Southern California is stuffed with wonderful climbing alternatives, however maybe few are as attention-grabbing as people who run alongside the San Andreas fault in the Colorado Desert of the Coachella Valley.

Certainly one of my favourite hikes alongside the fault is Pushawalla Palms Loop.

This hike affords totally different and wonderful landscapes that have been shaped by earthquakes and tectonic plate motion alongside the fault.

Fast Primer on the San Andreas Fault Community

Scientists have discovered that the Earth’s crust is fractured right into a collection of “plates” which were transferring very slowly over the Earth’s floor for thousands and thousands of years. Two of those transferring plates, the Pacific Plate and North American Plate meet in western California; the boundary between them is the San Andreas fault. This fault types a steady slender break in the Earth’s crust that extends over 1,000 km from northern California southward to the Mexico border. Normally, these plates slowly collide, separate and grind previous one another at a price of about 50 mm per 12 months. Nonetheless someday the plates lock in place till the stress created by the plates overcomes the energy of the rock. At that time, the rocks fracture alongside the fault and seismic waves radiate in all instructions, inflicting the Earth to vibrate and shake. An earthquake happens as the plates transfer ft or tens of ft in simply seconds.

Since this situation has been repeated repeatedly over 40 million years, it’s simple to grasp that land on both facet of the fault have slid in reverse instructions over 450 km since the plates first got here in contact with one another. Over the millennia, these quakes have pulverized rocks, modified the move of rivers, floor down mountains, and created new mountains, hills, canyons, and valleys. Right here’s a close-up view of the San Andreas fault space. The crimson line marks the San Andreas fault, and the small black circle reveals the location of the hike.

Basic Desert Hiking Security

Although it is a comparatively quick hike, keep in mind you’re in a desert setting. Being ready will enhance the likelihood that you’ve an pleasurable tour.

Listed here are just a few primary security ideas if you’re new to abandon climbing:

• Begin early. Don’t hike throughout the hottest a part of the day.
• Know the climate forecast. You don’t wish to be climbing in the desert throughout a thunderstorm as a consequence of flash flood issues.
• Keep hydrated; drink loads of water. Basic rule of thumb is 4-6 liters/individual/day
• Know the indicators of warmth stress.
• Cowl your pores and skin. Gown appropriately in mild weight free becoming garments, hat, and correct sneakers/boots.
• Look ahead to crops and wildlife and hold your distance. Bear in mind that is rattlesnake territory. Additionally, eradicating cactus needles isn’t nice and one thing you wish to keep away from.
• Carry a path map. Contemplate downloading an app akin to AllTrails or MapMyRun and even higher a GPS app to trace your path.
• Bonus Suggestion: Maintain further water and snacks in your automotive. Even scorching water is best than driving residence thirsty after a protracted desert hike.

Pushawalla Palms Loop Path: 5 miles

Pushawalla Palms Loop is a well-marked path situated inside the 17,000-acre Coachella Valley Protect Space close to Thousand Palms, California. The trailhead is situated lower than 15 miles from Palm Springs on Thousand Palms Canyon Rd. There’s loads of parking on the principal highway however be ready for crowds on weekends. The trailhead is open year-round and there are not any charges or permits required.

The trailhead is the start line for a number of space hikes, so be certain that to observe the Pushawalla Palms path indicators. For the first 0.5 km, the path winds its approach via a dry stream mattress know as a wash. Throughout the transient fall and winter wet season, washes like this present drainage channels for surrounding hills and mountains. These rains assist to disperse wildflowers seeds which root in the sandy soil as the water slowly evaporates. Come spring when the grounds warms, the seeds sprout and the path is lined with purple, yellow, and white wildflowers. This isn’t the picture most individuals have of the desert. The wildflowers draw massive crowds in the Spring, however happily, most individuals solely hike a brief portion of the path to view the wildflowers.

After strolling via the wash, the path begins climbing Bee Rock Mesa. This mesa and the surrounding hills are wedged between two faults which have squeezed and uplifted the rocks and gravel to create this straight line of sharply outlined hills alongside the fault.

The path winds its approach alongside the ridge of the mesa. Though this isn’t a knife edge, watch out since there’s a 90-100 meter drop off on both facet of the path. Take pleasure in your stroll on the mesa; take in the sweeping views realizing that 3+ miles straight beneath your ft is the San Andreas fault.

