What a spectacular experience. So much to learn about the Indians that lived here and why. From a nice cool walk under the trees next to the natural water flowing up through the ground then to some fabulous hiking with glorious views of the mountains to all the creatures that live all around it. Keep your eyes open for all of them and especially for the dangerous ones hiding around rocks. Stay away from the selfies with them. Shouldn't have to say it but.... Well worth the $12.00 entry fee per car. Come here when it's hot for a cooler experience under the trees or winter for some good hiking. This is Palm Springs after all. read more

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Nov, 2025. Palm Springs, CA. "The Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. These canyons are especially sacred to the Cahuilla people today and are historically important to scientists and nature lovers. The Cahuilla people have thrived here for thousands of years. Ancient trails, rock art, house pits, foundations, irrigation ditches, dams, reservoirs, and food preparation areas still exist in the canyons." While there are many hiking trails in the Indian Canyons, our preference was to hike one of them that offered some shade. (While Palm Springs was only expected to reach 81 degrees today, it feels hotter when you're hiking in direct sun!) We spoke to a friendly ranger near the Trading Post, and he suggested that the two trails with shade are: (1) Palm Canyon, which is described as a moderated-graded footpath that winds down into the canyon for picnicking near the stream, meditating, exploring, hiking and equestrian trails. (2) Andreas Canyon, a tranquil setting with a one-mile walking loop and a year-round flowing stream showcasing magnificent palms and more than 150 species of plants. We chose the Palm Canyon hike as we were already close to its trailhead. The trail was mostly wide, well-maintained, and dry. It's an out-and-back trail that's 0.9 miles in each direction. Total elevation change is 224'. At the 0.9-mile mark, it intersects with other trails that allow you to lengthen the distance of your hike. For instance, there was an option to return via another route that would be 2.0 miles (rather than 0.9), but it appeared that it would be mostly in the sun so we decided against it. A few general observations: *this is a family-friendly trail, and there were quite a few kids on the trail. It is NOT stroller-friendly as there's a fairly steep descent at the beginning from the parking lot down to the palms. *the trail was crowded on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 10:30 am, but many hikers turned after the first 1/4 to 1/2-mile. *there is an entry fee to enter Indian Canyons, but you're allowed to hike as many trails as you'd capable of doing during operating hours. Adult admission is $12, seniors (62+) and students are $7, children (6-12): $6, and U.S. military, and first responders are free. HINT: we purchased our tickets at the Palm Springs Visitors Center and got a $1 discount per ticket. *there are regularly scheduled ranger-led interpretive hikes and ranger talks. *there are three parking areas, all with port-a-potties. *some concessions, including water and Gatorade, are available at the Trading Post, but there aren't any public fountains so make sure to bring a lot of water for this desert environment. *we didn't see any creatures, but you need to careful of where you step or place your hands as there are rattlesnakes in the canyon. *signage is good, but it's also easy to unintentionally go off-trail as there are quite a few unofficial trails. We enjoyed our visit to the Indian Canyons, and will return to do some of the other hikes. read more

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Such a beautiful place to hike. It costs to enter and once it's too busy they don't allow anymore entries until people start leaving. Multiple trails. Has a store to buy water or small snack items like boiled eggs. They recommend a certain amount of liters per hiker. I loved learning about the history. read more

Indian Canyons - Parks Near Me - Palm Springs, California

My wife and I experienced our 1st hiking trail here!! We had a blast. We chose this spot because of the reviews and they had a short one for first timers. The fee is cheap to get in and you can spend as much time as you need to enjoy the atmosphere . It was rejuvenating. Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Bring water!! There is only one bathroom at the beginning where you park your car. They only con is that it was a bit confusing getting here because the address on the website does not get us there when we put it into the GPS. We drove around twice and then called and someone guided us there. read more

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4 of us arrived around 8:30 am, it was $33 as one is a veteran and therefore free. You pay at the booth then a short drive to the parking lot. There are rangers there to help answer questions. We started with the Victor Loop as that is in the sun, then wrapped up the end of the hike on the Palm Canyon Trail, which is shade. The very last part of the Canyon Trail will definitely get your heart rate up. It is a short walk, just intense uphill to the parking lot/trading post. The entire hike took us about 2 hours and was just over 2 1/2 miles. The recommendation is for 3 16 oz bottles of water per person as most of this hike is in the sun. The path is easy to follow, the views are spectacular. read more

