Palm Canyon Trail, Palm Springs Indian Canyons

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FOUR

Palm Canyon is the jewel of Palm Springs hiking. It is an eighteen mile canyon with unlimited options for adventure. There are numerous palm oases, including the main Palm Canyon oasis with over 3000 palms, streams, year-round springs, Indian trails and ancient village sites. It is an area worthy of a lifetime of exploration. Too bad I only had a couple of hours.

I enjoy hiking so much in the Indian Canyons--although I consider it a bit too expensive to go often--I'd like to live there. I wonder if this place is available?

I park near the Trading Post and head down to the incredible main oasis.

I find these two braves ready to go out and explore but I wonder if they are up to it.

Are you kidding me? We were born ready, they tell me.

Which way should we go?

We head up the main canyon toward the Victor Trail and the canyon is lush with growth. It's the type of place you'd never know was in the desert unless you'd be there.

One reason it's so lush is springs that just bubble right out of the ground.

The water is somewhat warm. It's not a hot spring but a tepid one.

Along the way we use these rocks to make it across the stream. We don't really need them now but they'll be handy in the spring.

I had originally wanted to do a loop hike and come back the Victor Trail but that's not really very exciting for boys. What adventure is there to just hiking on a trail? So, we decide to follow the creek bed up and it's easy since there's really no water in it this time of year.

Along the way Nik picks apart a Cattail and its parts float up into the air. It is reminiscent of snow floating on the wind so Nik dubs the Cattail a "snow wand".

The "snow" floats above us on the wind. Click on the picture and look for the white dots on the photo. That's the "snow".

This is a great adventure for these young braves. They get to climb logs.

Play Atlas trying to hold up the world

And just kick back.

Boys love going through the jungle.

Or maybe not.

They love jumping off rocks.

Or maybe not.

But all in all it was the best adventure these young braves have ever had, at least until the next one. And with all the places to explore in the Palm Canyon area there are sure to be many, many more.

But we can't go until they slide down the rocks just one more time.

Recommended With Reservations

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR

Today I went on what is probably my favorite easy hike in the Palm Springs area. There are some days when you just need to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature without really pushing it and on those days, Andreas Canyon is a great place to go.

Andreas Canyon is in the Palm Springs Indian Canyons, on the Agua Caliente Indian reservation, and is a great place to take the whole family to go for a fun outing. The only drawback about going to the Indian Canyons is that it is relatively expensive for a hiking destination. Admission is $8.00 per adult and $4.00 per kid, up to 12 years old. That is for one day from 8-5. Compare that to Joshua Tree, which is $15.00 per carload (up to six people) for a week.

Even the annual pass is expensive. It costs $75 per person. A National Park annual pass costs $80 and it covers every National Park in the United States and National Forest Lands as well. Again, that's for a carload of people, not just one.

Despite the unreasonable admission fee, I kick down the money a couple of times a year just because the beauty of the area makes it almost worth it.

When you enter the Indian Canyons, you make a right at the first road and get a view of the palm oasis at Andreas Canyon and the San Jacintos towering overhead. Antsell Rock is the large rock at the top of the picture and the Apple Canyon Saddle is to its left. That is where I was on Tuesday.

Near the parking area, there is a large granite boulder which has several bedrock mortars. This sign tells you about the history of the area.

There are several mortars just like this one on this rock.

It is easy to see why this area was chosen. It is right near a mesquite bush, which was a staple of the Cahuilla diet.

As you leave the parking area and hit the trail you follow a flowing stream. This stream is fed by snowmelt and springs and flows year round.

You also hike through this mesquite thicket. Watch out for the branches: mesquite bushes have sharp spines.

There are also large cliffs overlooking a good portion of this hike.

As you make your way up the canyon, you come upon a fence and you get a good view of several rock houses up on the hill beyond Andreas Canyon.

There is a sign to tell you what it's all about. A lot of people think those houses belong to the Indians but they do not.

After the sign, you cross over a bridge and go over an elevated area to head back to the parking area.

On the way back, you hike above the canyon and have nice views of the cliffs.

