Hiking the Palm Canyon Trail

This morning the wind was calm and it appeared that we’d be able to venture outside!  We rode our bikes over to the visitor center where Caleb completed a Jr.Ranger program.  Since the “adults” were not allowed to attend, we watched a short video about the park, meandered through the interpretive displays, and walked around the short trails around the center.  We contemplated listening to a ranger talk on the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, but decided it was time to go hiking!

We replenished snacks and water at the trailer and then headed towards the trailhead.  From the trailhead, the Palm Canyon trail is 3 miles round trip.  One thing we learned from the nature trail guide is that Ocotillo cactus lose their leaves when they are too dry.  But once it rains enough, they will leaf out completely within 5 days.  We hiked up the sandy wash and over boulders to see a native Palm oasis.

The trail followed the creek, with small waterfalls over the large boulders.  But along the way there was evidence of massive flash floods.  Palm tree trunks were lodged into boulders 20 feet or more from the current creek bed.

The California fan palm is the only palm native to California and it is rare to find one in the wild.  Finding palms ensures there is a water source.  From the craggy desert mountains lined with Ocotillo, one’s eyes are then drawn to the tall, green tops of the palms! 

Our feet got a bit wet boulder hopping to get into the oasis but the site was worth it!  We had never seen native palms clustered in the desert!  While watching our step on the trail, we kept an eye open for the well camouflaged Bighorn Sheep, but didn’t see any. 

Back through the desert, the sun was setting behind the mountain shading much of the trail as early as 3 in the afternoon.  When the sun sets it gets chilly in the arid West and we were glad to be heading back to camp.