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Squaw Peak - Phoenix, AZ

Click here for detail

Views from the Summit Trail

Tahquitz Canyon - Palm Springs, CA

Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center

Details:

• 2-mile round trip hike
• 350 ft. elevation gain
  
• $12.50 adult, $6.00 child entrance fee (includes guided tour)
  

This moderate hike follows Tahquitz Creek into Tahquitz Canyon. The hike culminates at Tahquitz Falls - a powerful, 60 foot waterfall. Schedule 1 hour for a self-guided tour or 2.5 hours for the ranger-led interpretive hike. Tahquitz is just a few minutes away from Indian Canyons, but here you'll find more rocks, a waterfall and NO palms. Tahquitz is more of a spiritual and cultural walk in the park. Opt for the guided tour for a total brain/body workout.



Directions:

• From Washington, take Hwy 111 West
• Hwy 111 will turn into East Palm Canyon Drive - continue on East Palm Canyon Drive
  
• Mesquite is the second stop light from the South Palm Canyon turnoff - turn left
• The road will lead to the Visitor Center
  

Links:

• Tahquitz Canyon
  

San Jacinto Peak - Palm Springs, CA

Details:

• Approximately 11.6 mile hike
• About a 2,400 ft. elevation gain
• Requires a wilderness permit - free at the Long Valley Ranger Station

Schedule at least 6 hours for this challenging hike. The most strenuous stretch is the trail to Wellman's Divide. The trail to the Peak leads you through milder switchbacks and ends at a stone cabin which serves as an emergency shelter about .3 miles from the Peak. You must scale large boulders to get to the top where you will be rewarded with impressive 360-degree views. San Jacinto Peak elevation is 10,800ft, so pack for rain (even in the summer) or snow.


Directions:

• Directions to Tram from Washington and 111
  
• Ride the Tram to the Mountain Station
• Follow directions to the Long Valley Ranger Station
• Get a wilderness permit at the Station
• Take the Round Valley or Willow Creek trail to Round Valley
  
• From Round Valley, follow the signs to Wellman's Divide
• From Wellman's Divide, follow the signs to San Jacinto Peak
  

Links:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Website
Weather Report

Sentinel Pass - Banff, AB

Lake Moraine

Larch Valley

Sentinel Pass

Columbia Icefields Parkway - Jasper, AB

Here are a few shots from a recent tour through the Columbia Icefields Parkway in Jasper, AB. The 143-mile Parkway is packed with incredible sporting and sightseeing opportunities. Highlights include spectacular lakes (Medicine, Peyto and Lake Louise) and glaciers (Bow, Crowfoot and Athabasca).

Medicine Lake

This is a view of the Athabasca Glacier as seen from the Visitor's Center. Markers line the drive leading to the base to show the progression of the Glacier's recession over the past century.

(Click to enlarge)

Glacier Walk

Rafting on the Athabasca River

Links:

• The Icefields Parkway
• Backroads
  

Gridley Road - Ojai, CA

Citrus groves and gorgeous views of the Los Padres National Forest - Ojai is authentic, old California replete with small galleries, great restaurants, wine bars, spas and charming inns.

Roadside Oddities - Desert Igloo

Palm Springs, CA

Wellman's Divide - Palm Springs, CA

June 23, 2007

Uphill Climb to the Divide

Details:

• Approximately 7 mile round-trip hike
• Requires a Wilderness Permit - free at the Ranger Station
  

This is basically the Round Valley Loop hike with an extension to Wellman's Divide. It is a 7-mile RT hike that takes about 4 hours. The 1-mile stretch to the Divide is more challenging than the Willow Creek and Round Valley trails. Stunning views at the Divide coupled with changes in vegetation and cooler weather (a treat in the summer) make the uphill trek worthwhile.

Colorful ground cover frame views of a nearby peak

Directions:

• Directions to Tram from Washington and 111
  
• Ride the Tram to the Mountain Station
• Follow directions to the Long Valley Ranger Station
• Get a wilderness permit at the Station
• Take the Round Valley or Willow Creek trail to Round Valley
  
• From Round Valley, follow the signs to Wellman's Divide
  

Links:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Website
Weather Report

Roadside Oddities - Mr. Peanut Mobile

April 1, 2007

Quartzite, Arizona

Round Valley Loop - Palm Springs, CA

May 27, 2007

Willow Creek Trail

Details:

• Approximately 5 mile round-trip hike
• Requires a Wilderness Permit - free at the Ranger Station
  
• Choose between Round Valley and Willow Creek path to start, but be on the lookout for the turnoffs. I missed the turnoff from Round Valley to Willow Creek and luckily ran into rangers at the Round Valley Camp.

