Trails - Desert Recreation District

Trails

Our desert is surrounded by breathtaking mountains and plenty of terrain that is excellent for exercise and leisure. This list offers trail locations based on physical exertion from easy to moderate to hard.

Disclaimer: Please use caution & safety when visiting trails. Carry water, nutrient-dense snacks, apply sunscreen, and stay on the trails. Always consult your physician before beginning any vigorous activity.

Click here for a Hiking Safety Guide from CAL FIRE, and this video also provides some safety tips for hikers.

All Trails

A winding pathway through lush greenery and colorful flowers, featuring a decorative ram sculpture on the side.

Ed Hastey Trail, Palm Desert

Easy

The image shows a topographic map highlighting a trail in red, indicating elevation changes and path direction.

Painted Canyon Trail, Mecca

Easy

The image shows a mapped trail or hiking route highlighted in red, indicating contours and nearby roads.

Roadrunner Trail, Rancho Mirage

Easy

The image shows a map with a red trail marked on a topographic background, indicating a hiking path around Squaw Hill.

Squaw Hill Trail, Thousand Palms

Easy

The image is a topographic map showing a winding hiking trail marked in red, surrounded by contours, near urban areas.

Bump and Grind, Palm Desert

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a highlighted hiking route, including trails marked in red and surrounding terrain details.

Carrizo Canyon Trail, Palm Desert

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a highlighted red trail, likely indicating a hiking or biking route in a hilly area.

Chuckwalla Trail Loop, Rancho Mirage

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a marked trail route in red, indicating elevation changes around Dead Indian Canyon.

Dead Indian Canyon Trail, Palm Desert

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a marked hiking trail (in red) and another route (in blue), including parking and landmarks.

Gabby Hayes Trail, Palm Desert

Moderate

The image shows a topographical map with a marked trail in red, featuring terrain around Willis Palms and nearby roads.

Herman’s Hike Trail, Thousand Palms

Moderate

The image shows a map with a marked red hiking trail, indicating distance markers along the route near Squaw Hill.

Hidden Palms Loop, Thousand Palms

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a highlighted hiking trail in red, alongside elevation contours and nearby roads.

Hopalong Cassidy Trail, Palm Desert

Moderate

The image depicts a mapped hiking trail in a mountainous area, marked in red, alongside roadways and terrain contours.

Indian Palms Trail, Thousand Palms

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a red route traced out near Rancho Mirage City Hall, illustrating a walking or hiking path.

Jack Rabbit Trail, Rancho Mirage

Moderate

A map showing a hiking trail in red, leading towards Lake Cahuilla, with contour lines indicating terrain elevation.

La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla Trail, La Quinta

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a highlighted red trail winding through hilly terrain near urban development and a creek.

Magnesia Springs Canyon Trail, Rancho Mirage

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a marked red line indicating a trail in the Santa Rosa Wilderness area.

Martinez Canyon Trail, Mecca

Moderate

A map showing a red hiking trail with elevation contours, neighboring roads, and points of interest in a mountainous area.

Mike Schuler Trail, Palm Desert

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with highlighted red trail routes in a mountainous area, possibly for hiking or navigation.

Moon Country Trail, Thousand Palms

Moderate

The image is a map showing a hiking or biking trail highlighted in red, located near Pushwalla Palms.

Pushwalla Palms Loop, Thousand Palms

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a highlighted red trail, possibly indicating a hiking route or path along hills.

Randall Henderson Loop Trail, Rancho Mirage

Moderate

The image shows a topographic map with a red trail route highlighted, indicating a hiking path or walking trail in a mountainous area.

Willis Palms Loop, Thousand Palms

Moderate

The image shows a map with a highlighted red trail running through mountainous terrain near Palm Desert, California.

Art Smith Trail, Palm Desert

Hard

The image shows a topographic map with a red route marked, likely representing a trail or path through mountainous terrain.

Bear Creek Canyon Trail, La Quinta

Hard

The image shows a map with a red route, indicating a path through mountainous terrain near a town.

Boo Hoff Trail

Hard

The image shows a map with a highlighted red trail route through mountainous terrain, near Mecca Hills Wilderness.

Meccacopia OHV Trail, Mecca

OHV