A little nature oasis in Palm Springs and in the middle of the dessert. It's nice to have a hiking spot even closer than Joshua Tree. It's not part of the National Park Pass so it's an additional charge to enter. Be sure to use the restrooms by the giftshop before making the descent down to the Palm Trees. The most popular Palm Canyon Trail is a relatively easy hike for the first mile or so where my senior parents were able to walk it pretty well. My partner and I decided to do Victor Trail which was 2.7 mile loop with Palm Canyon trail. This trail is one of the most scenic trails, going above the canyon onto the ridge that overlooks it and return the hiker to the Trading Post. It was a great hike to see a lot of different angles of the canyons. They are strict on the closing time at 5PM where the patrol will walk around the cars to make sure owners are nearby to exit the park. read more

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Indian Canyons: Palm Springs Tagquitz Canyon: Palm Springs Fascinating walk through nature. So many different paths to meet all sorts of skill, strength, and experience levels. The waterways path is a ton of fun for the kids! Be mindful of the clock and calendar for heat extremes. Also, BRING WATER! read more

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Inexpensive access to a beautiful cultural and ecological site in the desert. Lush, beautiful and well maintained trails despite the recent heavy rains the week before we visited. Rangers were kind and helpful. Plenty of parking. No bison to see while we were there, but that didn't diminish the beauty of it all. This was our last stop before closing out our PS visit and our only regret was that we didn't do it earlier so we could have hiked more than we did. Palm Canyon trail was gentle and easy to manage and the views and the palm groves were amazing. read more

Great place to spend a day of hiking! There is a $12 entrance fee per adult in the car. We came on a Friday in early December and it wasn't crowded at all. The temperatures were in the upper 70s and it felt pretty warm on the hike. We did the Andreas Canyon loop and the Murray Canyon hike. The Andreas trail is an easy hike and you get to see clusters of palm trees along the way. We continued on after the Andreas Canyon trail to the Murray Canyon trail, which is rated as moderate. The Murray Canyon trail was fairly easy until the very end if you want to see the water fall you have to climb up some rock formations. There are multiple small creek crossings along the way. I felt like signage wasn't the best. There were a few spots on the trail that we weren't sure which way to go and also there's certain forks in the road where it splits for horses and for people. Hiking the Murray Canyon trail took us about 2 hours so plan accordingly. read more

Indian Canyons - Parks Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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It's always nice there even if it's just for a walk around..sitting in the water is always nice during the day.

What a beautiful spot for a hike. For a small fee explore several trails and drive through the rock tunnel. I would recommend for hikers of all abilities as there are options for everyone. read more

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Awesome spot to hike, one of my favorites of all time. Fun fact: California Fan Palms are the only native species to California and they exist natively within these canyons. All other palms you see are transplanted. Definitely bring water on this hike, it can get insanely hot in the summer. Even when it isn't, it's a relatively strenuous hike depending on how far you go. read more

Indian Canyons - Parks Near Me - Palm Springs, California

A hidden gem that feels like a National Park! Plenty of shade, cool breezes, and stunning views. It's one of my favorite trails to date and I'd visit again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend--you definitely won't regret it. read more

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My wife and I drove to the Indian Canyons to check it out and go for a hike. We chose the Victoria Trail, which is a 3-mile loop. It started off pretty easy, especially while walking through the palms, but once we began circling around the mountain, the trail got more challenging. Since we hadn't been hiking in a while, it felt tougher than usual. The views along the trail were incredible. We saw a few critters--nothing too exciting--and passed a couple who said they had seen a rattlesnake up ahead, but we never came across it. We're looking forward to coming back and doing it again. read more

