[2] Rice Canyon Creek flows in the rainy season in its upper reach but is an ephemeral arroyo in its lower reach below the narrows 0.80 miles above the canyon mouth, and flows on the surface below the narrows only after more heavy rain events, and is dry the rest of the year.
Rice Canyon's creek flows during the rainy season below its narrows to its mouth but its surface flow dries up below the narrows about 0.8 miles above its mouth in the canyon during the dry season, and above that in years with severe drought conditions.
Sycamore and cottonwood appear along the creek in places where water remains through the year, mostly underground in the dry season.
Papilio rutulus, Western Tiger Swallowtail, also found in the canyon are to be seen pollinating them.
Wildlife species found in the canyon, include: Mountain lion, mule deer, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, gray fox, spotted skunk, wood rat, raven, red tailed hawk, canyon wren, speckled rattlesnake, Pacific rattlesnake, rosy boa.