painted canyon

Listed as Palm Springs, but really in the Chocolate Mountains about 1 hr East. The last 2 miles are dirt, washboard road....need a good car for that part. The hike in the river wash is pretty easy with steep vertical canyon sides, spectacular rock formations. Recommend climbing up the "ladder" trail on the way up, then the loop down the wash is easier. Takes about 3 hours total, and you do need to be in good physical condition for this climb. The view from the top of the ridge showcases Mt Jacinto to the West, and the vast Salton Sea to the Southeast. Canyons are like a mini Grand Canyon. My hiking boots gave me good ankle support; my friends with sport shoes had tired feet! Take a picnic lunch and lots of water. Very fun trip!

This is probably one of the most exciting hiking trails out here in the desert. It is a bit aways, but definitely worth the drive. The road is well marked and I've never had any problems driving it without a 4x4 vehicle.The unique thrill about this trail are the ladders that help you hike up and some help you hike down. They are pretty sturdy and safe for little ones, with an adult help of course. The colors on the rocks and hills are so unique it almost looks like someone literally painted them. Colors such as yellow, green, red, black, white, some with stripes, others with dots. And walking through the 'slot' canyon part is really cool. All in all, this feels like you are part of an Indiana Jones movie. There are no services or stores on site, so make sure you have water and a good cell phone with good battery. Always stay on the trails and you should have a great time!

Not sure what the official name for this hike is but we did the ladder hike. Great experience- have done Antelope Canyon in AZ and this is similar. The best thing comparing the two is this is free and not as crowded. We did the whole loop about 5 miles- the various ladder climbs are really cool and the canyon gets pretty narrow at places but not hard to do. You do hike along a ridge for awhile with some overviews but out in the full sun. Would definitely recommend this to anyone in the Palm Springs area.To get there take Interstate 10 to 86 South towards Brawley- Turn left on 62nd ave and drive 2+ miles - then turn right on Johnson- a little less than 2 miles turn left on 66th Ave and go 3.8 miles to dirt road on left- Painted Canyon- u r on the dirt road for about 5 miles - till end-park and enter canyon on the right and walk about 1/4 mile look for huge arrow made of stones to let u know where to enter trail into the slot canyons. Well worth the journey- we did the hike in 2 1/2 hours.

Although this attraction is listed as "Palm Springs" it is in fact about an hour's drive East of PS past Indio.Nevertheless, it is well worth it. The last part of the access road is unpaved and a little washboard like, but posed no problems.The trail is not very well marked, so check the website for trail details.Early AM is the best time to hike in the desert, cool before the sun heats things up.Make sure to bring an adequate supply of water!The scenery is breathtaking.

Went to Painted Canyon area and Ladders Trail near Indio; had good trail info & map from the web so parking and trail were not hard to find. First recess in Ladder trail was a challenge but well worth the effort. Take water, a hat and your camera...beautiful unique scenery the entire hike.

This is a really cool trail. We took the Ladder Trail, despite the fact that the first ladder was broken so we had to do some fancy maneuvering to get down. The trail goes between narrow canyon walls and is not hard. When you get to the top you're walking along the ridge with views all around, all the way to the Salton Sea. I recommend wearing good, sturdy walking shoes as pretty much the whole trail is on sand, so it's like you're walking on the beach. Amazing rock formations! Take a picnic and lots of water.

If you are thinking of hiking Painted Canyon, make sure you do your homework first. I would not recommend hiking in the noon-day sun. The canyon floor can get very hot. This is not a hike for someone with feet or leg issues. The floor of the canyon is made up of coarse sand and tiny rocks. Every step will sink your foot into the sand. You should also be aware that the hike will also consist of climbing ladders of various makes and lengths. At times you will have to slide on your buttocks to reach them.It's a beautiful setting. You are surrounded by huge mountains and boulders. There is a section in the hike where you will be squeezing yourself into some tight places.Bring plenty of water and make sure you also bring some energy-filled snacks. It's always great to stop and take in the views.It goes without saying that you will need good, comfortable shoes.

Was a bit to hard for me so I stayed down in the canyon and enjoyed a lovely walk through the canyon floor. Our group did the ladder canyon hike (hard) and loved it! overall the hike was the favourite of the week

We go there whenever we visit Palm Springs. The slot canyon is so much fun and the ladders exciting.

I highly recommend this hike. Some hints:* Get really good directions. A bit hard to find the parking area* You will need to drive about 5 miles on a dirt road* Watch the trail markers closely. An arrow made out of rocks shows the way. This was really hard to find.I can't say enough good things about this beautiful hike. Really unique views around every corner.

This hike is one of the best experiences I have had: glorious scenery and views and quite wild. I am a 68 year old woman from South Africa where we also have impressive mountains, but no canyons like this. My son and I headed out from Indio with no idea of what to expect and were thrilled. We were intending to head for the Little Painted Canyon as I found the idea of ladders rather daunting, but were glad we ended up by mistake where we did. We took a "wrong" trail at the outset and squeezed and crawled our way through crevices to end up at a rock face which can only be climbed with ropes: my son could do this but not me, so we headed back and found the main sandy path. On the way back we got completely lost but met up with a friendly group in the same position who found a way down as the sun was setting and we just made it before dark. The ladders were quite an experience and all in all it is a day I will never forget!

This is really out in 'no man's land'!!! But oh so worth the drive! Make sure you have comfortable and sturdy shoes, as the trail is sandy like walking on the beach. There are rock formations everywhere to climb and ladders anchored throughout the trail that take you up the really steep canyon rocks. There are narrow passages and trails that twist and turn in and around the steep canyons. It was so much fun exploring. But beware, this is not for the average pleasure hiker. You have to climb up steep ladders, tall jagged rock mountains and sometimes scoot along on your rear end. It wouldn't be a bad idea to take a back pack with a snack and plenty of water. I definitely want to come back here - really REALLY enjoyed it!!!!

This hike at White Water Preserve offers desert hiking eventually leading to a lush, secluded waterfall. The rainbow rocks are incredible, so pure in color. This hike involves about a 1000 foot gain in elevation. The elevation gain is so gradual that you won't realize it has happened until you hike out. Hiking out is gradual down all the way! Round trip is about 7 miles. I have hiked this in the spring and the desert flowers have been abundant. I have hiked in late fall and still seen a few flowers. There is a ranger station at White Water with helpful Rangers and maps. Desert, flowers, lush waterfall...this hike has it all.

This canyon, east of Palm Springs, is a prime viewing spot to see where the Pacific Plate is pushing against the North American Plate. It is one of the "roots" of the San Andreas Fault which runs from the desert up through San Francisco and beyond. The gnarled and stacked and twisted rock formations, as well as the narrow slot canyons in the area, give you a great peek into an ancient and violent geologic past. Take water!

We enjoyed this hike with our two kids ages 8 and 11. We all wished the slot canyon portions of the hike were longer. There were numerous hikers doing ladder canyon when we went, but many must have retuned through ladder canyon. We did not see many people at all when we continued on to finish the loop through painted canyon. At a slow to moderate pace, with a long break for lunch, it took us over 3 hrs to finish the loop. Dez40's review is very accurate regarding the need to watch the trail markers. The first left turn is marked by a large arrow made of stones and a very small wooden post with a left arrow. The wooden post is a the far right side of the trail. It looks like it points to a big pile of boulders, but this is the way into ladder canyon. When you come out at the top of ladder canyon, you will see various trail options. This was confusing. Take the trail heading toward the towers (radio transmission?). As you follow this trail you will see more stone arrows pointing the way back to the parking lot via painted canyon. We had no problems driving on the unplaced road with our minivan.