Moderate 4 mile hike near Palm Spring with beautiful palm trees, small waterfalls, dynamic landscape.
Upon arriving at Indian Canyon, pay the entrance fee and continue on to the parking area. Once you've parked, followi the signs to Murray Canyon.
The hike begins with some trekking through a desert landscape, where you'll have vast views all around you. Eventually you'll come to the first water crossing/oasis. Step carefully on the stones to cross the water or take your time enjoying the shade of the surrounding palms. You'll continue at a slight incline for most of the hike. About three-quarters of the way, it gets a little more challenging as you are stepping on slick stone rather than the trail. Here, you may hear the heavy sound of falling water as I found the fall here to be better than those at the end of the hike.
At just under the 2 mile mark, you'll reach the end of the trail, where you will see signs telling you not to go any further. Hikers were all over the place here, climbing rocks and taking photos with the falls. Once you've had your fill, head back the way you came to complete the hike.
Overall this was an enjoyable little hike that we were able to accomplish without a lot of difficultly. I don't love the idea of paying to hike, but certainly enjoyed hiking a new area that seemed to have minimal human influence. The waterfalls were a bit underwhelming, but in Southern California, you take what you can get. When we were leaving, we noticed over 30 cars lined up to pay the entrance few, so it's advisable to arrive early during peak season. We were able to arrive early and avoid the heavy traffic.
Know Before You Go
This hike is on an Indian Reservation and will require an entrance fee ($9 as of December 2018).
There are roughly 15 water crossings, so you may get wet.
Some spots involve stepping onto slick rocks, so ensure your footwear has good traction.
Hike is in a desert setting, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Check the forecast - if rain is likely, avoid this hike due to flash flooding.
Resources
Location
The trail is a bit off of the 10 Freeway, requiring most to navigate through downtown Palm Springs. Must pay fee at entrance gate and depending on demand, may require a wait.
Video
The video below was taken on an iPhone while hiking, so apologize for any shakiness. The video features the small waterfalls at the end of the hike.
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