Tuesday, March 18, 2025 (Palm Springs, CA - PART 5, Hiking in Indian Canyon)

It was another beautiful day today as we all piled into the rental car and headed to Indian Canyon. There are numerous hiking trails but Chris found one that he felt would be good for Isaac...Andreas Canyon Loop Trail, an easy 1.2 mile/2 km with an elevation gain of 200 feet.

Andreas Canyon is considered the world’s second largest California Fan Palm oasis. Ancient rock mortars adorning the entrance to the canyon remind visitors of the presence of the first people. The trail starts at the rail Information Board located just north of the bridge. It leads west along the north side of the perennial Andreas Creek for 0.5 mile, then it crosses the creek at the fence and returns along the upper stream terrace to the parking area. Hikers will be rewarded with spectacular views of rock formations, sycamores, cottonwoods, willows, and the magnificent California Fan Palm (Washingtonian filifera), all surrounded by the harsh desert environment.

There is a charge to hike the trails, with fees gathered at the gatehouse entrance. We thought it was a little pricey at $12/adult; $7/senior and $6.00 for children, but we paid the $44 fee and found our way to the Andreas Canyon Trailhead.

These little huts were near the parking lot...Isaac thought they were pretty cool!

With the trail map in hand, Isaac was our guide...he was so excited! 

The weather was perfect today for our hike...

Time for some water...

A 1:07 minute video...

Looking back. There are quite a few people out hiking the trail today...

Lots of people on the trail ahead...

Carefully climbing down the rocks on the trail...

There's the creek...

Beautiful!

A wooden bridge to cross the creek...there were a number of folks waiting to cross (most were walking the trail in the opposite direction from us)...

An old stone house on the hillside...

I kinda wish I had my hiking pole but I left it back at the truck/trailer...drats! Oh well, I managed okay without it...

The trail follows the creek...

We found a spot just off the trail where we took a break...water and a snack...

Such a beautiful area!

Look up, way up...

And we're back to the parking lot....

Wow, what an awesome hike that was! Isaac was still eager to hike some more, so we spoke to a ranger and he suggested Palm Canyon, further up the road. It's longer and rated as moderate but starts off fairly easy. He suggested we hike as far as we want and then turn around...which is a good idea because we weren't really sure how much more hiking Isaac really "had in him"!

This trail is one of the most scenic trails in the Indian Canyons. It is best to access this trail by hiking a mile south on the Palm Canyon Trail. The Victor Trail will take the hiker out of the shade of the palm trees, up and onto the ridge that overlooks the canyon and return the hiker to the Trading Post making a three mile loop.

The main parking lot was packed but there was an overflow one further down a narrow gravel road. Luckily we found a spot there and we were off. So beautiful! The building in the distance is the actual starting point but there was a trail from the overflow lot that met up with the main trail...

We had to carefully walk through a portion of the road that was flooded...

I think someone may have gotten their feet a little wet, LOL...

Very cool!

We really didn't go very far before Isaac decided it was time to turn back...we told him to remember that as far as you walk is also the distance you'll have to walk to get back to the car...

We had a wonderful morning of hiking! And the bonus was that Isaac loved it! Back at the condo, we had lunch and then Steve and I decided to take a drive out to check on the trailer at Coachella Lakes RV Resort. The fridge had been rather finicky lately and Steve just wanted to make sure all was okay.

This is one of the lakes on the way into our site...

The trailer was fine and dandy...Steve also started the truck and let it run for a few minutes while we were there. With everything A-Okay, we made the half hour drive back to the condo. 

We all had a dip in the pool and then went back to the condo for happy hour on the deck. Poor Angela was having trouble with stinging eyes...maybe sunscreen got in? 

Beautiful...loved the sundeck!

That evening we pulled out the Rummikub game. We had played it the other night after Isaac went to bed but now he wanted to join in. He was Chris's partner...

That was another great day in the desert!