36 min
Overview
The Palm Canyon Alternate Trail starts at a parking area at the end of the Palm Canyon Campground. The Palm Canyon Alternate Trail trailhead can be found at the southwest corner of this parking area.<br><br>Palm Canyon Alternate Trail is a rock strewn, sandy trail, with a brush covered steep hillside (canyon "wall") rising to the left of the trail. The canyon is wide here, and the area to the right of the trail is relatively flat. One can look back down the canyon, and see the desert plains far into the distance. Here, the desert is covered with low vegetation - a lot of yellow flowered brittlebush and orange-tipped ocotillos in the spring. Green flowering cholla cacti, magenta flowering beavertail cacti, and barrel cacti are also sprinkled around. <br><br>After a little over a mile, Palm Canyon Alternate Trail ends at the Palm Canyon Trail.
Trail Stats
1.8 km
92 m
346 m
258 m
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Photos
A beavertail cactus blooms along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
A beavertail cactus blooms along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
A cholla cactus blooms along the Palm Canyon Trail. This type of cholla cactus has green flowers, while other types have other colors.
A cholla cactus blooms along the Palm Canyon Trail. This type of cholla cactus has green flowers, while other types have other colors.
Flowers bloom on a creosote bush along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
Flowers bloom on a creosote bush along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
A beavertail cactus sprouts a single open bloom, with many more to come over the next weeks.
A beavertail cactus sprouts a single open bloom, with many more to come over the next weeks.
A barrel cactus blooms on the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
A barrel cactus blooms on the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
This green flower bloom on a cholla cactus provided a little visual interest along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
This green flower bloom on a cholla cactus provided a little visual interest along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
Parish's poppies grow along the Palm Canyon Trail in early April.
Parish's poppies grow along the Palm Canyon Trail in early April.
Desert dandelions grow along Palm Canyon Trail in April.
Desert dandelions grow along Palm Canyon Trail in April.
When crossing the stream that runs down Palm Canyon, one can see the palms of the Palm Canyon oasis in the distance.
When crossing the stream that runs down Palm Canyon, one can see the palms of the Palm Canyon oasis in the distance.
An ocotillo blooms in the spring after a winter of heavy rains in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
An ocotillo blooms in the spring after a winter of heavy rains in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
The Sonoran/Colorado Desert comes alive in the spring. Orange-tipped ocotillo, yellow brittlebush, and a cholla cactus pose for a photo.
The Sonoran/Colorado Desert comes alive in the spring. Orange-tipped ocotillo, yellow brittlebush, and a cholla cactus pose for a photo.
Ocotillo (tall with orange-flowered tips) and brittlebush (yellow bushes) bloom along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail in the Sonoran/Colorado Desert.
Ocotillo (tall with orange-flowered tips) and brittlebush (yellow bushes) bloom along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail in the Sonoran/Colorado Desert.
Numerous ocotillos bloom along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
Numerous ocotillos bloom along the Palm Canyon Alternate Trail.
Spring greenery brings color to the Sonoran/Colorado Desert. Yellow poppies grow to the right of the trail here, and yellow brittlebush everywhere else.
Spring greenery brings color to the Sonoran/Colorado Desert. Yellow poppies grow to the right of the trail here, and yellow brittlebush everywhere else.