Palm Springs, California, is a popular vacation destination set in a beautiful desert landscape of the Coachella Valley. Surrounded by multiple mountain ranges, the area provides many unique and varied hiking opportunities. The best hikes in Palm Springs include a little bit of everything – tall mountain peaks, narrow slot canyons, lush palm oases, sandy plains, and hilly terrain. If you’re looking for an active break from the resorts, golf courses, and spas – check out these best hikes in the Greater Palm Springs area.
1. Wander to a waterfall on the Tahquitz Canyon Trail.
Just minutes from downtown Palm Springs you’ll find this 1.9-mile loop trail on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The well-maintained path gains an elevation of 350 feet before leading you to a 60-foot waterfall set among the rocky cliffs.
Being so close to town, the Tahquitz Canyon Trail is a convenient day hike that’s best done early in the morning to avoid crowds. You’ll see cool rock formations and rock art along the way. The canyon walls provide some shade early in the morning, but other times you are in full sun—so be prepared.
The trail includes some big rocky steps with a few steep parts and is rated easy to moderate. The entire hike takes about one hour to complete.
Hiking tips:
The hike begins at Tahquitz Canyon Visitor’s Center and there’s a $15 entry fee. No dogs are allowed on the trail.
2. A lush oasis awaits you on the Andreas Canyon Trail (within Indian Canyons Palm Springs).
Only about 10 minutes further out of town you’ll come to Indian Canyons Palm Springs. This is also part of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The area includes 3 canyons—Palm Canyon, Murray Canyon, and Andreas Canyon—with many different hiking trails of varying lengths.
I recommend the Andreas Canyon Loop Trail for a short and beautiful hike that follows a stream through a grove of towering California fan palms. The sound of water trickling over rocks as it flows downstream makes you feel like you’re in a lush tropical locale – and not actually in the middle of a desert.
As you make your way out of the canopy of palm trees, you’ll cross a bridge and follow the dusty path revealing more of the desert environment with palm trees set against a rocky and hilly backdrop.
Hiking tips:
The hike took us 50 minutes to complete, stopping for pictures along the way. There is a $12 entry fee and they do not allow dogs on the trail.
3. Travel by tram to hike in Mount San Jacinto State Park.
To access more than 50 miles of hiking trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park, you’ll need to travel a bit to get there… approximately 8,000 feet straight up! The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is a fun and unique way to travel the 10 minutes up the mountain as you experience the world’s largest rotating tram car. Windows surround you in the tram car and slowly turn as you go, providing 360-degree views on the way up and down the mountain.
At the top, you’ll have your choice of trails to hike. For an easy 1.5-mile loop trail leading to five expansive viewpoints overlooking the Coachella Valley, hike the Desert View Trail.
It’s a peaceful path winding through a mountain wilderness with a few short inclines. The trail starts at the bottom of a steep paved walkway connecting the tram station to the trails. (This is quite possibly the hardest part of your entire hike.) For longer hiking options, explore the Round Valley Loop Trail (4 miles), Wellman Divide (6.2 miles), or hike all the way to San Jacinto Peak (11.6 miles).
After you’ve worked up an appetite hiking to all the stunning overlooks, relax at one of two restaurants and a bar at the mountain tram station. Catch some more views from the observation decks and grab a gift from the small gift shop located inside.
Hiking tips:
The temperature at the top of the mountain averages 30-40 degrees cooler than on the desert floor. Be prepared for snowy and icy trails in the winter and early spring. For a real-time look at the trail conditions, check out the Mount San Jacinto Trail Cam. A round trip tram ride costs $28.95 for adults and it’s best to buy your tickets online ahead of time as the tram is popular and can get crowded.
4. Climb to a colorful view on the Ladder and Painted Canyon Trail.
Drive a little over an hour to Mecca Hills to experience a unique hike and fun adventure. Ladders, boulder climbing, and a slot canyon add so much variety to the Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Loop hike. You’ll hike down low between colorful canyon walls and up high on the canyon rim with miles of mountain views.
I’m not sure what it is about ladders on a hiking trail that make it so fun, but this is definitely one adventure you should consider tacking on to your Palm Springs itinerary. We wrote an in-depth article about how to get to the Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon loop trail and what to expect on this exciting and adventurous hike. Read it here: Ladder Canyon Trail and Painted Canyon Loop
Hiking tips:
The trail loop is 4.9 miles and considered moderately difficult. The hike took us 2.5 hours. Also know there are no bathrooms at the trailhead and no cell service along the route. It helps to download the AllTrails app and plug in this hike to refer to the map as you hike.
5. Hike among cacti and boulders in a must-do day trip to Joshua Tree National Park.
Cap off your time trekking the best hikes in Palm Springs with a visit to Joshua Tree National Park. Located just one hour away, the proximity of Palm Springs to Joshua Tree makes this a must-do day trip. Three hundred miles of trails wind through the unique and beautiful desert landscape providing a variety of views.
There are some important things to know before spending the day at Joshua Tree, so we created a Joshua Tree guide and itinerary to help you make the most of your time in the park. You can find it here: Best Hikes in Joshua Tree: A Complete Itinerary and Guide
Hiking tips:
There is a $30 fee to enter Joshua Tree National Park. You can’t bring dogs on the trails, but you can bring them into the park. Dogs must stay within 100 feet of roads, picnic areas, and campgrounds.
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