Five Hikes in Palm Springs

We had a wonderful week of sunny hikes, but when we got home, my computer failed, so this post is a little late, but better late than never.

1.  East Loop of Indian Canyon.  Friday, October 26.   8 miles round trip

Walking down in to the beautiful Palm Canyon Trail of Indian Canyons

In the canyon for the first mile and a half in the early morning light

Checking our route before climbing 1500' into the high desert

Leaving the lower palm canyon

Rough trail...

with many sections  of vertical walls to climb

Pretty cholla cactus

A view from our lunch spot, the only shade we found in 5 miles..

and another view

Coming down the loop, cacti above and palms below

Ditto

Almost back, 98 degrees F, complete solitude. A great hike.

2.  Mastodon Peak. Saturday, October 27.  4 miles round trip

Starting our walk in Joshua Tree National Park

Fascinating geology

Halfway up the peak

A scramble to the top

...almost there..

Looking south from the peak toward the Salton Sea

Massive split rock on the way down

many Ocotillo cacti

Palms and cottonwood at the spring where we finish the loop. Sweet, short hike with solitude.

3. Pushwalla Palms Loop.  Monday, October 29.  6 miles round trip, 1400' elev. gain

The previous week much of the trail was washed away by flash floods, so we had this to help us out.

Another day to hike...the same happy hiker

climbing the ridge...

...desolate...

no one else around for many miles

Now the "trail" slips down several canyons..

..into a palm oasis

...which continues for less than a mile.

Then we climb back to the desert plateau in solitude to end the loop.

4. Fern Canyon.  Tuesday, October 30, 7 miles round trip, another 1400' elev. gain

Starting again on Palm Canyon trail of the Indian Canyon

Heading east on a side trail called the Vendeventer Trail

Still so weird to see palm trees and barrel cacti at the same time

Getting higher

And higher

Then, the slowly descending trail going down toward Fern Canyon

First view of the palms in Fern Canyon

Gorgeous Fern Canyon, all to ourselves

Then, climbing back out of the canyon

Back to Palm Canyon Trail, where we started

5.  Morongo and Tahquitz Canyons.  Wednesday, October 31, 4 miles round trip

Morongo Canyon in the early morning

We went here for a bird walk and saw an owl hiding out in this palm tree.

We didn't capture them with our cameras, but there were flocks of bluebirds in these trees

Then, later to the famous Tahquitz Canyon

The famous Tahquitz waterfall, almost dry

Coming back down, with a view of Palm Springs in the far distance