March 15th, 2019
Andreas Canyon Trail
Indian Canyons
Admission is $9 adults | $7 Seniors | $7 Children 6-12 |US Military are FREE | Equestrian $11
38-520 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA
On Friday afternoon, I hiked the Andreas Canyon Trail located in Indian Canyons. The trailhead is easily accessible and is an relatively easy trail to hike.
I was surprised to see that the Super Bloom is just getting started along this trail. A few Brittle Bush were in bloom, but there were a lot more buds than yellow blooms, indicating the peak bloom there will happen over the next 7-10 days and into April.
There was one Beavertail Cactus in bloom high on a rocky cliff near the palm oasis section of the trail. I also saw a single Barrel Cactus in bloom along the upper trail that runs above the stream. Chia, brittle bush, Apricot Globe Mallow, popcorn flowers, Canterbury Bells to name a few, were just starting to come alive with color.
I would recommend this trail in late March and the first week in April to see the best wildflower displays.
Saturday, March 16th, 2019
Randall Henderson Trail
Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260
On Saturday, I hiked the Randall Henderson Trail in Palm Desert. It is easily accessible from the Visitor’s Center Parking Lot located off of Highway 74 in Palm Desert. The trail is a 2.5 mile loop that starts at 1000 foot elevation and climbs to 1,425 at the highest point.
The best wildflower displays are about a 1/4 of the way into the trail in a sandy wash. The trail is in full bloom now, so if you can get there over the next few days, you will experience the peak of the bloom.
I was impressed by the variety of flowers blooming along this trail. There were brittle bush, desert lavender, beavertail cactus, fishhook cactus, poppies, lupine, chuparosa, Brown-eyed evening primrose, a few ghost flowers, desert chicory, Desert stars, desert pincushion, popcorn flower, rock daisies, and more.
