Where to Get Lost in Nature in the Coachella Valley This Spring

Spring celebrates newness, rejuvenation, and transformation — and in the Coachella Valley, it’s the season we get to witness Mother Nature’s resilience and beauty on full display. From cactus gardens to hidden waterfalls, breathtaking wonders await in a variety of places. Allow yourself to tune out the noise by visiting these majestic destinations. Listen closely and the land will remind you of what’s possible.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens

The Living Desert may be known for its diverse wildlife, but it is also home to 52 gardens and more than 1,000 plant species. The gardens showcase arid plants from around the world, while hiking trails lead to wondrous views.

Wander through the East Africa and Madagascar gardens to find plants from the Horn of Africa and Madagascar’s thorn forests. You’ll see East African trees like acacia, commiphora, and boswellia (frankincense) and rare plant species only found in Madagascar. The Chihuahuan Garden contains prickly pears, yuccas, and sotols, while the Mojave Desert Garden features Joshua trees — you might even see a desert tortoise roaming around. Tickets are $39.95 for adults and $29.95 for kids, with a military discount available.

Don’t miss: The butterfly garden, where hummingbirds love to perch.

The Indian Canyons and Tahquitz Canyon

On the sacred tribal lands of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, lush palm groves, striking rock formations, and flowing streams defy all expectations of the word “desert.” The Indian Canyons are home to the Palm, Andreas, and Murray canyons; a short drive away, you’ll find Tahquitz Canyon.

If you’re looking for blooms, Andreas Canyon alone has more than 150 plant species. The area bursts with Washingtonia filifera, better known as California fan palms (maul in Cahuilla), desert lavender, and desert sand verbena (temal nyuku in Cahuilla). “When you see the desert verbena, that means spring is coming,” says Kate Anderson, director of public relations for the tribe.

Tahquitz Canyon, meanwhile, features a 60-foot waterfall where Jim Morrison once swam. Throughout the canyons, tribal rangers are available to assist and educate those who have questions. It’s $15 for adults to get into Tahquitz Canyon and $13 for the Indian Canyons, with discounts for kids. Military admission is free with an ID. 

Don’t miss: The visitor center gift shops, for Native American jewelry, baskets, and other crafts.

Whitewater Preserve

Near Cabazon, the 2,851-acre Whitewater Preserve nestles amid the San Gorgonio Wilderness. This habitat is home to the endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher, the endangered fringe-toed lizard, and rare species like the red diamond rattlesnake, two-striped garter snake, and Blainville’s horned lizard. An important wildlife corridor between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains, it’s also a beautiful destination for humans to explore. The preserve is open daily, free of charge, for hiking and camping. 

Don’t miss: Windy Point, a must-see spot between the Whitewater and San Gorgonio rivers.

Joshua Tree National Park

Surrealism takes shape at Joshua Tree National Park in Seussian trees, magical rock formations, and fields of cactus. The Cholla Cactus Garden is poised to reopen in March after a three-month restoration of the walking path that winds through it (though we recommend double-checking its closure status prior to visiting).

If you’re lucky enough to spot a desert tortoise emerging from its winter hibernation, observe from a distance. That’s good advice for the cactuses, too — locals call them “jumping cholla” because the barbs seem to jump out at anyone who comes too close. Keep your eyes peeled for the bright pink blooms of beavertail cactus and tiny yellow flowers of creosote.

Park entry is $30 for cars, $25 for motorcycles, and $15 on foot, though you’ll need wheels to reach the cactus garden. Annual passes are $55.

Don’t miss: The Park Boulevard scenic route, connecting the park’s North Entrance near Twentynine Palms to the West Entrance near Joshua Tree and passing popular landmarks such as Hidden Valley and Skull Rock.

Moorten Botanical Garden

“My mother used to say the cactus represented the highest form of life,” says Clark Moorten of Moorten Botanical Garden in Palm Springs. “You can learn from a cactus and how it adapts. They’re resilient.”

Opened in 1938 by his parents, Patricia and Chester (also known as Cactus Slim), Moorten’s 1-acre sanctuary is small but mighty. It houses 2,500 species of cactus and succulents, along with desert ironwood, palo verde, and honey mesquite. There’s also an enchanting “cactarium” filled with unique species like aloe dichotoma.

As for Moorten’s favorite? “It changes every 10 feet,” he says. Admission is $7 for adults with discounts for veterans and children. Kids under 5 get in free.

Don’t miss: The nursery, where you can find the perfect specimen to take home.

Sunnylands Center & Gardens

Behind pink walls in Rancho Mirage, Sunnylands Center & Gardens houses more than 53,000 arid-adapted plants, representing about 70 species and the entire Pantone colorway. The 9-acre garden, designed by the Office of James Burnett (a team that’s also responsible for major public parks in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston), takes inspiration from the original estate owners’ prized collection of impressionist and postimpressionist paintings.

Built in 1966 and expanded in the early aughts, Sunnylands was the winter home of Walter and Leonore Annenberg — entrepreneurs, ambassadors, and philanthropists who regularly hosted icons of entertainment and global politics. Highlights include reflecting pools, a labyrinth of wedelia flowers, black-spine agave, bunny ear cactuses, and vibrant desert marigolds. The gardens opened to the public in March 2012. They are free to visit.

Don’t miss: For a self-guided tour, bring your earbuds and tune into any of five “audio walk” episodes, available on the Sunnylands website.