The search for Hidden Spring

[taugust]

In preparation for my upcoming weekend run on the Bradshaw Trail, I went out yesterday to to scout access to the trail and to find Hidden Spring. The hills were green and the weather was perfect.

I have been reading old issues of The Desert Magazine from the beginning. One place mentioned in 1938 is Hidden Spring, near Mecca. The articles are attached.

Before last year's run, I had heard of issues with gaining access to the Bradshaw Trail. The owners of the Coachella Canal put up a gate to block access to the service road, which is the traditional access road for the beginning of the trail. IC Sheriffs were ticketing people on the road. I found that the recommended alternative was to cross the canal and use the north side "old canal" service road. They apparently built a new canal paralleling the old, at some point, this one lined with concrete and abandoned the old, unlined, canal. We used this access last year but it wasn't as scenic, as views were limited and it wasn't "right".

I decided to see the gate and what had been done. The gate was in place, but there was a road going up the berm before the gate and headed east. I met some other drivers who were airing down to travel the trail. They said that access was open. I continued on to the Siphon 24, where the BLM starts the trail, without incident. I passed by Dos Palmas Spring and oasis, which was fenced and gated. It was once a stage station on the trail, but is now a wildlife sanctuary and is off-limits to everyone.

Returning to the highway, I set out to find Hidden Spring. The canyon entrance is blocked by the Coachella Canal and there are no crossings nearby. The crossings are to the east, but no roads parallel the canal on the north side to return to the canyon. After searching for a while, I gave up and decided to follow the directions as given in the magazine.

This entails passing east through Mecca on 66th Ave., and crossing over the canal on Box Canyon Rd. I found the old powerline road and followed it east as directed for about 3 miles. The road parallels the low powerline, not the steel towers, although it passes directly under two of the big towers at one point. When I reached the canyon entrance, there was a BLM post marked "Godwin Trail." This trail heads up into the canyon. I followed the canyon up and reached the point of the photo with the Chocolate Mtns, when I realized that I had missed the turn up toward Hidden Spring and traveled another 3 miles.

View of the Mecca mud hills, Orocopia Mtns on the left, Chocolate Mtns in the distant center

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Backtracking and watching my laptop more closely, I found the side canyon and continued until the canyon was blocked by the wilderness boundary. There are several canyons in the area with historic trails blocked by the wilderness.

I wasn't expecting to have to hike very far, so I grabbed some water, loaded the GPS coordinates into a handheld and set off hiking up the wide wash. The GPS said the distance was 1.67 miles away, but the canyon twisted back and forth in several wide turns. The wash is rocks of various sizes, sand and gravel. I tried to avoid the soft sand and the walking was much easier. Someone had driven through the barrier at the wilderness boundary, as I saw vehicle tracks going up the canyon for the entire hike. I saw quail and many lizards and other birds along the way.

I reached the spring in the side canyon about 1.5 hours later. The distance traveled, according to the GPS was 2.58 miles. The return hike only took only 40 minutes.

The canyon at Hidden Spring

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The canyon is spectacular. Most of the canyon before the spring is tan mud hills. Once the spring is reached, the geology changes to multicolored walls and different types of soils. The spring is accessed by climbing up and around giant blocks of conclomerate, gravel mixed with mud. These blocks are 10 - 20 feet across and came from the top layers above. They block the canyon floor. There is an old, faint trail on the left canyon wall above the blocks, but most new tracks go through and around them.

The palms of Hidden Spring

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There are two groups of Washingtonia palms, totaling about 32. Most of these are the same as in the photograph from 1938. The spring at the foot of the second group of palms is just damp sand on the floor of the canyon. The spring is above the sand around the blocks. I spent about 45 minutes looking around and taking photographs.

After returning to my truck, I retraced my track back to Box Canyon Rd. and aired up my tires.

My Topo USA mapping program shows a hiking trail from Box Canyon Rd. to Hidden Spring. That trail is 2 miles each way. I wanted to locate the trailhead, so I turned right on Box Canyon Rd. and drove into the canyon. Following my Topo USA program, I easily found the trailhead. This appears to be the way most people access the spring, although it does involve more elevation change. I also found a very narrow slot canyon in the wall, just south of the trailhead, that would be fun to explore.

The GPS coordinates are:

Hidden Spring: N33° 35' 0.1" W115° 54' 24.4"
Hidden Spring Trailhead: N33° 35' 17.6" W115° 55' 45.3"
Approximate wilderness boundary parking: N33° 34' 10.5" W115° 55' 48.3"

Whichever route you choose, you will find Hidden Spring a beautiful location.

[BorregoWrangler]

That's awesome! I love doing stuff like that. Getting out and looking for something specific in mind that I haven't seen before. Too bad about the wilderness areas though. Thanks for the report!

[DaveK]

Tim:

Great trip report. It is always exciting to take tidbits of information, especially from older articles or books, and try to find something that has either been forgotten or lost for so many years. Between indiscriminate and senseless wilderness designations and maps that have been "cleansed?, many great sights are not enjoyed much anymore or are very difficult to visit. Nice work!

[OLLIE]

Very awesome Tim. Are you planning on this hike during your tour?

[taugust]

The plan was to offer this as an option on the return to those who are interested. By Sunday afternoon, there may not be too many takers. People are often anxious to get home. It is on the proposed return route, so those interested can go along. I don't know how many will be interested in a 4 mile hike that late in the run, but it's there.

[Chazz Layne]

The plan was to offer this as an option on the return to those who are interested. By Sunday afternoon, there may not be too many takers. People are often anxious to get home. It is on the proposed return route, so those interested can go along. I don't know how many will be interested in a 4 mile hike that late in the run, but it's there.

I will be.