Tim Chester

According to the Agua Caliente Indians indigenous to Palm Springs, Tahquitz was a powerful shaman banished to this canyon for harming their people, and in all honesty we can think of worse places to spend an eternity. Nestled deep into the San Jacinto mountains, Tahquitz Canyon is a tiny oasis of verdant foliage accessed by a rambling path that leads to a quiet waterfall. Proving the indian settlers had a much better idea of land use than the speculators since (like, you know, settling where there was already water rather than borrowing from neighbouring states to sprinkle unnaturally green gardens and golf courses), it's a heavenly refuge. Most people shun this trail for more popular ones nearby so if you're lucky you'll be the only ones there to take a quick plunge before heading back to civilisation. Except, of course, for our friend Tahquitz.