Looking back you can see just how many homes are up at the Andreas Club and what a nice setting it is. If I could live any place in Palm Springs, this would be it.

I don't go to the Indian Canyons much but when I do I always am impressed by the beauty. I recommend it to visitors and think for locals it is worth at least one trip a year. But bring a lunch and spend the whole day. You might as well get your money's worth.

Back in the Saddle Again

Day Sixty

I have to admit I was a little sore this morning after taking my tumble yesterday. But not bad enough to even consider not going on a hike. My niece was visiting from Orange County so I decided to take her to Murray Canyon in the Indian Canyons. Too bad I didn't know about the Hike for Hope taking place there today.

The Hike for Hope is a fundraising event where people hike to raise money for Breast Cancer Research. I guess it's been going on for about ten years. Now that I know about it, I think I might participate in the future. It's certainly a worthy cause. Find out more about it here.

Anyway, on our way to Murray we met up with about a hundred hikers--I'm not kidding--heading out of the canyon. Oh well, Murray has never been much of a wilderness experience anyway.

Here are some hikers waiting in line to cross the creek.

A couple of little bedrock mortars along the trail.

There was a very good flow coming out of the canyon and the water was COLD.

The first of the seven sisters.

A young woman was injured in some way and required rescue from the local Search and Rescue team. I didn't take any other pictures, although I could have, because I know if I were in that situation I wouldn't want a lot of gawkers taking pictures of me.

Murray Canyon is always a nice hike, especially when the water is flowing as much as it was today. It was great to see so many people out hiking for a good cause and I hope to join them in the future. I am also grateful for the Search and Rescue workers. Hopefully, I'll never need their services and I pray the young woman they brought out of the canyon today is doing well.

Two months down. I'll share some thoughts on it later this week.

Not Quite Threading the Needle

Day Twenty Nine

A day off to go hiking; what a treat!  I decide to go hiking in the Indian Canyons and head up the West Fork Trail to the Needle's Eye.  I had been there years ago and wanted to go back.  Since this involves some rock hopping I mentioned to my wife that it would be nice if I had another person just in case I fell on my head and needed assistance getting out.  Well, my wife tells some gal from her work and volunteers me to take her along.  Great. 

I've hiked with lots of people but I've always been lucky enough to choose them myself.  Now I have to wonder what kind of woman my wife is going to choose to send along with me?  I'm picturing the wife of the caveman in the Geico commercials or reject from "The Biggest Loser".  As it turns out, the gal she sends along, Darlene, is cute, thin, funny and a great hiker.  I couldn't have picked a better hiking partner myself.  My wife is so cool.

The trail sign for the West Fork Trail, just off Palm Canyon.

We head up the hill over a series of switchbacks and look over Palm Canyon.

Looking down over the Trading Post

There are many cacti along the way, like these jumping cholla.

A hedgehog cactus.

A nice little red barrel growing from the rocks.

We take a little cross country journey over to Indian Spring with a few palms.  

And then hike by Dos Palmas.  Now, my Spanish is not great but I think Cuatro Palmas would be more appropriate.

Like a dummy I don't bring the map because I'd been here but that was long ago.  There's a new trail and the old one to Needle's Eye no longer exists.  Is it down there?

 Or maybe down here?  After boasting about my innate sense of direction, I take the wrong path and we end up walking about a mile and half past it.

We cruise up the Jo Pond Trail a ways and find it a bit overgrown in sections.  Next trip I'll bring a MAP and loppers.

Looking right up at the Palisades, I know we've gone too far.  But my motto is: "You can never be lost when you're on an adventure" so I don't care.  I don't know if Darlene shares my enthusiasm for the unknown.

We head back to the trail junction and hike down to the creek for lunch.

A perfect spot for a snack.

We hike up the other side of the creek to see this rock art panel before heading back.   

The Needle's Eye will have to wait for another day.

All in all it was great day hiking and I look forward to going back soon with a map, some loppers and whoever else my wife wants to send along.  I just hope I can get back before it gets hot.