About 20 minutes away from Desert Hot Springs. My mother in law and I were awake way before the rest of the family and both of us like exploring and nature so I asked her if she wanted to go hiking with me at 6:30 am. Both of us got ready in 10 minutes and were out the door. The gate is closed and there is even a sign that says "parking lot closed" but we saw other people parking on the street and walking over so we did the same. The RV/campsite you can see from a distance is for the staff that works there, don't be alarmed by it! If you head on the trails toward the RV its very short but brings you into the giant palms and a wooden staircase that goes down to water and palms growing out of it. You can finish this very quickly. When you head out and head to the right there are branching paths here that lead to more hikes in palms, along the river oasis, and more into the mountains. The visitor center looked excellent and had a home made log cabin vibe, we could see some interesting artifacts inside but because the entrance was chained we didn't want to go in without permission even though it would have been easy to just duck under the chains. read more

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Nice little gem of a place. Good for kids to run around. Nice little trails. Docents are there to answer questions and teach about the tectonic plates and underground water. read more

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This place is really cool. A nice place for an easy walk or hike. The oasis is amazing. Definitely recommend.

Drivers, please drive below the 45-mph recommended speed because there are pedestrians. Visitors: the Preserve is only open some days per week. The parking area is closed. Park across along the road, look before opening a door on the left side of your vehicle, and cross the road carefully. As you enter the parking area, a trail to the left leads to a hill overlooking the Preserve. The entrance area has two toilets, two picnic tables, information signs, and a helpful docent. The McCallum Trail and San Andreas Trail are open for a short way. Some trails are partly closed and as a result you cannot reach some of the informational signs. I have read those signs in the past when those trails were still open. FYI, the Mission Strand of the San Andreas Fault blocks the flow of underground water. The water rises to the surface creating a small oasis with native California fan palm trees and bird life. read more

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So sad. What a beautiful preserve it used to be. Now it needs a lot of work done. Where is the funding going that this place needs badly.

This place is a must-see even if you have just 15 minutes to spare on your trip. The parking gate was down so everyone parked on the roadway. Walk straight in and you will enter a palm tree oasis. This part has a boardwalk meandering through the palm forest. Birds rustling up above and little pupfishes swimming in the shallow waters. To the left and straight behind of this forest is an easy dirt trail walk that basically just ends or meanders back to the forest. Hiking off to the right side, is a pond and a vista point. The pond was closed this March 2023 with no reopening date scheduled. Continuing past the closed pond gate will be the short uphill walk to the vista lookout. It can get busy with visitors. read more

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This place is a beautiful desert oasis, but HORRIDLY managed, so bad that current administration, management, and operations are unsalvageable. This place needs the attention of DOGE for a complete colonal cleaning. For no reasonable reason the gravel parking lot is kept behind a locked gate, forcing visitors to park on the busy road in a curve area, which is unsafe. Areas like the pond are off limits to the public on most days, leaving the pond area for staff and docents only. There are some nice low profile name tags on plants, and those are appreciated. Many trails are lined with local rocks, and that works great, but othet areas are lined with short stretches of post and rope...desecrating the views and vistas that places like this should hold sacred. The visitor center, located in a palm trunk cabin from around the 1930s, is closed to taxpayers and appears to have become the hangout spot for docents and staff. I'm sure management will come along to explain that the visitor center is unsafe for the common taxpayers, and only suitable for entry by "professionals" like the paud staff and docents. If you do decide to come, arrive early, near opening, to get a least dangerous parking spot and avoid the crowds that start to descend on this place around 9:30 to 10:30 am. read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Vista - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

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Never open, no information anywhere, looks unkept even from a distance (and not to mention, there was a giant creepy RV and a car or two parked INSIDE the locked gates) just strange and a complete waste of time to be honest. read more

Move over Coachella Music Festival, THIS is where the real magic happens! Oh, and it's free :) Nestled in seemingly the middle of nowhere, this magical oasis (no literally, it's an oasis) springs up right on the San Andreas Fault line from the water that's pushed up. Neature! Parking lot wasn't open, so we did like the locals do and parked on the side of the road to enter. From the first main oasis, you'll find tons of resources: volunteers to give recommendations, restrooms, picnic benches, maps and hiking info. The oases provide gorgeous views, lovely shade, great bird watching and fantastic photo ops. Truly a must see gem in Palm Springs! From here, you can walk a mile on the Mcallum trail to the other oasis - this one has a stunning little pond and wildlife galore! Just be warned: the walk between the two oases is very hot and dry - bring sunscreen, water, and a hat. There's a little trail that leads to an overlook with great views of the oasis from above! Or from the main area, head on the Pushawalla trail to another oasis and an area on the ridge side literally lined with palm trees. Whichever way you go (and I recommend both), you won't be disappointed here. Use the AllTrails app maps to follow the routes or chat with the volunteers on-site. Enjoy! read more

