Quick Facts
| Trail Name | Bear Creek Oasis |
| Peak/High Point | 2264 ft |
| Trail Length | 10 miles |
| Gain | 2350 feet |
| Parking | Sunrise to Sunset, free at trailhead |
| Restrooms | Yes, Pit Toilets at trailhead |
| Dogs | Yes |
| Cell Service | 1 -2 bars |
| Location | La Quinta, CA |
| Directions | From the Cove Trailhead, proceed to the Bear Creek Oasis |
| Map | Alltrails |
Winter in the Desert
I headed off towards the Bear Creek Oasis from the Cove Trailhead in La Quinta, CA in February. Winter and spring are the best times to visit here. There is a large parking area, and is a popular place to hike. There are plenty of signs, picnic tables, and a restroom here at the trailhead.
I would be heading to the right of the Cove, towards a large catchment basin, where runoff from rains, get’s channelized. This is where the trail to the palm tree oasis begins.
There is a grove of native palms at the end of this hike. They were an important resource for the Cahuilla tribe which inhabited this area going back thousands of years.
This is a somewhat long and strenuous hike, uphill, in an unforgiving desert environment. Winter and early spring are the best times to visit this oasis, since it can get hot, the rest of the year.
The hike begins in this desert wash. Eventually the trail will veer off to the right. I just kept following the brown trail marker signs.
I happened to see a desert hummingbird nesting within the greenish branches of a Cottonwood Tree.
Then I spotted all these birds nests in the tree.
Fun Fact: The roots of the Cottonwood tree grow deep, and can tap water a hundred feet below the surface.
It is a classic painted desert here in the Cove.
I saw a few of one of my favorite desert plants, the ocotillo.
Winter had brought snow to the mountains this year, but not as much as usual. Mount San Jacinto in the distance was snowy around its peak at 10,700 feet.
For February, the temperatures started to climb to around 70 degrees. The hear radiates off the cliff faces, and kind of amplifies it in places like this. That’s why bringing plenty of water is essential, not to mention a hat, and sunglasses.
I had climbed Mount San Jacinto before from Idyllwild, and I wondered what it might be like up there right now, in wintertime.
There were lots of different cactus of varying vibrant colors, still not yet in bloom.
It was really beautiful up here on the ridge, looking out over the Coachella Valley.
I stopped for a break on top of a giant rock slab, and could see all the way to the Salton Sea from here.
After reaching the high point of the hike, the trail dips into a canyon again, briefly, and heads down into the Bear Creek Oasis.
There were about a dozen native palms here. It was not the most palms I had seen in a desert oasis by any means, but it was an interesting hike nonetheless, with great views.
I will definitely be coming back here again soon, to hike the Bear Creek Oasis. At about 10 miles, it’s a perfect half day hike, with awesome views, and a great workout to boot, on a well maintained desert trail.
I hope you enjoyed reading this, and it is helpful in knowing what to expect, should you decide to visit here.
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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Disclaimer: The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2023 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
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