Edition 2: December 22, 2011 SCPD HIKES LISTED BY DIFFICULTY Key: ABSP: Anza-Borrego State Park; CVP: Coachella Valley Preserve; JTNP: Joshua Tree National Park; PCT: Pacific Crest Trail EASY Bear Creek Trail Butler-Abrams Trail CVP, Biskra Palms Oasis CVP, Guided Tour, Sand Dunes CVP, McCallum Grove Oasis Earl Henderson Trail Indian Canyon Sampler Indio Hills Walkabout, I Indio Hills Walkabout, II JTNP, Barker Dam and Wall Street Mill JTNP, Keys Ranch Tour & Hidden Valley Hike JTNP, Pine City Plus Living Desert Private Walking Tour Lower Palm Canyon Mecca Hills, Big Utah Canyon Mecca Hills, Little Painted Canyon Walkabout Morrow Trail (Beginning) La Quinta Cove Loop Oak Glen, Redwoods, Tri-Tip Sandwich & Apple Pie Randall Henderson Trail Salton Sea Bat Caves Sonny Bono Refuge Center, Obsidian Butte & Mud Volcanoes Tahquitz Canyon Waterfalls Trail Whitewater Preserve: Wine & Wildflowers EASY/MODERATE ABSP, Borrego Palm Canyon Bear Canyon Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Bump & Grind (Beginner’s) Carrizo Canyon CVP, Bee Rock Mesa Ridge CVP, Hidden Palms CVP, Moon Rock Trail & Canyon Wash Loop CVP, Willis Palms Trail Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail Long Valley Hike Mecca Hills, Big Split Rock/ Slot Canyon Walkabout Mecca Hills, Little Painted Canyon Walkabout Whitewater Canyon View Loop MODERATE ABSP, Calcite Mine Big Morongo Canyon (One Way) Bump & Grind/ Herb Jeffries/ Mike Schuler Loop Bump & Grind (by Moonlight) CVP, Bee Rock Mesa & Pushawalla Canyon CVP, Herman’s Peak Hike CVP, Horseshoe Palms Hike CVP, Pushawalla Canyon Eisenhower Peak Loop, The Living Desert Gabby Hayes Trail to the Cross Hopalong Cassidy/ Gabby Hayes/ Homestead Trailhead JTNP, Desert Queen Mines JTNP, Ryan Mountain Macomber Palms Mecca Hills, Big Colorful Canyon Mecca Hills, Linville Grotto of Reflection, Afternoon Hike Mecca Hills, Little Painted Canyon Walkabout Mecca Hills, Painted Canyon/ Ladder Canyon Loop Mecca Hills, Pyramid Canyon Mecca Hills, Slot Canyon Cave Trail Morongo Canyon Murray Canyon Trail PCT, Autumn Foliage Hikes, Warner Springs Rock Point Round Valley Loop Victor/ Fern Canyon Trails MODERATE/ADVANCED Araby Trail Chocolate Drop/Flag Peak Loop Trail CVP, Herman’s Peak Loop Hike Four Trails Loop Hopalong Cassidy Trail to the Cross Horsethief Creek Indian Mountain JTNP, Boy Scout Trail JTNP, California Riding & Hiking Trail, Black Rock C.G. to Upper Covington Flat JTNP, Carey’s Castle and Mine JTNP, Lost Horse Mine JTNP, Lost Palms Oasis Trail Lost Canyon via Boo Hoff Trail Lykken Trail (South) Mecca Hill, Grottos (The) Morrow Trail Red Cloud Great Western Mine Tour Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve ADVANCED Araby/ Burns/ Garsten /Henderson Trails Art Smith/ Schey/ Hopalong Cassidy Trails Bear Creek Canyon Ridge Bear Creek Canyon Ridge Oasis Black Mountain Boo Hoff Trail, Via Rattlesnake Alley Butterfly Peak Cactus Springs via Horsethief Creek Cat Creek Trail to Art Smith & Schey Trails Cathedral City to Trading Post Cedar Springs Trail/ Fobes Saddle Key Exchange Devilʼs Slide to Tram, Key Exhange Dunnʼs Steep Mining Road Folly Peak Guadalupe Trail Hahn Buena Vista Trail Henderson/ Garstin/ Shannon Trails Herb Jeffries Trail Hopalong Cassidy/ Art Smith Trails Hopalong Cassidy Trail to Stone Eagle Jo Pond/ Cedar Spring Trail to Palm Canyon Trading Post JTNP, California Riding & Hiking Trail, Upper Covington C.G. to Keys View Road JTNP, California Riding & Hiking Trail, Keys View Road to Twin Tanks JTNP, Eureka Peak JTNP, Little Berdoo and Bernard Peaks JTNP, Pinto Mountain JTNP, Quail Mountain JTNP, Warren Peak (Via Panorama Loop Trail) Lykken Trail (North) Maynard Mine Mecca Hills, Coffee Bean Canyon, Mecca Hill Walkabout Mecca Hills, Meccacopia and Godwin Trails Murray Hill Murray Hill Loop via Araby/ Wild Horse/ Shannon & Henderson Trails Murray Hill and Dunn Steep Mining Road PCT, Chihuahua Valley Road to Tule Truck Trail PCT, Fuller Ridge to Snow Creek Village PCT, Snow Creek Village to Whitewater Preserve PCT, Mission Creek Preserve to Whitewater PCT, Mission Creek Trail Camp to Mission Creek Preserve PCT, Deep Creek Bridge to Silverwood Lake PCT, Silverwood Lake to Swarthout Canyon PCT, Bouquet Canyon to Soledad Canyon PCT, Bouquet Canyon to Lake Hughes Road PCT, Lake Hughes Road to Pine Canyon Road Palm View Peak Pine Mountain Ramona Trail/ East Thomas Mountain Road Red Tahquitz Peak San Gorgonio (Mt.) via Vivian Creek Trail Schey and Hopalong Cassidy Trails Shadow Mountain Shadow Mountain via the Cross Sheep Moyuntain Sierra Peak, Santa Ana Mountains Spitler Peak via Fobes Saddle Trail Suicide Rock via Deer Springs Trail Tahquitz Peak Lookout Key Exchange Traversing the Three Tʼs Wellmanʼs Divide with Mt. San Jacinto Extension SCPDHC HIKE FILE Edition 2, December 21, 2011 A compilation of hikes done by the Sun City Palm Desert Hiking Club during the three seasons, Oct. 2008 to May 2011 & hikes from Oct. through Dec. 2011. ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK: CALCITE MINE MODERATE Hike: 4 miles Elevation gain: 800 Feet Area; Duration of Hike: 2-3 hours Drive Time One Way: 1 hour; South End, Santa Rosa Mts.; Beginning at a turnoff on State Hwy. 22, about 10 miles west of Salton City, this hike wends up an eroded jeep road to an abandoned calcite mine. “During World War II, this area was an important site for the extraction of optical-grade calcite crystals for use in gun-sights.” Crystals can still be seen strewn around, glittering in the sunlight. On our way back, we’ll pass through a slot canyon that narrows until it allows the passage of only one person at a time (think Ladders Canyon). Date & Hike Leader: December 2, 2011, Burt Falk ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK: BORREGO SPRINGS/PALM CANYON EASY/MODERATE Hike: 3 miles; Elevation Gain: 200 ft. with Water Crossing; Duration of Hike: 3 hours; Drive Time One Way: Approximately 1 hour. Drive to the largest and one of the most diversified State Parks in California. Small parking fee. We’ll scan the canyon walls for big horn sheep as we meander along a stream leading to a waterfall and oasis of giant palm trees. (Big horns sighted on last four hikes). After lunch at local restaurant, we leave Anza- Borrego for a driving tour past many artistic life-size metal replicas of field animals and prehistoric creatures. Date & Leaders: December 14, 2010, Shirley Hastie & Bill Pivar ARABY TRAIL Moderate/Advanced: 6 miles; Elevation Gain: 800 feet; Duration of Hike: 3 1/2 to 4 hours; Drive Time One Way: 30 min.; Area: Palm Springs The trail heads straight up from Highway 111, past a mobile home park, into the canyons behind the homes of Bob Hope and Steve McQueen with great views of each. We climb for 3 miles to the top of the ridge, seeing great Palm Springs views. We then return by the same route. Optional lunch for those interested. Date & Leader: October 16, 2009, Jan. 6, 2010, Jack Wersbe ARABY/BURNS/GARSTEN/HENDERSON TRAILS ADVANCED Hike; 10 miles; Elevation Gain: 1800 feet; Area: Palm Springs Duration of Hike: 4 hours; Driving Time one Way: 30 minutes We will start the hike on the Araby Trail along Bob Hope’s house and continue to the Burns/Garsten Trail and pickup the Earl Henderson Trail. We will see the first ever ranch and first concrete swimming pool in Palm Springs. It is now an historical monument. We will return to the cars with lunch optional at the Manhattan Deli. Date & Leader, April 14, 2010, Jack Wersbe ART SMITH, SCHEY, HOPALONG CASSIDY TRAILS Advanced Hike: 7 miles; Elevation Gain: 1806 feet; Area: Santa Rosa Mtns.: Duration of Hikes: 5 hours; Drive Time One Way: 30 minutes This hike provides many majestic views of Palm Desert Cove from the Art Smith, Schey, and Hopalong Cassidy trails. Hikers will have excellent view of the Big Horn Country Club, the Stone Eagle Golf Resort, Haystack Mountain, and Eisenhower Mountain. The trail will take hikers through beautiful mountain canyons, up a sandy wash through an oasis, and some parts of the trail are steep in ascent and descent and, likewise, hiking sticks are strongly recommended. Date & Leader: Nov. 19, 2009 Wesley L. Bond BEAR CANYON Easy/Moderate: 4 miles; Elevation Gain/Loss: 300 feet; Duration of Hike: 2 1/2 hours; Driving Time One Way: 5-10 minutes; Area: North of Sun City We will drive from SCPD to the end of Coyote Song Way, the street that borders the north side of Sun City, and travel part way up a dirt road toward the gate in front of the water tank road. We will park on the road and hike north up through some very scenic and beautiful washes, otherwise known as Bear Canyon, for about two miles. We should be treated to lots of evidence of a beautiful wildflower bloom. This is a wonderful desert hike with spectacular views of the Coachella Valley and Sun City from high up in the wash. Hiking sticks are recommended for this hike. Date & Hike Leader: March 11, 2010, Jack Maddan BEAR CREEK CANYON RIDGE Advanced: 8 miles; Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet; Duration of Hike: 5 hours; Driving Time One Way: 20 minutes; Area: La Quinta Cove Trail begins with a gradual ascent through a wash and then ascends rapidly up the ridge to a plateau affording great views of the surrounding mountains, the Salton Sea and Joshua Tree National Park. Bring lunch or snacks because of the duration of the hike. Date & Hike Leader: March 10, 2010, John Beringer BEAR CREEK CANYON RIDGE OASIS ADVANCED Hike: 9 miles; Elevation gain: 2,200 feet; Duration of Hike: 5-6 hours; Drive Time One Way: 20 minutes; Area: La Quinta Cove The trail begins with a gradual ascent through a wash and then ascends rapidly to follow the ridge line to a plateau affording great views of the surrounding mountains and vistas.