Stroll along the Palm Canyon Creek and below the massive Palm Trees.

Hiking Lower Palm Canyon Trail

Length: 3 – 4 miles out and back

Hiking Time: 2 hours

This is considered an easy hike and family friendly.

The Lower Palm Canyon Trail is located in Indian Canyons. Follow South Palm Canyon until it begins to turn and keep to the right. You will see Mr. Lyons on your left. Proceed about 2-miles to the Indian Canyons tollgate, then continue 2.5 miles to Palm Canyon and the trading post. You will pass through a rock on your way to the trading post.

Walk down the trail and begin your hike of the Lower Palm Canyon Trail on the right.

For the first ¾ of a mile follow the pathway above Palm Canyon Creek. Palm Canyon is quite magnificent. It is cool and mostly shady, filled with fan palms of all sizes next to a stream which still has pools and springs in mid-summer though at drier times most water flows below ground. The trees rise up to 60 feet and have trunks 3 feet across, all from the same species – washingtonia filifera, the only palm native to western North America.

A few other plants are found here, including reeds around the water, and willow & cottonwood trees on the slopes, though the palms dominate. Some small groups grow higher up the hillsides or along short side canyons, where underground water is available. The most evident wildlife is the desert spiny lizards, but rattlesnakes are also encountered, while fish and frogs live in the reflective pools and streams. Always stay on the rail where it is clear of vegetation.

The trail then crosses over Palm Canyon Creek and eventually connects with the Victor and Palm Canyon Trail. As you continue it becomes East Fork Trail. Hike another .5 to 1 mile before turning around and heading back to the trading post. The huge palm tree oasis effectively ends after about 1.4 miles of walking through Palm Canyon.

If you’d like to make the Palm Canyon hike a loop instead of an out-and-back hike, take the Victor Trail back. The aerial views of the palm oasis from the Victor Trail are excellent. You will find the desert landscape on the Victor Trail is in contrast to the lush Palm Canyon. You’ll gain a wonderful new perspective of the size and beauty of the beautiful Palm Springs oasis. You’ll also enjoy hiking through a dense cactus forest, with literally thousands of beautiful & interesting cacti growing all over the canyon wall. This would be better to do in the fall/winter when temperatures are more moderate.

Palm Springs Hiking Guide

Palm Springs Interactive Hiking Guide