This is a nice walk in the woods. The 5-mile loop takes about 2 hours. There are a few steep ascents, but the trails are easy and gradual for the most part. I recommend arriving early to avoid the crowds and the heat. This is a wilderness trail, so there are few panoramic views.

Willow Creek Trail

Detour to Round Valley campground - The shady side of the meadow (but not shady for this picture) was covered with these leafy plants - below. From the campground, you can proceed to Wellman's Divide.

Round Valley Trail

Directions:

• Directions to Tram from Washington and 111
  
• Ride the Tram to the Mountain Station
• Follow directions to the Long Valley Ranger Station
• Get a wilderness permit at the Station
• Follow signs to Round Valley Trailhead

Links:
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Website
Weather Report

Desert View Trail - Palm Springs, CA

May 13, 2007Details:

• Easy 1.5 mile round trip hike
  
• Hike through pine forest to a scenic overlook offering excellent views of Palm Springs
  

If you forget to wear sturdy shoes to the top of the Tram, or if you are a bit out of shape, you have two short hiking options once you descend the Mountain Station's concrete ramp. The first option is a 1/2 mile wilderness-nature walk. The second option is the Desert View Trail which will take you through the woods to a lookout point where you will enjoy breathtaking views of the desert floor. Scale the rocky path to the right of the lookout area for even more panoramic views of the Coachella Valley.

Directions:

• Follow directions to Palm Springs Tramway
• From the Tram's Mountain Station, follow signs to the Desert View Trail
  

Links: Palm Springs Tramway Website

Andreas Canyon - Palm Springs, CA

April 29, 2007

Rock formation at Andreas Canyon

Details:

• Easy, 1 mile (est.) round-trip hike in Indian Canyon
• $8.00 adult entrance fee to Indian Canyons which includes access to Palm Canyon and Murray Canyon
• Please see links below for a full list of fees, times and tips.

You can play at the creek or hop boulders under the palms, but the real draw of Andreas Canyon is best appreciated on the gentle grade of its 1/2 mile trail. There, you will view the contrast between a string of lush, green fan palms clustered along the creek set against massive, dark rock formations and yellow desert mountains in the distance.

Directions:

• From 111 and Washington
• Take 111 West into Palm Springs
• 111 turns into East Palm Canyon Drive
  
• Before reaching a turn in the road that turns East Palm Canyon Drive to Palm Canyon Drive, you will see a sign for South Palm Canyon Drive. Watch out for the sign or you may miss it. Start looking for it once you get so close to the mountain that you feel the road is about to end.
• Turn South (left) into South Palm Canyon Drive
• Take this road for 3 miles
• Signs will appear at about mile 3 leading you to the Indian Canyons toll gate.
• Location Map

Links:
Details with times, tips and fees
Site with a nice slideshow

Palm Canyon - Palm Springs, CA

April 29, 2007
Details:

• 15 miles of trails - pictures show views from first 1.5 miles
• Trading Post at trailhead with food/drink, souvenirs, restrooms (port-o-let). This is also the check-in point for guided tours ($3 adult).
• $8.00 adult entrance fee to Indian Canyons which includes access to Andreas and Murray Canyons
• Please see link below for a full list of fees, times and tips.

The hulking immediacy of nature hits you the minute you step into this palm grove. Lizards, squirrels and rattlesnakes don't bother to hide. Palms creak and rattle with the weight of dried fronds. Mossy protrusions darken bark, and the sandy ground reminds you that the searing heat of the raw desert waits just beyond the shady protection of the grove. It is a calming change of scenery for desert urbanites. Take the path to the Victor Trail trailhead for an easy 3-mile round trip hike in shade. To tackle the 15 mile stretch, you will have to catch a ride to a drop off on Hwy 74. Call rangers at 760-323-6018 for more details.

Click to see close-up of palm trunk surface

Directions:

• See Andreas Canyon blog for directions to the Indian Canyons toll gate.
• The ranger will direct you to the Palm Canyons Trading Post. It's a scenic 2.5 mile drive from the toll gate to the Trading Post.
  
• Location Map

Links:
Indian Canyons times, tips and fees
Palm Canyon detail

Bump and Grind - Rancho Mirage, CA

April 15, 2007

Details:

• Popular Rancho Mirage trail with wide, well-maintained paths for hiking and mountain biking.
• 2 miles to the top, 1,000ft. elevation gain.
• Trail options include steeper, shorter and more rugged paths at various points on the mountain or a longer and wider path with a gentler slope.
• Panoramic views of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert.

Trailhead:

• Take Highway 111, turn South on either Desert Drive or Magnesia Falls.
• Trail begins at south end of Magnesia Falls or Desert Drive
  

Links:
http://www.hiking-in-ps.com/bumpngrind.htm