2013 Andreas and Palm Canyons

These hikes are part of the Indian Canyons which is on the Aqua Caliente Indian Reservation.  The Andreas Canyon is quite a bit drier this year and the cottonwood trees and other plants were under increased stress.  

Andreas Creek was still flowing with cold, clear water that provided a great contrast to the canyon walls and California Fan Palms.  We only saw one predator out hunting today and that was a red tailed hawk.  We first saw it sitting on the cliff top and later soaring over the canyon looking for food.  The wings and tail changing colour as maneuvered under the sun's rays. 

Water flowing clear and cold.

These cabins above the trail are part of the Andreas Canyon Club that formed in 1923 on land bought from the Southern Pacific Railroad.  The club is conservation and preservation oriented.  No shooting, hunting or trapping is allowed.  Native plants and animals are protected.  The members first camped in the stream bed using caches made of rocks. The clubhouse was built in 1925.

Our hikers among the dried up cottonwood.

Trading stories as they wait for the other hikers to catch up. The return to the cars takes the hikers just above the canyon floor.

View looking back up the canyon.

The second part of the day's hiking was from the Trading Post and heading south east further up the Palm Canyon.  It is about 15 miles long but we only hiked back about a mile.  We walked along Palm Canyon Creek through the palm trees to a very short slot canyon.  

One of our hikers checking out the native dwellings.

Fording the creek was the peak of treacherousness for this hike. 

The end ... a few of us climbed about the rocks but not really a good spot for a hike.