Las Palmitas Oasis, south of Arroyo S.M.,on a side road.

Surrounded by desert, this tiny oasis serves as a cattle watering hole, on a branch off Arroyo Santa Maria. Gonzaga Bay is in the background. Photo by BajaMur

Just a short hike up the canyon to the pools...

We arrive at the Santa Maria 'river' where it disappears beneath the sands. Photo by BajaMur

Desert canyons in Baja are fantastic!

Year-round refreshment in the lower Santa Maria canyon. The surrounding barren desert gives no clue to the quantity of water found here.