Surround yourself with the awe-inspiring majesty of 10,000 foot wooded peaks. Trek the winding trails through diverse desert landscapes, meadows, fern-forests, manzanitas, and snow-caps. Hike at your own pace or challenge yourself to a personalized cardio workout guided by an experienced trainer. When you accept the challenge of a personalized cardio workout through the mountains, you will be amazed at the new feelings your body can experience in a walking exercise. Many people turn away from the thought of running for fitness. These hikes give you a chance to learn new benefits of walking while spending time contemplating natural beauty.
Take a look at some of our scenic routes:
Indian Potrero Loop: Indian Canyons
| HIKE: | Indian Canyons, Palm Springs |
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| LENGTH: | About 8 miles round-trip |
| ELEVATION: | 1,165 Feet |
| DIFFICULTY: | Moderate to strenuous |
Directions to trailhead: To travel to the canyon from Palm Springs, take Palm Canyon
Drive south to the tollgate. The toll is $6 for adults, 3.50 for seniors, and $1 for children. A six-month pass can be purchased at the tribal office for $30. From the tollgate, follow the toll road about three miles to the Trading Post.
One of the most interesting areas for hiking in the Coachella Valley is Indian Canyons. This is part of the Agua Caliente Indian reservation and it contains the largest stand of native fan palms in the U.S. some of them being over 200 years old. One area worth visiting is called Indian Potrero on the Palm Canyon Indian Trails map that can be purchased for $3 at the trading post. Potrero means pasture in Spanish and this is obviously one of the places where the Cahuilla Indians kept some of their animals.
All directions are based on the Palm Canyon Indian Trails map. Enter Palm Canyon from the parking lot by taking the ramp from the trading post. Follow the East Fork Trail through the palm grove for about ½ mile until the trail comes to a place to cross the creek. Cross over and continue on the path until the junction of the Victor, Vandeventer, and Palm Canyon Trails is reached. Turn right (south) across the creek and follow the Palm Canyon Trail up the hill overlooking the canyon. Follow the trail until you arrive at the junction of the Dry Wash Trail and the two branches of the Palm Canyon Trail. Take the right branch and follow it about ½ mile until it comes close to the creek. Climb down to the creek and the trail will continue across the stream and up the opposite bank. The trail is hard to see from this point but it is there. To your right, as you cross the creek, is an area called the Stone Pools by some people and Picnic Camp in the Palm Canyon Indian Trails map. This is a good place to stop and take a break. At this spot there is a great series of natural stone pools to soak your feet in on a hot day.
A small group of us did this hike on a Sunday. After a short climb from the creek, we arrived at the area marked Indian Potrero on the map and found a flat grassy area bordered by a rocky hillside on one side and cliffs on the other. There were only two entrances and it looked like it would be easy to block off each to keep cattle or horses from wandering. While we were crossing the pasture we passed a small herd of the largest longhorn cows I have ever seen. These cows are mostly harmless but they are not pets. I'm sure their owners would appreciate your keeping your distance from their animals.
A stream cuts through the pasture, and the holes ground into the rocks by Indians grinding seeds can be found along side of the stream. The trail is hard to find at this point. Just continue walking in a southerly direction and the trail will appear again. There are natural stone pools and a creek that is running almost all year. Be very careful of the slippery rocks. The jeep road that leads back to the trail can be seen from this spot. It is also labeled Palm Canyon Trail on the map. Just follow the jeep trail (turn left) back to where it intersects with the Dry Wash Trail. From there follow the Palm Canyon Trail back to the trading post. The complete loop is about 8 miles and has an elevation rise of about 1150 feet. It should take four or five hours at a moderate pace.
| HIKE: | Palm Springs Tram to San Jacinto Peak |
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| LENGTH: | 11 Miles |
| ELEVATION: | 2,300 Feet |
| DIFFICULTY: | Strenuous |
When you step off the tramway at over 8,000 feet in elevation, you will think you have been transported to the Sierra Nevada mountains. The temperature is usually 30-40 degrees cooler here than in Palm Springs clothing needs. This hike has beautiful forests, giant granite boulders, small streams, meadows, incredible vistas and tops out at so keep that in mind when planning your almost 11,000 feet in altitude. Due to the increased altitude, pay attention to your body if you start to develop a bad headache, nausea or dizziness. For most people an advil or two will do the trick or you may need to go at a slower pace. Just make sure and tell one of your guides so they can assist you in in making the correct decision.
