A short drive from downtown Palm Springs, past the bustle and through the vast open desert, a beautiful oasis rises from the San Jacinto foothills.

In a region that has been preserved by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, more than 60 miles of trails switchback through pristine scenery, from gorges and barren desertscape to waterfalls and the world’s largest grouping of Washingtonia filifera palm trees, also known as the California or desert fan palm.

The Indian Canyons comprise the Palm, Andreas, and Murray canyons. This sacred land was once inhabited by the ancestors of the Agua Caliente people, who were drawn to the shelter of its jagged cliffs, the shade of its lush palm groves, and the perennial water flows. Remnants of irrigation ditches, rock mortar grounds, and rock art remain in the area today.

You can pick up a trail map at the Palm Canyon Trading Post, as well as mementos and collectibles, such as artisan pottery, baskets, and jewelry.