Guides
Planning on attacking Southern California's mother of endurance hikes? Try getting a taste first to help better prepare.
This hike was to get familiar with the C2C trail of Mt. San Jacinto for future attempts and the goal of reaching the summit in the future. The idea was to get an estimate on climbing rate, time, weather/climate change, terrain, trail maintenance, challenge level, and provisions/gear needed to successfully climb the mountain. Future attempts to follow.
Trips
Mirage (a.k.a. "Bump & Grind") Trail
Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Hiking | 3.3 miles (0.7 miles away)
Hiking | 3.3 miles (0.7 miles away)
One of the most popular trails among local cardio-enthusiasts, the
Mirage Trail (also known as the "Bump-n-Grind" trail, the "Desert Drive
Trail", the "Patton Trail", and the "Desert Mirage Trail") begins
with it's trail-head along Highway 111 on the border of Rancho Mirage
and Palm Desert. There are a few start points for this trail. Books
will tell you that you should access it via Painters Path (behind Target
in Palm...
Eisenhower Peak: Wilderness Loop Trail
Palm Desert, California, United States
Hiking | 5.0 miles (3.6 miles away)
Hiking | 5.0 miles (3.6 miles away)
from the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens:The Living Desert Nature Preserve consists of 1,080 sonoran desert
acres situated just above the zoo. From The Living Desert, a hiker can
select one of three trails to suit their desired experience of the real
undisturbed desert. The nature trails take you through various Sonoran
Desert biological communities and habitats including desert riparian
woodland with smoketree, palo verde and desert willow, and desert scrub...
Opened in 2006 as a connector trail to the Art Smith and Bump and Grind trails, the Hopalong Cassidy trail (named for famed American movie and television cowboy icon of the same name), is one of my favorite 1/2 day hikes of the Lower Santa Rosa complex. It features a lot of variety, beginning with the short meadow trek to the trailhead. To get there, drive south on Highway 74 from Palm...
Palm Desert - North Loop
Rancho Mirage, California, United States
Hiking | 7.2 miles (0.7 miles away)
Hiking | 7.2 miles (0.7 miles away)
A nice 7.2-mile loop consisting of the Mirage (a.k.a. "Bump-n-Grind"),
Herb Jeffries, & Mike Schuler Trails. Because most of these trails are so short, I thought it best to create some loops for people visiting to venture upon. This loop allows you access to every north-end trail in the Palm Desert San Jacinto area.You will begin at the trail-head for the Mirage Trail and work your way to the top. Then back...
This trail takes you to the top of Murray Hill with a spectacular 360
degree view of the Coachella Valley and Little San Bernardino
Mountains. The trail can be reached by equestrians and hikers via the
Wildhorse Trail (W) or from the top of the Eagle Canyon Trail (E). To
reach the Wildhorse Trail you can follow the directions for the Garstin
Trail and follow the fork to the right down into the valley seen from
the top...
Starting at the West end of Ramon Rd in Palm Springs, this trial climbs 2 vertical miles to the top of San Jacinto at 10,800'.
This trail is a connecter trail between the Mirage Trail (N.W. end) and the Hopalong Cassidy Trail (S.E. end). Although I did not map it, the trail actually extends a bit further to the S.E. looking down on Edgehill Dr. below and Fox Canyon to the south.This trail is a tribute to the legendary “Bronze Buckaroo”, Herb
Jeffries, a film star and recording artist who, in the era of popular
western movies,...
The Living Desert Middle Loop
Palm Desert, California, United States
Hiking | 2.2 miles (3.6 miles away)
Hiking | 2.2 miles (3.6 miles away)
This trail is accessible from within The Living Desert zoo. We were limited in that we started late in the day (you have to leave the zoo by 5:00 PM), and were pushing a stroller. So we were primarily limited to the "Middle Loop." Otherwise we would have explored the "Wilderness Loop," which goes up into Eisenhower Mountain.This is a very gentle, level portion of the trail (~100 ft elevation change). Being...
