Hiking & Biking
Discover the outdoors and the natural beauty of the Coachella Valley on the hundreds of trails to tromp on between the spires of the San Jacintos in the west and the gnarled canyons of Mecca Hills in the east. There are seven time-tested, easy, and accessible trails which give an introduction to each wonderfully distinct wilderness areas - all right here in our Palm Springs hotel's backyard.
Palm Springs
Urban hiking takes on a new meaning in Palm Springs, a city embraced by two mountain ranges. Hikers can trudge through secluded canyons and scale ridges with scenic views of the valley below. Many of the trails are short enough to hike as a warm-up.
Mecca Hills
This labyrinthine network of rock walls and sand washes near the Salton Sea is the Coachella Valley's answer to the slot canyons of Anza-Borrego. Formed by a combination of floods and disturbances along the San Andreas Fault, the narrow, steep-walled canyons reveal desert trees, a variety of birds, and abundant wildflowers.
Joshua Tree National Park
Visitors to the high desert often liken their first experience in Joshua Tree National Park to stepping onto another planet. This place looks like no other place on Earth, with gnarled Joshua trees set against towering piles of doughy-looking boulders.
Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage
With several new trails and trail networks recently added, this area has something for everyone. From the newly completed Fox Canyon Hiking Park to the Bump and Grind Trail, these small desert cities have given access to some of the finest natural splendor in the valley.
Garner Valley
Situated in the Santa Rosa Mountains, picturesque Garner Valley combines aromatic pine forests with wide, grassy plains that recall Colorado's mountain country. Hiking trails climb up the mountainside on either side of the valley, offering views of both sides of the so-called "Desert Divide."
Idyllwild
The secluded mountain hamlet of Idyllwild consists of a cute little town center surrounded by cozy cabins nestled in the San Bernardino National Forest. This is also a major destination for serious hikers in the area, who cut their teeth on serious peaks like Tahquitz Peak, Devil's Slide, and Mt. San Jacinto.
Indian Canyons
These deep canyons are fed by the abundant underground springs that gave Palm Springs its name. Trails throughout the canyons sprout clusters of Washington fan palm trees around watery oases, creating a startlingly tropical scene in the desert.
