Hellhole Canyon is a hiking trail that leads to a place called Maidenhair Falls located in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California.
Here is a picture that was taken at the beginning of the trailhead.
I hiked for about 3 miles…
It was a fairly easy hike with great views and a variety of desert vegetation. {I am constantly amazed at all of the species of plants that survive the desert climate} There were so many types of cactus plants, grass varieties, and Palm Trees!
Since I started so early in the day, I was able to see the sun peek over the mountain…
There is something SO magical about seeing the sunrise each day…
I learned that most people hike this trail to see the 20 footfalls that seem to appear out of nowhere in the desert but unfortunately I was not able to see them since they are seasonal and run in the Spring.
Even though I was not able to see the 20-foot waterfall I still had an amazing time exploring around the area…
The trail started off pretty flat and most of the trail was easy to follow but at certain places in the canyon, it was difficult to stay on the trail, as people have wandered around forming many smaller paths… so I decided to climb on and scramble a bit more past the falls which was where I found 2 really cool rock formations…
One was a large heart-shaped rock and the other was a rock that looked like an owl!
I sat for a long time under the owl rock formation, soaking up the sun and thinking about how love can be found anywhere … even in Hells Canyon! {what a name}
I reflected on the importance water has on this canyon and thought about the Native Americans who once used this area as a place to collect and grind acorns and gather other plant and animal resources.
I also thought about the Owl rock formation and what the owl represents…
It is believed that the owl represents wisdom and intuitive knowledge… and when the owl presents itself, it is representing the inspiration and guidance necessary to deeply explore the unknown and the magic of life. { I love that!}
~happy trails & cheers to the unknown