Palm Canyon Trail and Whitewater Ridge

Palm Canyon Trail is located in the Indian Canyons - Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.  The trail is over 15 miles long but we took a portion of the trail that connects to another trail (East Fork) and made a loop of about 6.5 miles.  

The trail navigates around a ridge that is cut by a wash along the east fork.  It was good fun scaling the short rock outcrops in the center of the canyon.  The views of the fan palms lining the bottom of the canyon was stunning and then when we worked our way to the top of the wash we were greeted by a view of the San Jacinto mountains.

Great views open up at every turn of the trail

Many different rock formations create the walls of the canyon

One of many rock faces we scaled.  There were side trails that would skirt some of theses features but scaling the rocks was more fun and quite safe.

Doesn't look high from this angle but from above it is looks steeper.

First view of the mountains

The open plain at the back of the ridge

Trail on the way back to the trail head

The trail follows the base of the fan palms

Silhouette of palms standing sentry over the canyon below. 

The second hike was back to the Whitewater Preserve and we had a sky of partial cloud that added to the beauty of our hike as well as made it much cooler when out in the open sunlight.

View along the ridge makes this hike the most popular in the preserve.

This vine like all vines were dominating the surrounding plants by using them as a trellis.

This shrub had only a few vibrant yellow blooms that stood out against the very dry bush behind them.

The other half of our group zig-zagging down from the top of the ridge trail.

Some of the trail dissected the Pacific Crest Trail - Canada is only 2445.4 miles away on this trail.  Looks like it would be easier to go south to Mexico.

It is always fun to visit the hatchery at the end of the hike. I stuck my camera under the water and they swam close by thinking I was offering them food.