Andreas Canyon

We recently traveled to Palm Springs, California to visit with my cousin, Valorie and her family. In the course of our visit, I participated in a hike to Indian Canyons, located on the nearby Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.

Centuries ago, ancestors of the Agua Caliente Cahuilla (pronounced Kaw-we-ah) Indians settled in the Palm Springs area and developed extensive and complex communities in Palm, Murray, Andreas, Tahquitz and Chino Canyons. Many traces of these communities still exist in the canyons today.

The canyons are served by hiking trails, enabling visitors to explore these canyons located at the base of the San Jacinto Mountains. The canyons are populated with a wide variety of palm trees, a striking contrast with the surrounding rock. The indigenous flora, including Washingtonia filifera (California Fan palm trees) are breathtaking contrasts to the stark, rocky gorges and barren desert lands beyond. 

We explored two of the trails in the course of our visit to the area, one through part of the Andreas Canyon and the Victor Trail, a second trail which will be covered in a future blot post.

My first photograph was taken from the edge of the Andreas Canyon, just before we descended into it. This is a good example of the unusual contrast between the palm groves and the rugged, mountain terrain containing them.

This photograph illustrates the rugged canyon wall from the opposite side of the Andreas Canyon, also taken just prior to entering the canyon.

This scene features a view upward from the canyon floor. The brilliant light and strong shadows in the canyon created excellent photographic opportunities.

I’ve made earlier reference to the California Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera). I managed to find this one well positioned for light entering the canyon to create a nice mix of light and shadow.

Looking down to a brook streaming along the canyon floor I, was able to photograph this semi-shadowed stream. Once again, I was able to take advantage of sunlight streaming in over the canyon’s upper edge.

This scene offers a nice perspective of the flora in the deep canyon. I was shooting almost vertically to capture most of the cliff and the tree in one photograph.

This is a truly massive pile of rocks, located at the base of a mountain. Gravity has worked its magic to arrange the boulders as to create a mental image that looks different to different people. I see a bird of prey, perched in front of a large nest. I’m influenced by the large slab of rock on the right (leaning against the other rocks) which looks like a wing to me.

Rolande says “No, it looks like a cat.” Feel free to draw your own conclusions.

As always, the photographs do not do justice to reality. It was a good experience to see and be among what nature has fashioned in this area.

I thank Pat, Laura Lee and Danny for taking me to this fascinating location and treating me to a very enjoyable day of hiking and picture taking.