The oasis a mile and a half up Borrego Palm Canyon attracts many thousands of visitors every year, and, of course, people have been drawn to the spring and the palms for as long as there have been people. In the desert, water, and reliable shade, will do that. These are the native California Fan Palm, with their trunks buried in massive sheaves of old fibrous fronds, now found only in scattered oases across the dryer regions of Southern California (and as ornamental plantings in dry regions nation- and world-wide). Palm Springs and Twenty-nine Palms probably have the largest remaining groves, but, according to the information that Anza Borrego Desert State Park provides, the Borrego Palm Canon oasis is the third largest remaining.

Impressive as they are from a distance, when you get right up under them, they are truly amazing. These are big trees!

These shots are all at 24mm equivalent field of view, on the Canon SX50HS. Either Program with iContrast and Auto Shadow Fill, –1/3EV exposure compensation or In-Camera HDR Mode. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.