Local directory

Hiking trails in Palm Desert, CA

Palm Desert is the middle of the Coachella Valley and its main shopping and dining hub. It has El Paseo, the McCallum Theatre, The Living Desert and College of the Desert, plus neighborhoods like Sun City Palm Desert. Its residents call local businesses for everything from roofing and air conditioning to dinner on El Paseo.

Public trails across the valley: palm oases in the Indian Canyons, National Monument trails above Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, the La Quinta Cove, and high-country hikes from the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Some charge admission and some close seasonally or in summer heat.

6 hiking trails are listed in Palm Desert right now, including Art Smith Trail, Bump and Grind Trail and Gabby Hayes Trail. Each one has its own page with the location, details and a link to the official site.

Hiking trails
Photo: David Balmer, CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Hiking trails · Palm Desert

Art Smith Trail

Signature 8.3-mile National Monument trail with 1,465 feet of climb through hidden canyons and palm oases. Strenuous. Bighorn sheep are often seen. No dogs.

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Hiking trails · Palm Desert

Bump and Grind Trail

The most popular workout trail in the National Monument: 1.1 miles and 523 feet of climb, or a 3-mile loop with the Hopalong Cassidy and Herb Jeffries trails. Moderate. No dogs.

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Hiking trails · Palm Desert

Gabby Hayes Trail

Short, easy trail from Cahuilla Hills Park that links to a 2.3-mile loop with the Hopalong Cassidy and Herb Jeffries trails, or up to the cross. Dogs allowed to the Hopalong Cassidy junction.

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Hiking trails · Palm Desert

Homestead Trail to the Cross

Popular half-mile climb of 733 feet from Homme-Adams Park that connects to the Hopalong Cassidy Trail and the cross on top of the mountain. Moderate. Dogs allowed.

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Hiking trails · Palm Desert

Hopalong Cassidy Trail

Strenuous 8.3-mile rollercoaster trail above Palm Desert, from Painters Path to the Art Smith Trail, passing the lighted cross. Dogs allowed only from the Gabby Hayes junction to the cross.

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Hiking trails · Palm Desert

Randall Henderson Trail

Easy 2.4-mile loop with about 400 feet of climb at the National Monument Visitor Center. A good first desert hike, with a plant guide from the visitor center. No dogs.

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