Indian Canyons: Desert to Oasis in a Quarter Mile

The Indian Canyons open at the south end of Palm Springs, owned and managed by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. $9 entrance off South Palm Canyon Drive. Three canyons — Palm, Murray, Andreas — and the contrast is the most dramatic in California.

Palm Canyon is the main event — a 15-mile gorge sheltering the world's largest natural palm oasis. The trail drops from the parking area and the temperature falls with each step as fan palms close overhead and the sound of water replaces wind. The stream pools clear and cold, rocks worn smooth by centuries. You expect a modest desert spring. What you get is a gorge with 60-foot palm walls, red rock cliffs on both sides, cottonwoods and willows alongside the palms — a full riparian ecosystem hiding in a crack in the desert floor.

November through April. Summer is brutal at the rim. Bring water, hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes. The descent is steep enough that the climb back up will remind you it's a real hike. Early morning for the best light and fewest people.