Rough Canyon, only 8.6 miles from downtown GJ, is geologically fascinating and home to some of the world’s most rare plants and animals. As its name implies, it’s also rough, rugged and rocky.

Well, it's rugged, but not that rough. You cannot make it down with the walker, but you don't need ropes, either. And right now is a great time to be here since the wild flowers are in bloom. Orange Desert Globemallow, flowering Cliffrose, vibrant red Claret Cup Cactus, burnt red Indian Paint Brush, Hairy Goldenaster, purple Desert Lupine, all blooming away here in the desert only minutes from town.

It gets extremely hot in the middle of summer, but right now, with water still flowing steadily through this canyon, it's cool and shady for much of the day.

You can reach this cool canyon by traveling west on Grand Avenue past First Street and heading toward the Redlands where Grand Avenue turns into Broadway. Cross the Colorado River and turn left on Monument Road. Take another left on D Road just past the Vet Clinic and just before the Redlands Canal. You’ll go about .2 miles before D Road ends with a right turn on Rosevale Road.

Stay on Rosevale for 1.2 miles until you get to Little Park Road. Turn right on Little Park and drive another 6.2 miles to the Bangs Canyon Staging Area (about three miles past the Little Park Staging Area).

Turn left into the staging area where you’ll find a large parking area and restroom facility. Hikers, jeeps, ATVs, horses, motorcycles and bicycles share many of the trails in this special management area. Some trails, however cater to individual recreational activity by providing great four-wheeling areas, hiking or horseback only areas, and fantastic fat tire biking areas.

The hiking trails to both Rough Canyon and the Mica Mine are for foot traffic only. Motorized vehicles and bicycles are not allowed. You’ll see why after a few hundred yards.

The trailhead is well marked, and initially the trail leads to both the Mica Mine and Rough Canyon. It splits in very short order. The right fork takes you to the Mica Mine while the left trail leads to the tangled maze of Rough Canyon, where the Spineless Hedgehog cactus and rare Canyon Tree Frog live.

You may or may not spot the rare Spineless Hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus forma inermis), since they're so rare. You could, however, see or hear a Canyon Tree Frog if you look closely and you're in the canyon at the right time of day. The little suckers are small – usually about 2 ¼ inches (57 mm) long, or less. The tree frog blends right into the rocks, so they're hard to spot. You'll hear them, though, if you're in the canyon around dusk since they’re active usually only at dusk and night, and they’re very rare anyway.

Easy to reach, and lots of interesting things to see – check out Rough Canyon. It's really not that rough!