time to count. Next time I'm at the Visitor's Center I'll ask them and see if they know. I'm sure one of the docents has taken the time to count the trees.

On the way back, there's a nice view of San Jacinto. Pretty soon I'll be doing a LOT of hiking up there.

On the way back I see a huge kettle of vultures circling in the sky. Obviously, there's something out there of interest. So far this year I've done all the oasis at the Preserve except the Pushwalla. Once I get a little extra time I'll do that. I want to get there before it gets too hot. I don't want to end up a as a meal for these guys.

REALLY Hidden Palms

Day Twenty Three

Lack of time kills my plans more often than not.  I had less than an hour before dark and I didn't really want to do a hike near home that I'd already done.  Today's hike, though, I'm gonna have to do over.  I didn't quite finish. 

A different hike everyday has been my goal for this first month.  It looks like I will be able to accomplish it but it's getting tougher.  I'm not running out of hikes but the hikes I want to do are getting further away.

I decided I'd go over to the 1000 Palms area and hike toward Pushwalla Palms.  I knew I wouldn't have time to get all the way there but I thought I'd go part of the way and then just turn back.

I started following the trail signs on this well marked and well traveled trail.

No map needed here.

I get to some big steps going up the bank.

Here's a closer look

I decide to change course and head to Hidden Palms instead of Pushwalla.

The sun is starting to set and I'm not really that close yet.

I get to where I can see that tops of palm trees but that's it.  I'm losing light already and I want to get back before dark.  Besides, my son is making a chicken dinner on the BBQ and I can't miss that.  I'm gonna have to come back another time.

I make it back to the steps during twilight but I did bring a light just in case.  

Down the steps and back to the car I go.  I'll be coming back soon.

1000 Palms is a great place to visit if you are ever in the Coachella Valley.   Next time I go there I'll give myself just a bit more time.