Wander down the paved switchbacks to the Long Valley Ranger station where you will obtain a group permit. Soon you leave the "tourists" behind as you begin to climb in the forest towards beautiful Round Valley with its lovely meadow. You will pass by two trail junctions to Willow Creek, coming in from your left, but your destination is the peak so keep to the right. You continue walking in the cool dark forests as you climb rather steeply until reaching Round Valley. You will know you have arrived by the beautiful open meadow on your right and the rustic wilderness cabin for the ranger marked by an icy cold stream of water coming from a pipe, but don't drink the water unless you treat it!
Once here, take a few deep gulps of that mountain air once you get to the trail junction in Round Valley. You will be taking the trail towards "Wellmans Divide" or St. Jacinto Peak and will be climbing steeply more than 1,000 feet to the divide. Once to the divide, catch your breath and enjoy the spectacular views. Looking out from the divide you gaze into the beautiful Taquitz Valley, the Santa Rosa Mountains and to the west, can see almost to the sea on a clear day Don't stay too long as you have 2.7 more miles to the peak.
At the divide keep on the trail to the right that is marked to St. Jacinto Peak. You hike for another 15 minutes until you reach the "Ravine". At the ravine the trail takes a hard left and you begin a series of steep climbs and switchbacks through a field of boulders and granite. If you are hiking just after the snow melts, the trail can be a little confusing in this section until the hordes have beaten down a path. Once through this section, the trail breaks out into the open as it zig zags steeply up the mountain until reach the top. You will come to a trail marker that takes you off the main trail for the short but steep ½ mile to the summit, passing by a rock shelter and then boulder hopping to the craggy open top.
On a clear day, the views from the top can be amazing and breathtaking in all directions. Sprawl out on a boulder, take your picture by the peak sign and eat an orange or apple. Enjoy it, you deserve it!
Retrace your steps going down and return the way you came up. All too soon you will reach the tramway and the short 12 minute ride down to your car at the bottom.
| HIKE: | Murray Canyon/West Fork |
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| LENGTH: | 10 Miles |
| ELEVATION: | 2,800 Feet |
| DIFFICULTY: | Strenuous |
This hike will amaze you with its scenery, variety, surprises and challenges. It will give you a sampling of all the varied types of scenery and terrain to be found in the desert. Large stands of indigenous palm trees, flowing creeks, a waterfall, twisted and tortured rock formations, steep rocky climbs and slippery creek crossings. This trail has it all. When crossing the creeks and descending the steep loose downhill sections, keep your eyes on the ground and not on the beautiful scenery or a nasty fall could be your punishment! Drink lots and lots of water on this hike as it can be hot!
You will be taken by van into the beautiful Indian Canyons, a short 10 minute ride from the Inn and dropped off at the Murray Canyon parking lot, where the trail begins. Cross over the bridge and continue walking to the left through the picnic area. Once crossing through, the trail breaks free from the palm trees and wanders through the open desert. Soon, the trail drops down into the Palm and Willow filled stream drainage of Murray Canyon. As you continue walking up the drainage, notice the incredible slanted rock formations on your right. The dark brown color of the rocks is actually caused by oxidation and is called "desert varnish". You will see sections where the rock has broken off, exposing the much lighter rock underneath.
As you continue up the creek, you will begin to see the vegetation become more and more lush, with cottonwoods, willows and palm trees. You will cross over the creek several times. It can be slippery on the rocks, so watch your step!
2 ½ miles from the trailhead, you will pass by a trail junction that comes in from the left to West Fork. Do not take it at this point as that will be our route on the way back. Continue ½ mile alongside the creek, which begins to climb as the walls of the canyon continue to narrow and close in on you. Soon you come to the trails end to a beautiful little waterfall. Take a moment to take a picture, splash some water on your face or lay in the water.
We retrace our steps the way we came for ½ mile until we reach the trail junction coming in from the right. This time we take it and begin to climb very steeply up a series of switchbacks. Up and up we go. The higher we go, the more breathtaking the view. After climbing nearly 2,000 feet we stop at the summit, before it begins to descend into the next drainage. Take a well deserved breather and have a snack! After catching your breath and admiring the view, turn around and begin the VERY steep descent back the way you came. This section is VERY steep and slippery due to many loose rocks and can be hard on knees. So don't go faster than you feel safe.
Eventually, the trail will dead end back into the Murray Canyon trail. Once at the "T", turn right and return to the van and parking lot from where we started. By now, your knees and feet may be feeling a little tired or wobbly, just remember to watch your step while crossing over the rocks in the stream crossings.
Once you arrive back to the parking lot at the trailhead, the van with its nice soft seats and ice cold air conditioning will be waiting for you to take you back to the Inn.
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