The nolinas are much smaller than palms and do not develop a trunk. You may see a variety of wildlife as you walk along the trail. Keep watching the skyline on both sides of the canyon for bighorn sheep. These agile mammals may be seen in Palm Canyon, usually early in the morning, moving along ridge tops or staring down at you. If you hear their yelping, you won't forget it.
Birds are numerous for most of the year in Palm Canyon.
Watch for gnatcatchers, brown towhees, and thrashers flitting about in the underbrush. Swallows can be heard calling back and forth as they dart about over your head doing their acrobatics in the narrow canyon. If you are lucky, you will hear the musical call of the canyon wren echoing off the canyon walls. High above turkey vultures or a golden eagle occasionally soar into view. Geology Palm Canyon is cut through a formation of rhyolite, a volcanic rock.