An oasis is a green area in a dry, arid region, and in this desert landscape, where most of the area gets less than ten inches of rain and snow yearly, Shell Creek forms a green ribbon of life. Plants and animals thrive in these streamside zones, also called riparian areas, because they provide food, shelter, and water, the basics for survival. These riparian areas also serve as transportation corridors for animals that depend on water for food and shelter. The Shell Falls National Recreation Trail offers a wheelchair-accessible walk through Shell Canyon that takes ten to twenty minutes.