Organizer
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Jeff Guckenberger
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Phone
541-954-1531 -
Email
jguck61@gmail.com -
Jeff and his wife have been visitors to the desert for the last 30 years and more recently wintered in Palm Desert for the last seven years. Our summer home is in Eugene, Oregon. Jeff has been mountain biking the Western states for 30 years, backpacking the John Muir Trail and sections of the Pacific Crest Trail more recently. You will find me hiking the Coachella Valley on a weekly basis during the winter months. Jeff prefers more strenuous and challenging hikes with the hope of seeing wildlife and marveling at the incredible beauty of the Coachella Valley.
CATHEDRAL CANYON WEST TO DUNN ROAD OVER MURRAY HILL TO CATHEDRAL CANYON WEST WASH LOOP
The hike starts at the west end of Foothill Road in Cathedral City. After a very short walk through a sandy wash, we ascend a little-used series of dry rock waterfalls. This Canyon drainage gets very little hiker traffic and is absolutely beautiful! There are approximately 10 rock scrambles in the initial ascent to Dunn Road, each between 10-25 feet high. See the photo of Jeff ascending one of the taller scrambles. (If you’ve done Magnesia Falls, there’s nothing here more difficult than any of those scrambles. If you haven’t scrambled Magnesia Falls and are worried about your ability, please call Jeff and he will describe in more detail what’s involved.)
We follow this Canyon all the way up to Dunn Road where it intersects with a trail that parallels Dunn Road for approximately .25 mile. We cross Dunn Road and follow a fairly new trail that parallels Wild Horse trail but is located up on the side of the hill. Views are spectacular from there! This trail gets some bike use but not many Hikers venture there. (Note: Visibility on this trail is good. It’s safe to share the trail with the few bikes that use it.)
We follow this trail to Clara Burgess Trail; then follow Clara Burgess Trail up Murray Hill. We take our lunch break up at the picnic tables on Murray. After a break, we descend Clara Burgess on the north face of Murray and intersect with a series of trails that lead us back around to the Cathedral Canyon West wash. There are several hidden canyons and interesting rock formations there.
This is a loop hike and we return back to the starting point on Foothill Road. This hike feels longer than its 9 miles, so be prepared for a big day of fun!
Please call with any questions.
9.0 miles with elevation gain of 1750 feet; medium to fast pace; 4.25 hours moving hike time
Meet at the west end of Foothill Road, Cathedral City, at 8:00 AM. Lots of street parking is available.
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME HIKING WITH JEFF, PLEASE CALL OR TEXT (541-954-1531.). OTHERWISE, PLEASE EMAIL.
HIKE LEADER: Jeff Guckenberger
HIKE LOCATOR: Cathedral City
HIKE DIFFICULTY: Strenuous
HIKE PACE: Medium to Fast
Note: You must be a current CVHC member to hike with the club! Join Now!
