One of America's fastest-growing popular forms of recreation, hiking is becoming more and more thought of as a great way to stay healthy and slim while also enjoying incredible vistas. In the Palm Springs, Palm Desert area the views are not only incredible but the weather embraces you whenever you set out on one of the many hiking trails. A truly great place to spend some time as well as to live! 

Joshua Tree National Park

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Joshua Tree National Park is immense, nearly 800,000 acres, and infinitely variable. It can seem unwelcoming, even brutal during the heat of summer when, in fact, it is delicate and extremely fragile. This is a land shaped by strong winds, sudden torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Rainfall is sparse and unpredictable. Streambeds are usually dry and waterholes are few. Viewed in summer, this land may appear defeated and dead, but within this parched environment are intricate living systems waiting for the opportune moment to reproduce. The individuals, both plant and animal, that inhabit the park are not individualists. They depend on their entire ecosystem for survival.
 
Two deserts, two large ecosystems primarily determined by elevation, come together in the park. Few areas more vividly illustrate the contrast between “high” and “low” desert. Below 3000 feet (910 m), the Colorado Desert, occupying the eastern half of the park, is dominated by the abundant creosote bush. Adding interest to this arid land are small stands of spidery ocotillo and cholla cactus. 
The higher, slightly cooler, and wetter Mojave Desert is the special habitat of the undisciplined Joshua tree, extensive stands of which occur throughout the western half of the park.

The park encompasses some of the most interesting geologic displays found in California’s deserts. Rugged mountains of twisted rock and exposed granite monoliths testify to the tremendous earth forces that shaped and formed this land. Arroyos, playas, alluvial fans, bajadas, pediments, desert varnish, granites, aplite, and gneiss interact to form a giant mosaic of immense beauty and complexity.

Indian Canyons
Palm Springs and the surrounding area has been described as a recreation oasis as early as the 1890's. Tahquitz Canyon and three southern canyons are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Palm and Andreas Canyons have the most and second most palm trees in the world, with Murray Canyon listed as fourth. The canyons and associated resources are especially sacred to the Indians today and are historically important to scientists and nature lovers. Please enjoy the free gifts of equanimity and serenity that you may take with you. While in Palm Canyon, visit the Trading Post for hiking maps, refreshments, Indian art and artifacts, books, jewelry, pottery, baskets, weavings and conversational cultural lore.

Fox Canyon Hiking Park
Fox Canyon is Coachella Valley's first public park dedicated specifically to hiking. Fox Canyon, named after its previous owners, is one of about eight hiking trails in the city. It includes a "steep and rigid" trail with a 500-foot elevation gain. Fox Canyon is located north of the Cahuilla Hills Park tennis courts, forming the City boundary on the west. The trails here afford beautiful panoramic views of the area, all within the city limits.

San Jacinto
The deeply weathered summit of Mount San Jacinto stands 10,804 feet above sea level, the highest point in the San Jacinto Range and second highest in Southern California. No more than a two hour drive from either Los Angeles or San Diego, the mountain's magnificent granite peaks, subalpine forests, and fern-bordered mountain meadows offer a unique opportunity to explore and enjoy a scenic, high-country Wilderness area. The park offers two drive-in campgrounds near the town of Idyllwild. Most of the park is a designated wilderness area enjoyed by hikers and backpackers.

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Coachella Valley Preserve
The Coachella Valley Preserve is located 10 miles east of Palm Springs in the bluffs and mesas of the Indio Hills. It is a 17,000 acre site that is home to the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, which is found nowhere else in the world. It is also home of the spectacular Thousand Palm Oasis which is fed by water seeping out of the San Andreas Fault. There are also several other Palm Oases, including the Willis, Hidden Horseshoe, and Indian Palms. Located in the center is the Paul Wilhelm Grove that is also the location of the Preserve's visitor's center. The preserve has several hiking trails including the McCallum, Hidden Palms, Moon Country, Pushawalla Palms, and Willis Palms trails.

The Pushawalla Palms trail is probably the most strenuous of the trails. Climbing from the desert floor just east of the visitors center, this trail follows an uplifted section of the Mission Creek Fault, which is part of the San Andreas Fault system. At the end of the trail is Pushawalla Palms oasis, which is located in a deep canyon carved into the Indio Hills. It is about a six mile round trip hike, so be sure to take plenty of water and wear proper shoe and clothing ( for more desert hiking tips see the link below ). The Hidden Palms trail is about 3-5 miles long depending on the route you take, but you are rewarded with a beautiful view of the oasis, and the Coachella Valley! The Willis Palms trail is probably the easiest of the trail, but it is still a 4-5 mile hike, so be prepared!

Pyramid Peak
The Cedar Springs Trail is a beautiful trail that traverses gently through oaken wild lands and into a chaparral/desert highland up to the PCT. The views along this section of the PCT are breathtaking. you can see the entire Santa Rosa range to the south, the San Jacinto Wilderness to the north, the Coachella Valley to the east, and Garner Valley, Thomas Mountain along with Lake Hemet to the west. This is great high country especially for a day hike.