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Beautiful walk through the fan palms along a running stream on the Andreas Canyon Loop Trail. Home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, there weren't any markers or plant identifiers along the trail, but there were examples of palm dwellings at the beginning/end of the trail. My favorite part were the stone homes in the 'secret' development at the turnaround point in the trail. The trail also has some dramatic stone cliffs along the canyon. At the parking area there were nice port-a-potties, but no other services, so make sure you bring water, sunscreen, hats, etc. There is an entry fee per person with discounts for seniors, military, etc. There is a trading post, but it was located by the Palm Canyon Trail. This park is close to Palm Springs, so if you only have time for one hike, I would recommend this one. Notable regulations: *No animals *No alcoholic beverage *No rock climbing or stacking *No drones read more

The views were amazing! We went in February and the flowers were bursting. It was a nice hike. Well worth the $12. read more

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A true oasis not far from downtown Palm Springs! Admission costs $12 per adult, which I'd consider reasonable for the stunning scenery you'll encounter. Seniors (62+) and students are $7, and children (6-12) are $6. While parked at the Andreas Loop Trailhead, one of the park rangers walked by and said that trail and the Palm Canyon Trail are the two best ones that this park has to offer. Both will take you through the California Palms and are considered "easy". ANDREAS LOOP TRAIL (1.2 mi loop): This hike starts at ground level along a river and gradually increases in elevation. You will need to step over boulders and the path is very rocky / uneven in some areas, so just watch your footing and grip onto the rocks for balance. After crossing a short bridge, you'll trek up an incline and then at the top, you'll get an overhead view of all the Palms. Continuing along the trail will lead you back to the parking area. PALM CANYON TRAIL (2 mi out & back): Drive about two miles in and the road will lead right to the parking area. As you approach, the road gets pretty narrow, but there's plenty of parking in the main lot and an overflow lot if needed. The path first consists of a couple downhill switchbacks and a walk through the sand before reaching the actual start of the trail. It's not that rocky, but there were some uneven areas and the dirt paths can also be slippery since they're so dry. Walking through the California Palms was like a dream and such a unique experience that's hard to describe in words. The trail ends at a fork that splits off to a couple other trails if you want to extend the hike. Otherwise, just turn back and enjoy a walk back through the Palms one more time. Those two are the most popular hikes, but there are others that I assume take you through more desolate trails as the map labels them as "moderate" and "hard". Both trailheads have portable toilets and sinks with soap & paper towels. Your shoes will get covered in sand, so it was great to at least have a place to clean them before hopping back in the car. Also, if you forget to pack snacks beforehand, there is a trading post at Palm Canyon where you can get souvenirs, food and water. read more

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This place is so darn cool, beautiful scenery, not really any bugs, nothing to crazy, take the kiddos if you want a day out in the sun. The spring time is the absolute best time to go. read more

Indian Canyons - Parks Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Spectacular! Truly. A small fee is required for car entry (bikes and those on foot, I believe, are exempt from that...) but the area is so well kept and trails are clear and easily follow-able...the small cost is 100% worth it! We started with the Andreas Loop, which was relatively easy and absolutely gorgeous. We were still up for more hiking so we also decided to do the Murray Canyon trail which ends at the Seven Sisters waterfall. This one was a bit more difficult but I, a short and portly late-30s woman, was able to do it with no problems (except maybe moving a little slower than some other hikers). The hikes are spectacularly beautiful. Like, even more than I expected. It is a lovely mix of desert and oasis, thanks to those springs and creeks! The canyon trail is mixed use (shared with horse riders) so be aware of them being around and make sure to keep your eyes peeled so you don't tromp around and step in a poop pile. It was a great way to spend an afternoon, with beauty abounding all around us! Give 'em a visit! read more

Had the best morning walking the canyons. Beautiful part of the area. So pristine, stunning views all around. We didn't have too much time so we did the easy hikes/walks. Very accessible for most people. Really close to downtown Palm Springs. A great way to spend a few hours or the day exploring the preserve. read more

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I thought this place was really cool. The Palm Canyon Trail was especially nice, with beautiful scenery and so many palm trees along the way. It felt peaceful and well worth the visit, and I'd definitely come back to explore more. read more

