Palm Canyon

Palm Canyon is located off Palm Canyon Road in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge just outside of Quartzsite, Arizona. It is a nice little hike and we thought Andy and Candy would enjoy the trip.

The palms maybe the only native palm trees in Arizona and survive protected by the mini-ecosystem of the rugged canyon. No one is positive how long these trees have been growing here since palm trees do not have growth rings. Science people are not positive how they got here. Coyote poop? Bird poop? Some sort of poop I think.

From the perspective of the canyon looking towards the parking lot, maybe it wasn’t just a little hike. Those white specs are cars in the parking lot.

When we started out this morning, I told Phil this would be a short trip, not a 6 hour trip like the last one, and had we just gone to see the palms it would’ve been only an hour or so. Those of you who know John, know I should not have made that promise.

John is not satisfied with my short little ride to the palms and he wants to go adventuring. He finds a map. He wants to take the MST &T trail out a ways and then come back. I say lets turn it into a loop trail and head for Scotts Well and then back to the highway. (maybe I’m as bad as John)

Phil says, “Are we going to stop at the Crystal Rock Collection Area?” Sure!

It won’t be long before the desert is in bloom. This fish-hook cactus is just starting to form flower buds.

Had we not taken the long way home we would not have found this awesome saguaro (pronounced sa wah row). Saguaros can grow to be over 40 feet tall and exceed a 150-year lifespan. They have a two-foot tap root with the rest of the roots expanding out for as far as the cactus is tall.

Saguaros may grow their first arm around 75-100 years of age, and some not at all. The saguaro has a pleated look. These pleats allow the saguaro to expand as it absorbs water, of which it can hold about a ton of water.

The Gila Woodpecker drills holes in saguaro to get to the water stored inside. These holes are sealed by the cactus to prevent water loss. Native Indians also used these cacti as a source of water. It is illegal for people to harm a saguaro.