2024-Dec: Mecca Hills-Painted/Ladde­rs/Ropes Canyons-New Year Eve/Level 2+

Day 2 in HikingOC Repeating Trip Year End/New Year to SoCal Mountains/Deserts: Mt Laguna, Cuyamaca, Mecca, Joshua Tree, Palm Springs, San Jacinto Mountain
https://4142298.xyz/hikingoc/events/304552786/

RSVP is NOT SECURED a space. Please contact the host via message, email or in person to discuss more about the trip!

We will be hiking Painted/Ladders/Ropes Canyons today
Meeting
Mecca Starbucks/Del Taco: 8-8:15 AM
Trailhead: 8:30 - 8:45 AM

General Rating: Levels 2 to 2+ (Moderate for desert terrain distance, elevation and pace). Click on RATING TABLE for more about difficulty levels https://tinyurl.com/HikeRating
About the Hike:
Distance: 5+ mile loop
Elevation Gain: ~ 500ft
Terrain: Soft sand, light rock scrambling, some ladders climbing
Trail head Altitude: ~ 500' ASL
High Point Altitude ~ 1,000' ASL
ATTITUDE: Positive
Duration: 4 to 5 hours

What to bring: plenty of water, food, snacks for lunch and a long day sun screen and most important 10 Hiking Essentials https://4142298.xyz/HikingOC/messages/boards/thread/9535234

Photos from previous times:
Nov 2024
2023 https://4142298.xyz/hikingoc/events/293563288/
2022
2021
2013, it’s been a long time!
https://4142298.xyz/HikingOC/photos/13737852/215447832/

About Mecca Hills and Painted/Ladder Canyons: The Mecca Hills are located about 40 miles southeast of Palm Springs. They were formed by the convergence of the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate along the San Andreas Fault. The geologic formations of Mecca Hills are among the most unusual of their kind in the world, and the San Andreas Fault that runs from below the Salton Sea all the way above San Francisco is overdue for a large quake. For a map of recent earthquakes in the Palm Springs and Southern California area check out the USGS website. Layers of eroded rock, some over 600 million years old, have been pushed up and overturned by the activity of the San Andreas Fault system. Painted Canyon, in the heart of the hills, exhibits many mineral deposits in hues of rose, pink, red, purple and green. The canyon runs in a general north-south direction, and is distinguished by sandy washes sprinkled with Ironwood, Smoke Trees, and Palo Verde. Keen eyed wildflower enthusiasts will also find the rare Mecca aster, a lilac tinted bloom resembling a daisy. Along the rim of the canyon and the tops of the mesas, squat colorful Ocotillo, which add to the serenity with their presence. Occasionally Bighorn sheep cross over from the Orocopia Mountains on the east looking for water. Like any desert area, the visitor is also treated to a multitude of lizards, snakes, and prairie falcons

More info here: http://www.hiking-in-ps.com/meccahills.php

Direction: From Palm Springs, Palm Desert or any of the other Coachella Valley cities, follow Highway 111 east to Mecca. Turn left and 66th Avenue and follow it as it curves through Mecca. The street then takes the name Box Canyon Road. After 4 1/2 miles through many grape and citrus ranches you will cross the Coachella Canal and about 1/4 of a mile later you will see a sign for Painted Canyon Road on the left. Make a left turn and follow this dirt road for about 4 miles where it will dead-end at the parking area.

From Interstate 10, take State Highway 195 (Box Canyon Road) to Painted Canyon Road. Follow the graded dirt road for approximately 3 miles until you enter the canyon

CARPOOL LOCATION: MECCA (DEL TACO) 10-10:30 AM: 90480 66th Ave, Mecca, CA

REMINDER: By joining the meetup, you agree to Meetup Terms of Service releases the Organizer and Assistant Organizers from any liability related to incidents that occur at Meetup gatherings
>>>YOU acknowledge THAT WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS.
>>>YOU ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND YOUR SAFETY
***Hiking is a rewarding and pleasant activity in nature, but there are certain dangers you should be aware of. Those include, but are not limited to, trip and fall injuries, bee stings, poison oak exposure, ticks, snake bites, coyotes, mountain lions or wildlife. By signing up for this event, you agree to hold harmless the hike organizer, assistant organizers and other participants for any injuries sustained during this hike***