Victory Palms - 10.0 Miles Round-Trip

Beyond 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.

Trail Map | Photo Gallery

While only a relatively small additional distance, travel beyond Lost Palms is difficult, and should only be attempted by those comfortable with bouldering, scrambling and route finding:

The trail gently drops through the Cottonwood Spring Oasis beneath Fan Palms, mesquite, cats claw and desert willow. Interpretive signs discuss oasis ecology and the life of Cahuilla Indians who once inhabited the area.

The trail exits the oasis and enters a maze of canyons, washes and undualting ridges. Though generally well marked, the trail occasionally fades and wash entry-exit points can be obscured.

Despite stark conditions the landscape is filled with Mojave yucca, creosote, jojoba, juniper, ocotillo, chuparosa and numerous species of cacti and cholla. Some washes support mesquite, willow, palo verde, smoketree and ironwood.

You'll pass the Mastodon Peak and Nature Loop Trailjunction (.7 miles : 3,160') and continue across a wide, heavily vegetated wash at 1.4 miles - the only shade you'll enjoy before reaching Lost Palms Oasis. At 2.45 miles the trail drops into a wash, enters a slot-like arroyo and exits left at 2.65 miles with a steep climb and hairpin turn to the left.

The trail quickly drops into and across another small wash, then climbs steeply to a rolling, ocotillo-lined ridge top (2.85 miles) with sweeping views and a good perspective on the uninviting terrain through which you've been traveling. The Salton Sea can be seen to the southwest along this memorable segment.

The trail drops sharply once more into a shallow canyon (3.2 miles), then climbs steeply out past the Lost Palms Canyon Day Use Boundary (3.5 miles : 3,277'). It levels off a few steps higher at the Lost Palms Oasis overlook; a sign marking it sits at the foot of a faint but intuitively followed path leading down to the oasis.

Scan the far canyon wall for smaller groves while descending into the main oasis and canyon floor (3.7 miles : 3,113'). Scores of Fan Palms, dense vegetation, large boulders and spring-fed pools line the deep and narrow canyon floor.

The route continues on a 430', 1 mile drop over steep boulder fields and dry falls to Victory Palms. While some park resources recommend using an un-maintained trail along the canyon's south (right) wall, it's awfully difficult to follow the whole way.

The trail quickly fades, and the canyon wall itself is very steep and perilously unstable. Nevertheless, there is a visible cairn for this faint path just before you see the park-posted 4 mile marker. This also begins the first of 3 steep boulder fields leading to Victory Palms.

Taking this path at the cairn for a short time is advisable, if for no other reason than to avoid a brief but difficult section of boulders, and to see the adjacent Teddy Bear Cholla garden.

The path fades beyond the cholla garden, leaving little choice but to begin the arduous process of downhill bouldering. While more than manageable, it will require an all-body effort and some creative routing.

The boulder field momentarily eases around 4.5 miles (2,865'), a point at which the canyon splits off back to the right. Stay straight (this is important to remember on the return, as you'll need to recognize this subtle fork in the canyon).

More boulders await, though steady progress down canyon soon yields a well-earned glimpse of Victory Palms. The canyon widens and flattens out just before reaching the grove (5 miles : 2,680') - (N33 42.341 W115 45.139).