Living Desert Zoo & Gardens The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has been a beloved institution in Southern California for over 50 years. An Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited zoo and botanical garden, The Living Desert represents the desert environments of North America, Australia, and Africa with more than 150 species, 1,200 protected acres, and miles of hiking trails.
Moorten Botanical Gardens Established in Palm Springs since 1938, this privately-owned arboretum was created to share the beauty and extraordinary varieties of desert plants with everyone who visits. The featured desert trees, plants, and cacti come from around the world and range in size from miniature to giants!
Hiking Palm Springs offers three main hiking areas: trails within the City, 60 miles of trails within the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation, and 54 miles of trails within Mt. San Jacinto State Park. The Agua Caliente Indian Reservation includes three canyons within Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon, Murray Canyon, and Andreas Canyon) and Tahquitz Canyon, with a separate entrance and visitor center.
Joshua Tree National Park Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features add to the wonder of this vast wilderness in southern California. Come explore for yourself!
Aerial Tramway The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—the world’s largest rotating tram car—travels over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. During your approximately ten-minute journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering picturesque and spectacular vistas of the valley floor below.
