Date: December 10, 2011
Time: 3.5 Hours
Length: 5.5 Miles
Location: La Quinta, CA
Elevation: 1,283ft
Weather: 60-75°
Difficulty: Moderate
Description: The trailhead is at the top of the La Quinta Cove in the dirt parking lot. This trail is going up the Bear Creek Canyon, passed the Bear Creek Canyon Oasis trail.
We started at 11:00am and I brought 70 ounces of water and 5 energy bars, I finished the hike with 40 ounces of water and 2 bars. Even though the trail is not very long, it does have some rock scrambling about half way. 
If you normally hike with trekking poles I would rethink bringing them on this hike. They will get in the way once your going up the canyon and begin to scramble over the rocks. If you have a good way to strap compactable poles to your pack, they might not get in the way as much, but you won’t use them after the wash as you can see above.
Starting the hike from the parking area, take a right heading west at the first fork towards the picnic tables.
Once you pass the picnic tables continue south.
When you come to the trash can follow the “Bear Creek Canyon Oasis Trail” sign, and take a right heading west.
You will drop down into the Bear Creek Canyon wash, take a left going southwest.
This portion of the trail is marked very well as you continue up the wash. Follow the signs posted continuing southwest.
If you were heading up to the Bear Canyon Oasis, you would take the trail going up the mountain here on the right. It’s hard to make out, but if you look closely, you can see a trail going up the mountain. I continued on the Bear Canyon Trail going southwest in the wash.
The next turn is hard to miss, it’s a big fork where two large forces of water seem to meet during the rainy season. Go right heading west into the canyon.
You will follow the canyon all the way back to the dry waterfall. There is one area that you could go left, you want to go straight and continue up the canyon.
Again, this is the rock scramble section of the hike that can get demanding at times. Just remember whatever you go up your going to have to come back down, so do not over extend yourself.
As you reach the dry waterfall, you might run into some water here. If it has rained recently, or during winter months, this is a very common area to be filled with water. You will also notice a runoff flowing into the pool which leads to more waterfalls.
If you are able to pass the first waterfall, there is a second section which will also have water pooled during winter months.
It will take a bit of rock climbing, but there is a third section beyond that which will also has water. It leads you to a 20 feet dry water fall, and was the dead end for me on this trail.
There was still some water from light rain from over a month before. I noticed a great deal of animal tracks around it, but only saw a hawk while hiking.
View back down the canyon.
If you have any questions regarding this hike, or would like the GPS Track file, please contact me for more information.
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