PS - HIKE LOWER CARRIZO CANYON

Christmas Eve Hike

Carrizo Canyon is one of the group of canyons which are open for only the last three months of each year. This  hike begins at the Art Smith parking lot and gradually climbs south through soft sand in a wide wash with evidence of a history of mining, exploration and recreational use over many decades. The wash narrows as we enter the canyon where we are amazed at the stunning folding and layering of metamorphic rock in the canyon walls. As the canyon narrows, the trail gets a bit rockier and poles can be handy for maintaining one’s balance. We will carefully scramble over a few granite boulders. After a visit to a dry waterfall, we will take a side trail up Indian Canyon and up a 5 foot rock ladder to an overlook from which you can see back to Palm Desert and up Carrizo Canyon to a stand of California palms at an oasis hidden above the dry fall. We retrace our steps to return to the parking lot.

• Map here: https://caltopo.com/m/U4Q7J
• Altitude gain: 364 feet  (1044′ to 1408′) 
• Cumulative altitude gain: 503 feet
• Distance: 2.3 miles
• Pace: 1-1.5 MPH, ~2 hours
• Terrain: Slightly varied, deep sand, short climb, some slick rock
• Obstacles: Rocks, boulders, plant debris
• Difficulty rating:  Easy to Moderate

• Meet 8:50 am Denny's Cathedral City  Map Click Here