2011 - Andreas Canyon

Andreas Canyon trail is one of many hikes available on the Aqua Caliente Indian Reservation (Indian Canyon) and requires paying a toll to enter.  The Canyons are tucked away in the southwestern corner of Palm Springs and are a hiker’s paradise. Andreas Canyon trail follows a stream while winding through hundreds of native California fan palms.

There are also more than 150 species of plants within a half-mile radius. This tranquil setting is excellent for photography, bird-watching or picnic at one of the tables at the start of the trail.  This hike was only a mile long with an elevation change of 180 feet.

This rock formation is at the top end of the parking lot and the start of the trail.  Visitors were once allowed to climb in this area but it is closed now as people were adding their own hieroglyphics.

Lin was taking photos of the stream that flows through the canyon. 

We hiked the loop trail in a counter clockwise direction so the creek was on the left and the canyon wall was beside us on the right. 

This photo was taken standing on a large rock in the middle of the creek looking upstream.

California Fan Palms with the sun showing them off.

This photo is near the top of the trail.  The houses in the background are actually built on railway land.  The government gave land to the railroad so they would build a railway through the Coachella valley.  There is also a mine close by.

The return trail is slightly higher and you look into the creek and canyon on the way back to the parking lot.

Part of the hiking group. No one was too worn out by the hike.

 After the Andreas Canyon we drove further down Palm Canyon Road to the trading post.  On the right side of the Post is a small waterfall that tumbles down the rocks and goes under this bridge we are standing on.  Only one problem... where is the water?  I asked a Native park interpreter and he said "I don't know ask the Creator!"

The ladies are holding the rock while the guys walked passed it.

This little fellow was enjoying a rest after feeding at the bird feeders the trading post uses to draw the birds in.

We had a great day of hiking and we also had another group of hikers that went from the trading post and hiked further up Indian Canyon on the Palm Canyon trail.  I hope to publish these photos in the next few day. 

The Indian Canyon is extremely popular with the tourists and locals.  This time between Christmas and New Years is probably their busiest time.  We had a 5 minute wait at the toll booth and when we left it looked like the lineup would be at least 15 - 20 minutes.