Over 100 California Fan Palm Trees fed by an underground spring inhabit Lost Palms Canyon. Beyond the popular and easily reached Lost Palms Oasis exist a series of smaller, less accessible groves and oases. Victory Palms just over a mile down canyon from Lost Palms Oasis is an isolated and rewarding destination for the more adventurous and physically fit. Summit Springs nestled deep in nearby Munsen Canyon past Victory Palms is an isolated and exceptionally beautiful destination for the more adventurous and physically fit.

The Cahuillas periodically set fire to oases in order to increase fruit production and to remove the sharp-edged palm fronds littering the oasis floor

The Lost Canyon Trail begins at Cottonwood Oasis

Wide and varied landscapes make for a wonderful trail experience

Full grown California Fan Palms can weigh over 3 tons

Bright green Juniper contrasts nicely with the Joshua Tree slick rock

The first signs of Lost Palms Oasis

Enormous fan palms sway across massive rock walls

Beaver Tail cactus grows straight out of the rock wall and prepares to bloom

Clusters of fan palms are fed by underground springs - making them a true oasis

Large boulders and uneven terrain separate Lost Palms Oasis from Victory Palms; this one mile segment of intense scrambling may take 1-2 hours to complete

Victory Palms, aptly named for the difficulty in getting there

Summit Springs Oasis in Munsen Canyon - An oasis is defined as 'A fertile or green spot in a desert or wasteland, made so by the presence of water'

The Lost Palms Oasis Trail winds through a stark stretch of the Colorado Desert, technically a sub-district of the Sonoran Desert

The Salton Sea, as seen from the 3 mile mark

A narrow slot in a wash along the Lost Palms Oasis Trail