We love this place for brunch and lunch. The kindest and attentive staff. We have been here multiple times (think 30) with from 2-8 people. Never a disappointment and they always offer fries which are delicious but also a fruit selection instead. I always have a hard time with this decision. We like sitting outside but inside is nice too. The only thing I miss is the mischievous road runner who would wait at the door for his piece of bacon. read more

This is a really great hike! The scenery is spectacular and the hike isn't very strenuous so just about anyone will enjoy it! I totally recommend it. read more

Palm Canyon is one of the areas of great beauty in Western North America. Its indigenous flora and fauna, which the Cahuilla people so expertly used, and its abundant Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) are breathtaking contrasts to the stark rocky gorges and barren desert lands beyond. We did these trails, recommend it Palm Canyon Trail - 2.6 miles easy Andrea's Canyon - 1.5 miles easy West Fork Fall - 300 meters easy Murray Canyon to Wayward Mine Trail - 6 miles hard but worth it. Finished all trails in 6 hours with breaks . Recommended Electrolytes, water, hat, and good comfortable shoes with good grip, something saltine will help if you want to do all of them. They have bathrooms in every trail before start. Enjoy the trails and please leave no trace. read more

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What a gem out in the desert! There is a line to get in and the fee is per person not vehicle. We did 2 hikes ( ran out of time) and you are in the desert and then you are among the tallest palms and running brooks! It is such a diverse surprise oh and the birds!!! We had a bit of a drizzle and the sounds were magical. Really a very unique ecosystem. The area is so well maintained & clean as well!!! read more

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Beautiful desert trail, winter is definitely the better time to visit, the summer is way too warm for me.

What a beautiful trail. It is marked as "easy", but it is not. I would call it moderate. Depending on the time of year, it can be wet and it always is a tad rocky. In the summer do not try this trail in the heat of the day. It gets so very hot. If you insist travel with water and don't go to far in. We came here around 8:30 am on a weekday and got right in paying $12 per person to enter. Park near the "Trading Post". They have some information there. We did a good portion of the Palm Canyon trail. It is stunning with a collection of tall palm trees and a creek flowing through the oasis that is there. This area had nice shade. The wildlife is not easy to find but now and again we saw rabbits and some lizards. Do not touch them. There are beautiful rocks and grassy type areas. It is just so pretty. I wish they had bathrooms, there are some porta pottys which are gross. Make sure to bring some wet wipes or something or you will be sorry you didn't. Overall, it is beautiful. It is not at all disabled friendly. A wheel chair would be close to impossible to get over all the little rocks and bumps. You don't have to be in great shape, but you will be walking. Have a safe time. Remove nothing from the area. read more

I loved my walk/hike on the Andreas walk. One mile easy with a few ups and downs and rocks to step over on the way. Beautiful scenery read more

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We did the Andreas Canyon loop (1.5 miles) and it is a nice hike alongside the water and through an oasis of palms. There were several steep steps over rocks, parts where it was a little uncertain where to go, but overall not bad. There were little lizards scurrying about but thankfully no large slithering creatures were spotted. We came earlier in the day before it was too warm but the early part was nice with the shade from the palms. Lovely area! read more

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This place is otherworldly. The trees are 200-400 years old and formed within the San Andreas fault. Nice docents. Bathrooms available. read more

Indian Canyons - Parks Near Me - Palm Springs, California

Great hiking especially, during the spring.... Peaceful & beautiful... something magical/ spiritual about it... read more

Indian Canyons - Streams + palm trees - Parks Near Me - Palm Springs, California

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We had a really nice time here at the Indian Canyons! The ticketing staff was super friendly and we were able to get two senior tickets for $7 each and one adult for $12. We parked at the Palms Canyon trailhead where the trading post (gift shop) is located. Their brochure said they have ranger talks at 10am and we basically had a personal session with ours on the picnic table outside. He shared the history of the land, which belongs to the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuila people, and how important preservation of nature is to them. The canyon is at the base of the San Jacinto mountains. We decided to do the Victor trail (moderate) as recommended by the park ranger, and we started by walking down into the palm canyon which is filled with hundreds of palm trees. This was refreshing as they provided plenty of shade during the first part of our hike, and there were streams and tree trunks as well. The second half of this trail was open in the sun and had several switchbacks and elevation. It was a 3 mile loop and took us about 1.5 hours, not including breaks. Beautiful scenery and lots of trails to choose from (60 miles of hiking), definitely recommend visiting here while in Palm Springs! read more

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Wonderful place. Lots of water falls. Lots of shade. Wildlife was beautiful. Birds were happy and singing. I will return.

