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Harder than the Indian Canyons, and that catches people out

Tahquitz Canyon is the other Agua Caliente canyon open to visitors, and it is reached from the west edge of town rather than the south — close enough to downtown that you can see the mouth of it from parts of the city. The draw is the waterfall at the top of the loop, which runs hardest after winter rain and thins out as the year dries.

The loop is not long, but it is steeper and rockier than anything in the Indian Canyons, with stone steps and uneven footing for much of the climb. People arrive expecting the shaded, level walk they had at Andreas Canyon and find something closer to a proper hike. It is well within reach of most reasonably fit visitors; it is not a stroll, and it is not the one to do in sandals.

Shade is limited. Most of the route sits open to the sky, which is the whole argument for going early.

Buy at the visitor center, and go in the morning

Access runs through the tribe's visitor center on Mesquite Avenue, where you pay admission and start the loop. Hours are set by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and shift with the season, and the canyon closes for part of the summer in most years, so confirm before you drive over.

Rangers lead guided walks through the canyon on a schedule, which is worth doing if you want the history — this canyon carries a great deal of Cahuilla story, and the interpretation changes what you are looking at.

Go in the morning, carry real water, and wear shoes with a grip. If you want the waterfall at its most convincing, aim for late winter or early spring after rain has come through. By high summer it can be down to a trickle, and the climb will not have got any easier. Your local manager can tell you what the water has been doing recently — it changes week to week.