The trail switchbacks up to the PCT but is graded very mildly. It is a bit rocky, so wear good boots, but the trail is as good as they come.

A cairn(rock pile) marks the side trail to Pyramid Peak. Follow the PCT past the peak near the far ridge. The route to the top is a little like off trail hiking, so wear pants, and don't try this one on a hot summer day. Most of the trail is unshaded. Be prepared for a gorgeous 360' view.

Trailhead: The trailhead is very simple to find. Drive east about 4.5 miles past the Lake Hemet Store on the 74 Palms to Pines Highway. The road is clearly marked as Morris Ranch Road. Turn left. There is a fire station on the northeast side of the highway and a ranger station just down the road.

The road is paved all the way to the trailhead, which is clearly marked, and has ample parking a few feet away from the gate.

There are no trespassing signs, but they do not apply to hikers, just stay on the trail and you will have no problems.

For the first 3/4 mile the trail alternates between trail and road, there are a few gates and you will have no trouble staying on the trail. Turn right onto the PCT at the junction.

Pyramid Peak is easy to spot once you are on the Desert Divide, and the mountaineer's trail to the top is marked by cairns and is a bit past the peak itself along the PCT. (Lat:33.65281 Lon:-116.5725)

Clara Burgess Trail
This trail takes you to the top of Murray Hill ( the photo above was taken near Thousand Palms ) with a spectacular 360 degree view of the Coachella Valley and Little San Bernardino Mountains. The trail can be reached by equestrians and hikers via the Wildhorse Trail or from the top of the Eagle Canyon Trail. To reach the Wildhorse Trail you can follow the directions for the Garstin Trail and follow the fork to the right down into the valley seen from the top of the Garstin. From there just follow the Trailhead signs that lead you to the Wildhorse, and then the Clara Burgess Trail. This is one very rewarding hike as you will have a beautiful view of the Coachella Valley from the top of Murray hill.

The North Lykken Trail
The North Lykken Trail can be accessed from the west end of Ramon Road. Follow Ramon Road till it ends at the mountain, and you will see the trailhead off to the right. Park on the side street off Ramon Road . The trail will lead you about a mile and a half where you will find the picnic tables that are also accessible from the Museum Trail that leads from the Palm Springs Museum.

It is a Moderately strenuous hike, but the views of Palm Springs and Tahquitz Canyon make it worthwhile. If you are really feeling good you can continue on the Lykken by heading around the corner of the mountain past the picnic tables. From there the trail will take you down into Chino Canyon. The trail will wander through the wash and take you up the other side to another set of picnic tables. There you can either turn around and go back ( climbing back up the other side is rough after all this hiking... ), or you can leave a second car on Cielo road and you can just take a short walk down from the picnic tables to your car. The trail is a little steep here, and the footing is loose, so be careful.   ( Cielo road can be reached by following Vista Chino Road to Via Norte. Turn right on Via Norte then left on Chino Canyon Road. Veer left onto Panorama Road, then left again on Cielo.  Once you turn off Via Norte, the streets are rather narrow,  so drive carefully.  Park at the end of Cielo road. )

If you decide to start your hike from the North end of the Lykken on Cielo Road, be advised the trail is steep, and the footing is a little loose, so be careful.

Mecca Hills/Painted Canyon
Length is 5 miles, with an elevation gain of about 450 feet. It is an easy to moderate hike in difficulty, but the soft sand in the canyon floors can be a little hard on the ankles. It will take you 3-4 hours to complete the loop.
The Mecca Hills are located about 40 miles southeast of Palm Springs. They were formed by the convergence of the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate along the San Andreas Fault. The geologic formations of Mecca Hills are among the most unusual of their kind in the world.

Idyllwild Hiking Trails
The Idyllwild area is located about 45 minutes from the Palm Springs area. There are several great trails that range from easy to very strenuous. Some trails require a free wilderness permit which can be obtained at the Ranger Station in Idyllwild.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
With over 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® is the largest desert state park in the contiguous United States. 500 miles of dirt roads, two huge wilderness areas (comprising 2/3 of the park) and 110 miles of riding and hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the Colorado Desert. The park name is derived from a combination of the name of Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word "borrego," referring to bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as desert iguanas, chuckwallas and four species of rattlesnake.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park® is located on the eastern side of San Diego County, with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside County. It is about a two-hour drive from from San Diego, Riverside, and Palm Springs. Many visitors approach from the east or west via Highways S22 and 78. From the coast, these highways descend from the heights of the Peninsular range of mountains with spectacular views of the great bowl of the Colorado Desert. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off of Interstate 8.

If you'd like more information about hiking in the La Quinta, Trilogy, PGA WEST and Palm Springs area contact me using the form below!