The Mission Creek Preserve Trail follows the creek past old stone structures, now used as picnic spots, and into a natural oasis. The easy 1.6-mile route gains only about 325 feet. Along the way, the landscape shifts into a surprisingly lush corridor, where willows and cottonwoods shelter wildlife.
Named for the preservationist and longtime trail boss of the Desert Riders Equestrian Club, the Art Smith Trail winds through magnificent rock formations and lush palm oases, with few signs of development. The strenuous, 16.2-mile trail gains 3,700 feet in elevation,...
What begins as a deceptively dull first five minutes quickly transforms into a rewarding and moderately challenging 4.4-mile trek in South Palm Springs. The well-maintained path steadily climbs 1,276 feet, offering a great workout for hikers of all levels. As you...
A short drive from downtown Palm Springs, a beautiful oasis rises from the San Jacinto foothills. The Indian Canyons, the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, contains more than 60 miles of hiking and walking trails through pristine scenery....
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has stewarded the beautiful and serene Tahquitz Canyon since time immemorial. Today, the canyon’s 1.8-mile loop trail near downtown Palm Springs is a popular hiking spot, steering adventurers from its entrance to a majestic...
Named for the editor of the original Desert Magazine and founder of the city of Palm Desert, the 2.5-mile Randall Henderson Loop Trail starts at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitors Center on Highway 74. The trail’s easy terrain, which...
Each morning, Palm Springs Life curates good reads and insider recommendations of the best things to do across Greater Palm Springs. Get The Daily Guide for fresh ideas, local flavor, and a daily dose of inspiration that’s actually worth reading.
“Season” has ended, part-timers have left for the summer, and the rest of us have the desert to ourselves — roads, restaurants, attractions, and hiking trails. Yes, you can hike in the summer if you start before dawn — or if you invest $85 in the Palm Springs Aerial...
Perched in the lower Santa Rosa Mountains, a 30-foot cross shines nightly over the Coachella Valley. Now maintained by St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, it was installed at its current site in 1996 — though the idea of a hillside cross dates back to 1981, when a...
Located in the Coachella Valley Preserve in Thousand Palms, the 1.9-mile Hidden Palms Trail meanders through lush palm oases on gentle terrain, suitable for hikers of all skill levels. The route offers panoramic mountain views, diverse wildlife — including many bird...
The Bear Creek Oasis Trail in La Quinta offers a rewarding 9-mile hike through desert landscapes, ending at a serene palm oasis. The trail begins with an easy mile along Bear Creek wash before climbing into the Santa Rosa foothills, where hikers are treated to...
Near the Salton Sea, a 14,000-acre preserve conceals a lush wetland oasis fed by artesian springs and seepage from the Coachella Canal. Easy walking trails of varying length, depending on your starting point, lead to hundreds of fan palms, geothermal pools, and native...
Mission Creek Preserve Outdoor A vast array of species thrive in this 4,760-acre preserve. Located between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, the area comprises natural wetlands fed by a perennial stream, hiking trails (it’s 4 miles to the Pacific Crest Trail from the...
Located near Palm Desert, this moderately challenging, out-and-back route covers approximately 3 miles round trip, winding through a scenic canyon with a seasonal waterfall — and the area is only open for a short time each year, closing seasonally (January through...
This 12-mile trek (one way) links Desert Hot Springs to Joshua Tree National Park, where hikers recommend arranging a car for the journey home. Beginning at a trailhead on Long Canyon Road, about a mile north of Hacienda Avenue, the route ascends approximately 1,200...
Located in Desert Hot Springs, this moderately challenging, 2.4-mile out-and-back trail is part of the Sand to Snow National Monument. Marked as Brice’s Canyon on trailhead signage, the route offers a bounty of plants and flowers, great views of Mount San Jacinto, and...
Explore the Hiking and Rich History of Tahquitz Canyon in Palm Springs
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has been steward to the beautiful and serene Tahquitz Canyon since time immemorial. Today, the canyon’s 1.8-mile loop trail near downtown Palm Springs is a popular hiking spot, steering hikers from its entrance to a majestic...
Explore the Sacred Beauty of the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs
A short drive from downtown Palm Springs, a beautiful oasis rises from the San Jacinto foothills. The Indian Canyons, sacred to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians since time immemorial, contains more than 60 miles of switchback trails through pristine scenery....
A pleasant and lightly trafficked route in Joshua Tree National Park, the North Canyon Loop transitions through varied terrain, from sand to monzogranite, and reveals picturesque natural beauty along 4.2 miles. The route ascends 600 feet and is moderately easy if you...
This easy, 1.1-mile loop is one of the most beautiful and popular trails in Joshua Tree National Park. The well-marked route gains less than 50 feet in elevation, meanders amid the park’s massive monzogranite boulders and along sandy washes, and presents a variety of...
The winter rains have come and gone, leaving in their wake a brilliant show of color across the wild desert and stirring a rush of wide-eyed Instagrammers into the spectacle. Even the driest, sandiest, and least inhabitable stretches burst to life — places like the...
