The Spring Mountains ECHO

MEET THE MOUNTAIN CAR TOURS

AWOL CANYON

We picked a clear winter day to head up to AWOL Canyon; so called because it provides the most direct route from the Spring Mountain Youth Camp, perched on top of Angel Peak, down to the highway. But first we stopped in the lower desert to smell the flowers. Yes, flowers! You have to look, but they are there: globe mallow, Indian paintbrush, paper-flower, daisy, winterfat, milkvetch, desert marigold, and filaree.

We followed a road paralleling an underground telephone line, stopping at various points of interest. On a ridge overlooking what used to be the Kyle Canyon landfill, we saw a field in the early stages of regrowth. In another couple years it will be indistinguishable from the surrounding area.

People are surprised to find out that most of the Kyle Canyon road is not in Kyle Canyon. Travailing up the mountain, the point at which the canyon leaves the road is hard to notice. A slot canyon, at points less than an arms width apart, cuts through the south side of the ridge. We pulled over to explore this fluke of erosion. Entering the canyon, the walls quickly closed in, forcing us to walk single file. The canyon widened briefly, revealing cliffrose in full bloom. After a sharp left, the walls closed overhead providing a tunnel-like experience that emerged into the hidden section of Kyle Canyon. On the right, a sheer cliff. On the left, eroded formations, including a double arch.

AWOL Canyon connects with SR-157 near mile marker seven. The bumpy road passed quite a lot of manzanita. Though the road continues to the Spring Mountain Youth Camp, it is more of a hiking trail than something you would actually drive on. We stopped at a fire ring for lunch and storytelling. A small band set off uphill to see what they could see. The sound carried well between the two groups and when it was time to go, the group came scurrying down in the customary fashion for AWOL Canyon.