| Journey Into Eagle Canyon |
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Sunday, August 30, 2009  Eagle Canyon is an easy find. Follow the fire road pass two large water tanks. The initial incline isn’t bad; consider it more of a warm up. The challenge comes when you pass by the many rock piles, and the trail veers to the right and upward at a steady rate. This second incline is tedious and seems much longer than it actually is. At the top just before it levels off, there is a junction to the left. Whether you take this left turn or not, the road will meet up with itself in about two city blocks. Along the fire road are many small trails that branch off in different directions. Your best bet is to remain on the fire road until you are comfortable with the area. Then taking some of the cut offs will lead you to more challenging inclines that act as short cuts. If you took the left turn or followed the original path along the widened and groomed road, your next big incline will come after the trails meet up again. This one gives you a fabulous peek at the canyon that becomes your destination. Look for the tops of palm trees jutting from a crevasse that is southeast of you. That grove is the beginning of the canyon. The advantage you have here is that you can see the trail that leads you there as it parallels the fire road you are following. This much smaller trail joins with the fire road shortly after a small clearing at the top of this third incline. Once you take this left turn onto this much smaller trail, you begin to descend towards the canyon. This decline begins at first with a traverse along a hillside. Before you know it, you are beyond sight of the fire road and at another junction. The right-hand trail leads towards Murray Peak while the left hand trail takes you down to the riverbed. A series of switchbacks open up to the grove of palm trees you saw earlier. As you arrive, the sound of bees can be heard coming from a rock face to the right. Follow the riverbed away from the bees, stay to the left and you find another trail.This new trail leads to the bottom of Eagle Canyon. Along the way, you will see different elevation changes the canyon floor makes. Large boulders litter the floor, creating awesome climbing opportunities when you are making your way out. Keep a sharp eye to the numerous peaks that overshadow the riverbed. This is where you may spot an eagle or two. The most I have ever spotted on one hike was three. Following this ledge trail, you will find a couple of spots where the weather has damaged the path. These places are easily spotted and maneuvered but are a constant reminder of the effects of water and gravity.  This ledge trail drops off at the bottom of the riverbed. Here is a great place to stop and rest, eat a snack and watch the “bee highway.” Along the riverbed are locations where bees have massed along moisture that exudes from the rock floor. Occasionally you will spot bees hurrying either up or down the riverbed as if they are involved in some sort of pony express style of communication. At this point, you can continue down along the sandy riverbed to where you will find some very interesting stone stacks nestled into the rock wall. Here you will undoubtedly feel like an explorer in the land of the lost as everything has a prehistoric feel, but know that if you follow the riverbed far enough, signs of human interference will show.Getting out of this canyon is just as fun and adventurous as getting into it. Follow the riverbed in reverse. Pass by where the ledge trail dropped you off and take on the various rock challenges that await you. A natural obstacle course challenges you and excites the explorer within. Remember to watch for bees and know that if you don’t mind them, they generally don’t mind you, Eagle Canyon is a great three-hour hike roundtrip with a series of incredible views and possible eagle spottings. I rate this a moderate hike and keep in mind, he who goes down will eventually have to climb back out. To see more Jace Edwards photos of Eagle Canyon, click here.
For more about Jace Edwards, click here. | |||||||
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Recently I led an early morning hike to Eagle Canyon near Palm Springs, California. Getting there can be challenging, but the real fun is getting out. We began our adventure at 5 a.m. The trailhead, located east of the Vons Shopping Center on Hwy. 111, was our starting point. As usual, we did our typical equipment check. Plenty of water, some light snacks and sunscreen were on the top of the list. I recommend carrying a camelback. This pack makes hydration easy as you sip water from a tube connected to the camelback’s bladder that sets on your spine. Here’s a tip for the novice hiker: add ice to your bladder. This will keep your water cold and may even create a cool spot on your back.
