Willis Palms Oasis

Very close to Palm Springs desert is a hike named Herman's Trail, which is relatively easy. It is about 11km/7miles long with a 1,200 feet/350 meter climb. A very interesting feature of this hike is the Oasis in the middle of the desert.

The hike starts very close to the city of Thousand Palms and the little San Bernandino Mountains are visible as we approach the hike. They have a very peculiar shape that shows a lot of folds or creases.

In the middle of mountains and desert landscape, we see a large patch of palms. The hike starts about a mile from that spot, right next to the 1000 palms canyon road.

As we walk on the hike, the surface is sandy, almost like a beach. The deep sand makes the walk a bit challenging and that surface lasts for about a mile. Soon on the ridge in front, we see desert shrubs followed by a huge grove of desert palms.

Looking closely at the shrubs and palms, it is easy to forget that we are deep in the desert.

As the hike continues, it passes through a dry sandy bed which is interspersed with the desert shrubbery and mountainsides that seem deeply eroded vertically.

There were markers here and there that indicated where the trail ran through. The whole area of the trail had different sections of mountains in all directions, rocks, sands, and shrubs. The temperature was moderate, and we were grateful that our hike was not during the summer months, when the temperatures are high enough that people do not venture outdoors.

I saw some Cholla cactus, which is found in great numbers in the Joshua tree national park that is just a half hour drive away from this spot.

The multiple layers of mountains that extended well beyond the horizon were mesmerizing.

We came across an intersection where three trails met and the small trail marker was old and quite cute.

The midpoint of the hike was approaching, and it started climbing rapidly. From that vantage point, I could see the palms concentrated in the small oasis region.

Another half hour of climbing brought us to the peak and there were cairns of rocks arranged to mark the peak.

On the return trip I could see another trail people can hike which is between two mountains.

The return trip went close by the oasis, and I could see the start contrast between the oasis and the adjoining desert.

As I got close to the oasis, I found that the trail actually went through the palms, which was quite exciting.

The palm trees had a small, black fruit hanging from different limbs.

Each palm was a giant tree easily over 100 feet tall.

The trees were densely packed and provided enough shade even in the hot sun.

The palm fronds were big and green.

Many trunks of the palm trees seemed burned in a fire but still seemed like they were thriving.

It felt quite peaceful to be among these beautiful trees.

As we crossed the oasis, we were back to the path that took us to the road and the car parking area.

I could see that there were multiple patches of the palms dispersed on the ridge. They gave a nice contrast, respite for the traveler and rest for the eyes in the blazing sun. This was a beautiful hike in a very inhospitable desert and I was glad to have discovered it.