Borrego Springs Palm Canyon Trail

Borrego Springs has become an annual stopping point.  We've been here about 7 times in the past 11 years.  In 2014 I did a post about Anza Borrego State Park and this year, I am doing a post specifically about the Palm Canyon Trail.  The main trail is about 3 miles round trip and there is also an alternate trail that is a little more difficult but still pretty easy.  We like to use the main trail one way and the alternate trail to go the other direction. They connect near the palm oasis.  

You will see these signs at the beginning of the trail.  We have only walked it in January and February and we have never seen these scary animals, but I bet you will find them along the trail in the summer months.  The trail can be hot so bring water but in the winter months a gallon isn't necessary.  We bring about 16 ounces per person.  We always have water leftover when we are finished with our walk.

The main trail is well marked and easy to walk.

Even the few hills have rocks as steps rather than barriers.

There is an abundance of flora and fauna on this trail.  It's been pretty wet so the hills are green and the octillo are leafy and flowering.

The red flowering bush is full of bees.  Behind the bush you can see revenants of the 2004 flood.  These are palm logs that were washed down the canyon during the flood.

These little guys are scurrying everywhere.  They are pretty cute.

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.  This hummingbird has a beak full of cotton from the cat tail and he's pecking more.  He flew away to line his nest with it.  

It's always a treat to see the Peninsular Desert Bighorn Sheep and this is the closest we've ever been to them.  They are grazing right by the alternative trail on all of the green grass and shrubs that appeared with the rains.  

There is a little creek that runs through the Palm Canyon at the 1.5 mile mark and it has fed these fan palm trees for millennia.  You can see where the water flows by just looking at the lush greenery in the middle of the rocky dessert mountains.