Coachella Valley Preserve Palm Springs Day Trip

Coachella Valley Preserve is a short, convenient, air-conditioned day trip from Palm Springs.

Take a nice leisurely walk through a natural oasis in the middle of the desert, or work up a sweat under the sweltering desert sun, and then retire for a cool drink in the shade of a gorgeous palm grove. You won’t be disappointed no matter how you spend your time at Coachella Valley Preserve.

Located 10 miles east of Palm Springs near 1,000 Palms and fed by water seeping out of the San Andreas Fault, this 17,000-acre Preserve is a natural refuge where visitors can discover rare and incredible wildlife.

Golden foothills and mesas, white dunes, and silent canyons are all home to the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, which is found nowhere else in the world, as well as various other reptiles, birds, and big cats.

Paul Wilhelm Grove

In the middle of a fantastic date palm oasis is the Paul Wilhelm Grove, which is also the location of the Preserve’s rustic visitor center. The area is also the hub of a diverse trail system. Inside the historic building, guests can find trail maps and be treated to unique displays of the natural and historical features of the various Preserves in the area.

There are over 28 miles of trails leading to a wide range of habitats, most of which are well-marked, with some having picnic areas atop beautiful vistas overlooking the surrounding valley.
From easy to moderately strenuous, from flat terrain to steep grades, hikes of all varieties are available for your enjoyment. There are also several designated equestrian trails but no bike or dog-friendly trails.

One hike that is a sure bet for all levels is through varying desert terrain out to McCallum Grove, which is about a mile from the visitor’s center. About a dozen isolated palm groves within the Preserve, the largest being McCallum Grove.

There’s more water here than anywhere else in the Preserve. The overflow allows desert pupfish and the occasional mallard duck to make a brief stopover during its annual migration.

After leaving McCallum Grove, keep hiking west on marked trails to “moon country.” You will come to an overlook that provides excellent views of the entire area.

You can return to the visitor’s center or continue via the 4.2-mile Moon Country Trail Loop or the more advanced Moon Country Canyon Extension, adding 1.63 miles round trip.

Beyond that are Pushawalla Palms, Horseshoe Palms, and Hidden Palms, which are all more strenuous hikes. While the Visitor Center is closed in the summer from June 1 through August 31, the Preserve remains open for hiking and picnicking year-round.

Getting There

Coachella Valley Preserve is an excellent way to spend a day with its fantastic hiking trails and beautiful vistas, but best of all, it’s free and easy to find.

Just take Interstate 10 East to the Ramon Road exit. Turn left, follow Ramon Road, and make a left turn on Thousand Palms Road. The visitor’s center’s entrance is about two miles on the left.

Also, Near Palm Springs

Whitewater Preserve San Gorgonio Wilderness

Tahquitz Canyon, just west of Palm Canyon Drive

Oasis Date Garden