East Fork to Vandeventer Trail Loop
Desert Hills Trailer Park, California, United States
Hiking | 8.4 miles (7.2 miles away)
Hiking | 8.4 miles (7.2 miles away)
A nice 8.5 mile loop that showcases the variety of the Indian Canyons,
this loop took me three hours and was moderate. While there were no
major elevation changes, there are four distinct 10-foot walls to
scramble along the East Fork trail which makes this a poor choice for
children and/or inexperienced hikers.
Often confused with the Mirage (a.k.a. "Bump-n-Grind") Trail, the Mike Schuler begins on Painter's Path Road (just behind the Target store) and works north toward the Mirage Trail. The Hopalong Cassidy trail begins at this same point but meanders south.There isn't much for history written about this trail. The city of Palm Desert lists this trail on their city hiking map, and there is a prominent sign on the south end (no...
Hiking with my daughter Sarah and brother-in-law Glenn
Investigation of the cove hikes. Trail only supposed to be open until April, but with the cooler weather - why not go now?Start at the west parking lot where Ave. Madero meets Tecate. Short hike to the first "oasis" where the city has built benches and cover. Exit the oasis to the southwest. The actual canyon trail exits the wash and starts heading uphill. Great views of Bear Creek Canyon and the...
Mt. San Jacinto from the Tram
Palm Springs, California, United States
Hiking | 9.8 miles (13.9 miles away)
Hiking | 9.8 miles (13.9 miles away)
absolutely perfect day to hike the most beautiful mountain top in southern california. we had the summit and the hut all to ourselves for awhile which is amazing in itself. took our sweet time and many photos of all the unparalleled views. incredible feeling of love flowing all around while up there! 10 stars!
Garstin Trail, Palm Springs, CA
Palm Springs, California, United States
Hiking | 4.0 miles (7.3 miles away)
Hiking | 4.0 miles (7.3 miles away)
Hike to see the new snow.
from Hiking in Palm Springs:The
Berns Trail acts as a connector between the Garstin, Araby, Shannon and
Eagle Canyon. The Berns trail starts at the top of the Garstin Trail
and winds northeasterly over the top of Smoketree Mountain until it
intersects the Araby Trail. Of course, if you start hiking at the
beginning of the Araby Trail, then you can use the Berns Trail to
connect with the Garstin. I liked the solitude of the Berns trail...
Araby Trail, Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California, United States
Hiking | 1.7 miles (6.9 miles away)
Hiking | 1.7 miles (6.9 miles away)
This hike takes you up to Bob Hope's massive mushroom shaped house. The neighborhood also includes a house where Steve McQueen lived and the Elrod house featured in the James Bond movie "Diamonds are Forever".
Hiked with my friends Brian, Randy and Mary Ellen. Started at the Art Smith trail head just south of Bighorn CC. A great hike! Great views of Bighorn CC and Red Hawk CC. Stopped at the Palm Desert cross for a quick bite then on to the finish at the Bump n Grind. A little over 9 miles. Brian kicked my butt!
This hike is rated 5th hardest day hike in US by Outside Mag for good reason...the first 10 miles you climb 8500ft to get to the tram, this is called Skyline Trail which is definitely the most difficult part of the C2C. You start out at the Desert Museum, TH just behind, park your car on street or in parking lot. The beginning of the hike is in "cactus" and it ends...
La Quinta Cove to Sugarloaf Cafe-I
La Quinta, California, United States
Hiking | 14.2 miles (8.6 miles away)
Hiking | 14.2 miles (8.6 miles away)
George, Rick, Chris, Doug & Mark hiked from La Quinta Cove to Sugarloaf Cafe traversing the Boo Hoof, Guadalupe and Cactus Spring Trails. Beautiful day. Clear skies. 75 degrees with gentle breeze. Finished the hike in just under 8 hours with vertical up-5,578 feet, vertical down 1,896 and total of 14.2 miles. We had a nice lunch at the cowboy camp at elevation 5,000'.
