Indian Canyons

Any vacation to Palm Springs isn’t complete without visiting the spectacular canyons known as the Indian Canyons. These canyons, Tahquitz, Palm, Andreas, and Murray are national treasures. In fact, they are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

If you’ve never seen a real oasis before, get ready. Palm Canyon is the world’s largest California Fan Palm Oasis, Andreas Canyon is the world’s second largest, and Murray Canyon is the world’s fourth largest.

When you first approach any of these canyons, from a distance you might see a line of green working its way up the barren and rocky mountain. But up close, you are transported to an almost tropical wonderland. Huge palm trees soar overhead, shading you with their fan-like fronds. The temperature drops considerably. Even in the heat of summer, you get chills.

Palm Canyon is the crown jewel of the Indian Canyons and stretches a full fifteen miles. You can follow a nice footpath down to the stream and enjoy a lovely picnic or take a more adventurous hike or horseback ride further in. An Indian Trading Post will sell you a hiking map, snacks, Indian art, pottery, jewelry, books, and more. A nearby kiosk is available for arranging guided tours.

Andreas Canyon is a more tranquil selection. Still incredibly lush and beautiful but slightly less traveled, you’ll find scenic foot trails, rock formations, Cahuilla rock art, mortars and metates, and secluded picnic tables.

Murray Canyon, while still quite accessible, is even more secluded. Keep your eye out for the endangered Peninsula Big Horn Sheep, wild horses, and other creatures grazing above the canyon. You’ll enjoy the peace and quiet that Murray Canyon offers along with the refreshing scenery.

Tahquitz Canyon is breathtaking in its beauty but suffers from a storied past. Rowdy crowds essentially closed down the canyon with their antics and trash. It officially closed to the public in 1969. Though closed, the canyon still attracted its fair share of visitors including dwellers who actually lived in the caves found here. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians recently spent numerous years of intense clean up operations, built a visitor center and reopened Tahquitz Canyon.

You can tour Tahquitz Canyon on a guided basis only. The tour covers about two miles but the going is slow due to the interpretive nature of it. You’ll see the native plants such as cholla, creosote, desert lavender, hedgehog cactus, and ephedra, and learn about how the Cahuilla used these plants. You’ll also see rock art, wildlife and a 60-foot seasonal waterfall made famous by the Frank Capra film, “Lost Horizon”.

Tahquitz Canyon and the monolith above known as Tahquitz Peak get their names from the Native American shaman, Tahquitz who was talented yet wicked. He is said to consume people’s souls and many of today’s Native Americans won’t enter the canyon.

What all four of these gorgeous canyons share in common is a connection with the desert. While many look at the desert and see only a barren landscape, others see life. In the canyons, life is abundantly clear. Ancient people and wildlife have come to the Indian Canyons for centuries and have made these sacred places their homes. You can see firsthand how precious the desert oasis was then and still is today.

Admission to the Indian Canyons is reasonable with rates from about $4 to $10. Equestrians are welcome.

Guided tours at Tahquitz Canyon cost $12.50 for adults and $6 for children age 12 and under.

Helpful Links:
Indian Canyons Info & Directions

The Palm Springs Desert Resort cities include Palm Springs, Palm Desert,
Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Indio, Desert Hot Springs, La Quinta and
Rancho Mirage. Abbreviations for California include CA, Calif. and Cal.