Chino Hills State Park, a premier natural open-space area in the hills of Santa Ana Canyon near Riverside, is a critical link in the Puente-Chino Hills biological corridor. It encompasses stands of oaks, sycamores and rolling, grassy hills that stretch nearly 31 miles, from the Santa Ana Mountains to the Whittier Hills. Chino Hills is vitally important as a refuge to many species of plants, and as a link between natural areas essential to the survival of many animal species - .http://socal-hiking-trails.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html !!!

Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve -http://ocbirderca.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html

South of Lake Cahuilla

South of Lake Cahuilla

the Boo Hoff Trail

The Boo Hoff Trail, Devil Canyon, south of La Quinta

the wash and head out overland

an Indian trail marker

a trail that connected Devil Canyon, south of La Quinta with the area near the Martinez Landslide.It''s travertine

Boo Hoff Bear Creek Loop. Bear Creek

the Torrez Martinez reservation near the water line of ancient Lake Cahuilla

near the water line of ancient Lake Cahuilla

A trail monument

Eisenhower mountain trail

Eisenhower mountain trail

Between Devil Canyon and Martinez Landslide

Between Devil Canyon and Martinez Landslide - There''s an Indian Trail that heads from Devil Canyon in South La Quinta over toward the Martinez Landslide

the landslide area

the Boo Hoff Trail down toward the Martinez Landslide.

Indian Trail that goes between Indian Wells and La Quinta

Indian Trail

Indian trail

La Quinta - an alluvial fan lying beneath Coral Reef Mountain.

The Cahuilla had a village site here in La Quinta and hunted and gathered all throughout these hills

the Cove in La Quinta

La Quinta

Silver Rock, La Quinta

Indian Wells

Ghost Flowers are pretty common along Devil Canyon at the southern end of the Boo Hoff.

The Desert Five Spot

Randall Henderson Trail, two chollas

The Randall Henderson Trail. A few fishhook cacti had blooms on them

A hummer, National Monument Visitor Center

The Randall Henderson Trail. the green ocotillos and early blooms

Randall Henderson Trail, Beavertail.

Randall Henderson Trail

National Monument Visitor Center

Randall Henderson

Arizona Lupine

Forget Me Nots and the purple Notch-leafed Phacelia.

Desert Mallow

Windmill flowers

Ghost Flower

Red Barrel Cactus

The Chuparosa

Desert Poppies

Desert Chicory

Cholla, Red Barrel and Brittlebush in the late afternoon light near the Schey Trail

the Silver Cholla

Hopalong Cassidy Trail Palm Desert garden

Hopalong Cassidy Trail in Palm Desert Mountains

Hopalong Cassidy Trail in Palm Desert Mountains

El Toro Peak from the Hopalong Cassidy trail

Rancho Mirage from the Jeffries Trail

Magnesia spring ecological reserve

Magnesia Spring Canyon. Magnesia Falls Drive -http://hikeeveryday.blogspot.com/2009/10/magnesia-spring-canyon.html

Magnesia Falls Drive-the first dry fall you get to climb is this little faux oasis. This was built to make a water guzzler seem more natural.

Magnesia Falls Drive.The second dry fall is about thirty feet tall

At the top of the fall is another guzzler which is a popular watering hole. Magnesia Falls Drive

Magnesia Falls Drive. From the top of the fall you can look back at the interesting geology of the canyon wall

There are lots of other little falls. Magnesia Falls Drive

Magnesia Falls Drive. There a good size oasis on the left of the canyon and it''s tempting to go left into this canyon but if you wait until the next oasis on the left that one will lead you to Magnesia Falls

This is Magnesia Falls. It is probably forty feet tall and is completely dry. During wet years this fall flows liberally and a pool forms at the bottom.

Indian activity, Rancho Mirage: Magnesia Falls Mine and Bighorn Sheep

Magnesia Falls Canyon in Rancho Mirage

the Bighorn

Desert Bighorn

Palm Desert

Cahuilla Mountain

Indian Palm Oasis, Mount San Jacinto in the background

Indian Palm Oasis

Here is a beautiful full skirted Washingtonian filifera, California Fan Palm. Mesquite and palms are both indicators that water is just below the surface. Both require constant water to survive, especially the palm trees, which have shallow roots.

the Indian Canyons