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.
Hiking
4 Trails to Hike via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
“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...
Hike of the Month: Palm Desert Cross
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...
Hike of the Month: Hidden Palms Trail
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...
Hike of the Month: Bear Creek Oasis Trail
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...
Hike of the Month: Dos Palmas Preserve
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...
Events, Tickets, Specials, and Good Reads
Wake Up With the Desert
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.
Hike of the Month: Chuckwalla Trail Loop in Rancho Mirage
Popular with hikers and runners, the scenic and well-maintained Chuckwalla Trail Loop presents a moderately challenging, 2.1-mile route that begins and ends near The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage. Park behind City Hall and access the trailhead from Frank...
Hike of the Month: Murray Canyon in Palm Springs
Streams and waterfalls distinguish this 3.7-mile, out-and-back trail at the Indian Canyons, the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. In the first half-mile, the popular and moderately challenging route leads through sandy,...
Hike of the Month: West Canyon Trail in Morongo Valley
Panoramic views of Big Morongo Canyon and a plethora of plants, including wild plum, honey mesquite, and desert almond, line the path of this moderately difficult .84-mile hike. A couple of steep switch-backs will lead you to the canyon floor and an...
Hike of the Month: Pushawalla Palms Trail
Located in the Coachella Valley Preserve, smack on the San Andreas Fault, this moderate, 4.4-mile loop trail leads up a rugged 700 feet to a ridgeline trek with spectacular 360-degree views of the valley. The rocky descent heads into an improbable palm...
Explore the Beauty of Indian Canyons’ Coffman Trail in Palm Springs
It’s 8 a.m., and the glow on the chollas signals we’re among the first to enter the Indian Canyons. My partner Edgar and I have timed our mid-May hike to finish before the temperature rises even close to its afternoon highs. The new-to-us Coffman Trail,...
Hike of the Month: Museum to North Lykken Trail
Challenging inclines and panoramic views await hikers on this strenuous route. The Museum Trail starts behind Palm Springs Art Museum with a heart-pumping ascent of roughly 1,000 feet in 1 mile. At the top, you’ll find tables and a connection to the...
Hike of the Month: Round Valley to Wellman Divide
This 6.8-mile, round-trip trek gains 1,100 feet in elevation and rewards adventurers with stunning vistas. Hitch a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, pick up a free (but required) wilderness permit, and head out on the Round Valley Loop trail. At about 2.5...
Seven Natural Wonders of the California Desert
A memory. Scrambling up the steep and rocky South Lykken Trail in Palm Springs on a winter day that sweltered like summer. The plants alongside the path were crunchy, not a bloom to be found, and the entire hillside loomed monotonous. I’d moved here from the Midwest a...
A New York Times Bestseller Reflects on the Heat of the Desert
This is the time of year when concerned relatives call to check in. We saw that you’re living in the hottest place on the planet. Are you okay?No, we’re not. No normal person chooses to stay in the desert all summer. You have to want the heat.A FEW...
Hike of the Month: Contact Mine
This rarely traveled trail is close to Joshua Tree's northern entrance.PHOTO BY STEVEN BILLERFew visitors who enter Joshua Tree National Park at the north entrance in Twentynine Palms stop at the first trailhead — Contact Mine — located a half mile from...
Fern Canyon: The Trail Less Traveled
Maybe we were selfish: My partner, Edgar, and I wanted a desert oasis to ourselves — a cool, peaceful spot out of cell phone range where we could hear the birds and critters and take in the splendor of the Indian Canyons. The most popular trails were out of the...
Hike of the Month: East Indio Hills Badlands
This loop offers a panoramic view.PHOTO BY ANNA KULAA locals’ favorite, this hike packs a lot into a moderate, 5.3-mile loop located off Golf Center Parkway in Indio.After crossing some flats, you climb to the top of low hills. The trail traverses the...
Chino Canyon Draws Visitors With Steep, Stunning Beauty
Water runs through Chino Canyon, giving life to wildflowers.PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM BREWSTERAn expansive slant of boulder fragments and sand spills from the jagged mouth of Chino Canyon in North Palm Springs. Carried by eons of mountain snowmelt and runoff...
Hike of the Month: South Lykken Trail
This moderately challenging hike is worth the strain.PHOTO BY LINDA CHAVOUSSouth Lykken TrailPalm Springs’ steep and rocky South Lykken Trail offers a moderately challenging workout and a feast for the eyes. Regardless of which end you start from on the...
