Step into the heart of Palm Springs’ wilderness, where the rugged desert landscape meets palm oasis. Indian Canyons Park is a must see when visiting Palm Springs. It’s full of hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.

In this hike guide I will be breaking down one of the most memorable trails in the park: the Murray Canyon Trail to Seven Sisters Falls. This trail is filled with tranquil oases, panoramic vistas, and ends with a cascading waterfall all to leave you with an unforgettable hiking experience.

About Indian Canyons Park

For over 5,000 years, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have called this land home. The Cahuilla people are one of the indigenous tribes of Southern California, with a deep connection to this desert environment. They have relied on the natural resources provided by the land for sustenance and spiritual nourishment.

Today, they continue to protect Indian Canyons, preserving its natural beauty and cultural heritage for future generations. Visitors to the park have the opportunity to learn about Cahuilla history and culture through their interpretive trails and guided tours, offering a deeper appreciation for the connection between the land and its original inhabitants.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to explore this land. It’s a very unique place and I have never been anywhere like it before.

If you are visiting Palm Springs, I highly recommend a visit to this park. It’s just a short 15 minute drive,

Indian Canyons does charge an admission fee at the gate which is charged per person:

• Adults: $12
• Seniors (62+) & students: $7
• Children (6-12): $6

Murray Canyon Trail Info

• 4 miles round trip
• Out and back trail
• 500 feet elevation gain
• Sandy & rocky terrain including some rock scrambling, with several stream crossings
• Moderate-level hike

Trailhead & Parking

There are actually two different places you can park and access this trail. We parked at the Andreas & Murray Canyon parking area. You can find the directions to the trailhead here.

The road to get there is sandy but 4 wheel drive is not necessary. It’s a beautiful area that’s shaded by the native California fan palm trees. You will see many of these trees on this hike! 

The trail starts in the open area out of the trees. There’s a sign at the trailhead showing you a map of the trails in the park plus some information about the plants and animals that live here. 

First 2 Miles

Once you get onto the trail, you will be treated to gorgeous mountain views as you walk through a wide open valley.

The trail itself has not gotten too treacherous yet, as it is mostly flat and composed of sand/ dirt. There is no shade here so sunscreen is definitely needed.

You will be hiking through this area for a little less than a mile before you hit the first palm tree oasis.

The oases are characterized by the massive California fan palms growing near/ around a stream. It’s nice to use the water and shade to cool off and get a little break from the sun throughout the hike.

There are strategically placed rocks across the stream that are perfect for you to step one by one to the other side. This will be the first of many times that you cross a stream.

In total there are 14 stream crossings one way. So that means 28 on the entire trail. 

All of the stream crossings either have strategically placed rocks or long tree trunks laying across that you will have to balance on to get to the other side.

We didn’t have much trouble with crossing, as the water wasn’t deep but our boots did get wet at times. You will have to watch out for the occasional unstable rock so wear shoes that you don’t mind getting wet just in case.

As you get deeper into the canyon there will be significantly more oases and rock climbing required to advance yourself on the hike. There are some rock steps built into the trail but there are some other more challenging rocks to climb over.

The trail itself is pretty easy to follow, but there were a few times I had to pull out a map and double check which way the trail went.

Viewing Seven Sisters Falls

Once you near the second mile, you will begin to hear the rushing water of the waterfall.

As you get closer to the end, there will be a sign that says “End of Trail”. However, at this point you aren’t even able to see the actual waterfall. There are plants growing out of the stream right at the end of the trail that obstructs your view of the water.

If you look at a map, you will see that the trail doesn’t take you right to the falls. The trail stops a little ways before the waterfall icon.

This photo below from the parks website shows the end of the trail and how far it is from the waterfall.

To get there, you will have to do even more challenging rock climbing for only about a tenth of a mile or so. This was the only thing I didn’t like about this trail; viewing the waterfall isn’t very accessible to everyone.

There were a lot of people who weren’t able to see the waterfall because they couldn’t climb up the rocks. We hiked all this way only for the more able-bodied to see the waterfall close up. 

We hiked this trail in late March, so perhaps we went at a bad time of year where the plants were starting to get overgrown. Maybe in the winter you can see the waterfall through the plants more clearly but I’m not sure. This was just my experience.

The rock climbing to get to the waterfall is not easy, there are steep rocks that we had to crab walk on and slide down. When my partner and I were coming back from the waterfall, another hiker made the comment that we looked like mountain goats and honestly that’s what we felt like. 

It’s pretty obvious that there is no trail to get to the waterfall but there were a few other people that were either rock scrambling or trying to go through the water and brush to get closer to it. 

With that being said, if you can get to it, you should definitely climb over the rocks to see the falls. It’s a gorgeous and magical spot, the water flows down a crevice made by a couple of rocks and into a nice pool.

You technically aren’t supposed to swim here but there were a few people who got in. The water felt freezing so if you’re feeling brave you can take the plunge. 

To us, seeing the waterfall made the entire hike worth it. This area would not be accessible without the trail so it’s amazing that we get the privilege to explore hidden spots of beauty in nature like this.

Conclusion

I would totally recommend this trail if you’re in the Palm Springs area. However, if you aren’t ready for an adventure or aren’t up for rock climbing, maybe a different one in the park would suit you better. Such as, Andreas Canyon Loop, West Fork Falls, or Palm Canyon Trail.

Murray Canyon to Seven Sisters Falls is a pretty popular trail in the park so don’t let the trails intensity deter you from experiencing this hike. If you are able to get to the waterfall, it’s an awesome hike!

And that will conclude my complete guide to this one of a kind trail! I really wish I had more photos from this hike but my partner and I’s phones both died while on this trail! 🙁 Learn from our mistake and make sure you have plenty of phone battery with you before setting out. Plus, you never know when you’ll need to reference the map on AllTrails.

I hope this article helped you better prepare for this trail and that you enjoy every moment on this hike! Thanks for reading!