My first full day in Palm Springs and I made it a complete day of hiking/outdoor time. I almost overlooked this area and so glad I read up some more and decided to check it out. Indian Canyons is on the ancestral home of the Aqua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. It's a beautiful and special area. Entry at the kiosk is $12 per person and they take cash or card. I arrived later in the day so opted for a shorter hike on the 1 mile loop of Andreas canyon. It was quite surprising to see the creek flowing and lots of small waterfalls along the way. The rock formations, fan palms and scenic views were quite something. The trail is fairly easy to navigate with some rocky areas and very little incline. After that I drove to the end of the park to the Trading Post gift shop where you can embark on a longer hike in Palm Canyon. I only ventured a short way down that to see more of the unique trees and lush greenery in the desert. Overall, it was a really nice way to cap off my day, I'm sure there are plenty of longer and even more scenic hiking opportunities-perfect reason to go back! read more

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When the canyons are calling, I must heed their call. Here we go!! Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Cahuila Indians. These canyons are sacred to the Agua Caliente people and to nature lovers. There are three popular canyon trails located within these lands: Andreas, Murray and Palm. I came here at 0900 pst on a very warm Sunday morning to avoid the extreme heat. And when I arrived there was a very short car line at the entrance. It cost $12 bucks/adult. Andreas canyon is a mile loop trail and generally considered an easy route. It's elevation gain was 175 ft with plenty of shades. Furthermore, there's a downstream with crystal clear cool water along the trail. It took me roughly 40 mins (including stops for photos and scenery) to complete this trailhead. After a short water break, I proceeded to Murray canyon which south of Andreas Canyon and is a 3.7 mile out-and-back trail. And is popular for horseback riding evidence by the horse manure on the trail. It took me 2 hours with multiple stops due to 105 degree desert weather. Moreover, it has an elevation gain of 600 ft with very little to no shade throughout the trailhead. The canyon sceneries, rock formation and desert palm trees were mind boggling. You can almost feel the natural power flowing through your body. I brought energy gels and 1/2 a gallon of water. The heat was no joke! Tip for hikers, bring plenty of water and food/energy bars. Free parking available. Overall, I enjoyed hiking these two canyons. I highly recommend you visit. read more

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Beautiful get away, really a unique place. We truly enjoyed the hiking trails in a few of the canyons.

Love love love! If you love hiking and nature, make the trip to Indian Canyons! My partner and I enjoyed it, such beautiful views! We bought tickets at the PS Visitor Center, it is a $1 cheaper for tickets there, we paid $22. There are a variety of trails depending what difficulty level you would like, we started around 11:30am, start as early as possible if you can obviously, the sun is strong! A hat, water, good shoes, sunscreen and bug spray are essentials! Do not downplay the heat, because we sure did. read more

I love hiking and checking out nature. If your ever in Palm Springs, Andrea canyon is a place you would really like to hike to and see. Just the road to get into the hiking establishment alone is nice! Doesn't even feel like your in California hiking, it's just so green and beautiful! Andrea canyon is kids friendly and super easy to hike. There is other trails but this one seems to be the easiest. Pretty flowers, plants and rocks! Small waterfall and a small water trail throughout the whole hike, your able to hear the water stream. Done forget your water! Gets pretty warm out there! Tickets for each person is $12 for the day. read more

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This hike is so easy and beautiful! We went in March and saw plenty of flowing water. The waterfall at the top was freezing cold and we went in for a swim! read more

Been coming here since I was a little girl. It's not as nice as it once was, it just feels trampled and dusty-But if you find a good spot, sitting and listening to the wonderful icy waters running Will relax even the most travel weary tourist and locals alike! read more