After climbing 1.6 km, the Horseshoe Palm grove seems on the right-hand facet of the path at the base of the hill. This lengthy string of palm bushes extends over 1.5 km. These palms flourish in the center of the desert as a result of the fault beneath us has pulverized the bedrock permitting groundwater to seep near the floor and nourish these bushes. It’s not unusual to see a straight line of palm bushes or different vegetation rising alongside sections of the San Andreas fault.

The trail follows the ridgeline for two.5 km. By now the crowd can have considerably thinned out with most individuals returning to their vehicles. Sadly, these folks assume the wildflowers in the wash are the greatest a part of this path – they’re so improper.

Over the subsequent 1.25 km, the path begins a gradual descent to the ground of the Pushawalla Canyon. A piece of the path has been closely eroded by current rainstorms. This isn’t a tough space to navigate nevertheless it does require extra cautious footing.

After 3.2 km of climbing, you emerge on the ground of Pushawalla Canyon and are nearly instantly surrounded by a lush inexperienced setting. In each instructions, for so far as the eye can see, there are the Pushawalla Palms. Why is it referred to as Pushawalla? Legend has it that Pushawalla was the identify of an area Native American who lived to be over 100 years previous. Allegedly he died when a summer season cloudburst flooded the canyon he was in and swept him away. The canyon the place he was discovered is known as Pushawalla Canyon.

The California Fan Palms are the solely palm tree native to the United States. The telltale signal of the California Fan Palm is the “skirt” of previous useless palm fronds that cascade downwards round its trunk (fairly than dropping off like different palms). Watch out strolling round the fallen palm fronds. They’re typically utilized by rattlesnakes for canopy and shade; snakebites have been reported in the Pushawalla Palms space. It’s value repeating, respect desert wildlife.

You possibly can discover Pushawalla Canyon in each instructions. Underground fissures attributable to the San Andreas faults present groundwater in the canyon a straightforward path to the floor. You’ll discover a small stream flowing on the floor. The stream typically mysteriously disappears into the sand after which reappears additional down on the path. Be on the look-out for rabbits, coyotes, and all types of birds who’re drawn to the water.

Usually it feels extra like you’re strolling via wetlands with tall grasses and vegetation encroaching on the path. It’s unusual that this stunning desert oasis was created by faults and earthquakes that we usually solely affiliate with harm and destruction.

After exploring the palm oasis, it was time to move again. There are a number of choices you may wish to discover. For our return we selected to climb out of the canyon through the rock gully that we had used to descent from the ridge after which observe a path to the base of the hills. Strolling on the desert ground gives a brand new perspective of the terrain. As we handed the Horseshoe Palm grove, we had a transparent view of a number of folks climbing on the ridge path above us.

As we hiked additional away from the hills, the vegetation turned sparser. However keep in mind, the attention-grabbing factor about the desert is that it hides its magnificence so nicely.

If you’re climbing in the late winter or spring you should definitely transfer slowly and look fastidiously. One can find quite a lot of small and enormous flowering crops and possibly even a lizard or two alongside the path.

After climbing on the desert ground for barely greater than 1 km, we climbed again as much as the ridge and made our strategy to the automotive.

For this hike we logged 10 km, however varied maps point out typical lengths starting from 6-Eight km. Our extra mileage was as a consequence of our in depth exploration of Pushawalla Canyon. Even with a cease for lunch and images, we accomplished the hike in 3.Three hours. In the satellite tv for pc picture under, the crimson dot marks the trailhead, and the inexperienced dot marks the intersection the place we rejoined the ridge from the desert ground on our return route.

Hiking alongside the San Andreas Fault in the Coachella Valley will not be about discovering the “big crack in the floor”. Tens of millions of years of abrasion have piled upwards of three miles of gravel and rock particles on high of the fault. Though the fault is buried, you already know now that it’s simply seen by following the strip of inexperienced vegetation that runs in a straight line in opposition to an in any other case naked collection of hills and brown desert washes. Hopefully, this info will encourage you to discover the San Andres Fault and Pushawalla Palms in your subsequent go to.

Further Sources

Thousand Palms Oasis Protect

Locations to Keep

There are numerous resorts, boutique motels and Airbnbs to remain at in the Larger Palm Springs space. Besides throughout the Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals in April, acquiring a reserving shouldn’t be an issue.

Locations to Eat

As a result of the Larger Palm Springs space is such a vacationer draw. There are eateries to fulfill any want.

Listed here are just a few of our favourite spots to take pleasure in an after-hike dinners: