Hiking in Palm Desert
There are plenty of hikes to choose from in the area here for each skill level with every type of terrain.
- Explore the undulating wavelike rock formations of the Indio Badlands
- Possibly spot a herd of Bighorn Sheep in Carrizo Canyon
- Take a bit of a longer hike in the hills above Palm Desert viewing far peaks along Art Smith trail
Colorful Painted Canyons
From Carrizo Canyon, to the Indio Badlands, and Art Smith trail, the desert is filled with color, all season long. No matter which direction you glance, colorful rock walls, and desert flora, dot just about every turn.
Whether walking through a meandering sandy wash, or up a rocky incline, or through a narrow slot canyon, the desert is a unique hiking destination. Everyone needs to experience the California desert at least once.
Hiking the trails up above, and all around Palm Desert you begin to spot so much interesting scenery. There are the surrounding high peaks of Mount San Jacinto, and you may glimpse the outer edges of Joshua Tree National Park.
Search and You Will Find
One thing you can be sure of is there will be an abundance of peace and quiet, on desert trails. Whether in Palm Desert, the hills surrounding Palm Springs, or northward into Indio, there are few crowds.
So if you enjoy learning about natural history, geology, and like sunshine, this might just be your hikers paradise.
Further out past La Quinta, you will come to the fairly isolated Mecca Hills and undulating washes, and slot canyons along Box Canyon Road. Continuing further east, you will eventually reach the almost complete silence of the Mojave, and far reaches of Death Valley.
BigHorn Sheep
There are a few spots known for spotting Bighorn Sheep around Palm Desert. They are quite elusive, and I have more often than not, failed to find some on the ridges. They are known to frequent places such as Carrizo Canyon, Indian Canyon, Randal Henderson, and Hopalong Cassidy trail.
It is after all Sheep Mountain that sits towering above the Santa Rosa Mountains Wilderness, where many of the free use trails managed by the Bureau of Land Management are located. Maybe if you’re lucky you may spot one of these unique, beautiful, and highly adapted desert dwelling sheep.
Desert in Bloom
Another thing to note is that the desert blooms far earlier than landscapes on the coast. One reason is its low elevation, of being close to sea level, especially around Palm Desert. Another reason is that desert plants tend to bloom during the rainy season, which can vary depending on the year.
Expect to find an abundance of cactus, ocotillo, wildflowers, and desert succulents, along the trails around Palm Desert. You
What to Bring and the Seasons
If you’re going in the wintertime, which is the most popular time to hike in the area, there are a few things you should know to be prepared.
The desert temps can fluctuate wildly, from Late November into to February. Imagine the low 40’s in morning and evening, and the 70’s during the day. The sun reflects heat off the lightly covered sandy trails, intensifying it.
Dressing in layers of loose, comfortable, breathable clothing is recommended. Wear a sturdy pair of hiking shoes, such as by the brand Merrel. Don’t forget sun protection, such as a hat, or visor, along with sunglasses.
If you’re hiking in spring and fall, you can expect more extremes, erring on the side of warm, to baking hot. Temperatures can hover well into the 100’s from April to May, and October to November.
Come summer time, expect to see just a few or even not one other hiker on the trails here. If being completely alone is your thing, this may be your calling. Not only do the temperatures remain in the upper 90’s and into triple digits, it can be dangerous to hike during these times. If you do go, stick with early mornings, before 9am, for hiking.
Lastly, bring more water than you think you will need. The desert will dehydrate you quickly. Also, don’t forget that hand lotion, and lip balm. A handheld mister will keep you cool for a short while, if you get stuck in the full sun of the desert heat unexpectedly.
Don’t forget a paper map, or a downloaded one. I will always recommend upgrading to alltrails+ since you can download offline maps. That is crucial when exploring the desert, since cell signals are usually low or nonexistent.
Do You Love the Desert?
So do I….and I will be posting lots of new and interesting desert hiking content soon. If you love the desert, be the first to hear whenever I release a new blog or video, by subscribing here.
I make trips to the desert frequently from my home base in Orange County. If you are interested in all things desert, I would love to keep you in the loop. If you have a place you would like to explore, I would love to hear about it.
More Resources
If you enjoy learning about rocks, and rockhounding, be sure to check out The Geologic History of CA State Parks here.
Download the trail maps for all the hikes mentioned here at alltrails.com.
For a BLM Hiking map of the area click 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 2022 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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