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This is such an amazing hike! When it's a hot day in the desert, finding a body of water is so exciting. There are docents along the trail, which are all so informative and friendly. The trail is only open in the cooler months, so be sure to check if it's accessible before you go. Most people park along the main road outside of the gate. The first part of the McCallum trail is on a boardwalk, covered by palm trees. It literally feels like a ride at Disneyland. While most of the trail is flat, it's very sandy, so it feels like walking on the beach. Made for such a good workout. We had kids with us and they were fine for the full 2 miles. Most of the trail isn't shaded, so be sure to wear sunscreen and/or a hat if you're sensitive to the sun. Great photo opportunities all along the trail. Just a note, they occasionally see snakes. However, we didn't see any. They recommended we stay on the path and we wouldn't have problems. read more

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Not really impressed. Thought there was going to be a lot to see here. Also thought the trails were longer thereby facilitating a longer healthy walk. Yes the palm trees are huge and impressive. I see palm trees every day because I live in Palm Springs. These palm trees look like they have grown out of control. According to the people who maintain the park and the website, there is not enough money to maintain the park on an annual basis. You can tell that there is a problem because the overgrowth from the palm trees (palm fronds that have fallen to the ground and have created a stinking, putrefying ground cover) needs to be trimmed and cleared which is a massive job for anyone who has been assigned to maintain this park. In 1925, the guy who owned this area put in a request to have his land become BLM land. Finally in 1990 they granted his wish. That is a very very very long time to wait. By this time, he died (of course). This area would be challenge for anyone who owns this land and it is obvious that the government doesn't hold the Coachella Valley Preserve as a high enough priority. Also, the pond area was closed. That's the main reason I wanted to see this place. It won't be at the top of my list to bring friends here. Oh... and they are making people park their cars on the busy highway. A highway that has NO shoulder. Its unsafe and the shoulder of this highway was never designed to have parked cars on it so when you see senior citizens, children and families crossing the road to go see this park... it makes the hair stand on the back of my neck. read more

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After hiking Tahquitz Canyon the same morning, we decided to hit Coachella Valley Preserve as well after a quick brunch. Parking was easy along the highway. There's no admission fee, but donation is accepted and the box is to the right of you at the start of the McCallum trail. Very nice place to check out the big palm trees! The McCallum trail was only 2 miles round trip. The first oasis part has shade and you walk through theboard walk. Although it's a flat and easy trail, it's just sun and sandy the next mile. Hat, water, sunscreen, closed toe shoes recommended! There's a 2nd oasis with a pond at the end of the trail, however it's closed after 11:30AM. Check with the rangers at the beginning of the trail for specifics. Not that many people around the day we visited on Halloween. Since the waterfall is dry right now at Tahquitz Canyon, I prefer this perserve better. read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Start of hike - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

Sadly not what it once was. My wife and I have hiked here a few times over the past few years. We loved walking through the oasis and to the pond. The last time we came was prior to Covid. Decided to come out for a short hike this morning and was shocked at how much had changed. The parking lot is permanently closed so you have to park across the street on the shoulder (be careful to to look out for fast speeding cars when you cross.) As for the trail itself, very poorly maintained with plants growing through the bottom of the bridge/across the bridge and blocking the way. The area surrounding the trail is filled with palm tree branches that have piled up and are now rotting. To top it all off, the pond is closed to the public. I will say that there was a very nice docent at the trail entrance. Just a shame that the trail has fallen into disrepair. read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

If you are visiting Palm spring & Palm desert area, this is worth to visit. There is not entrance fee but they do appreciate donation. Hours: 7 AM to 5 PM , Weds to Sundays. Closed on monday and tuesday. Parking: on the high way then walk through the gate. Pets are not allowed on the trail. It is not recommended to leave them in the car since it can get pretty hot here even in winter. It is about 30 min drive from Palm Springs. There are many different trails here. The most popular is Mccullen trail, starting at the visitor office, walking through the board walk, through these huge palm trees, sandy trail with desert trees and flowers surrounding and ended at the pond which is currently closed for restoration. It is about 2 mile round trip, easy strolling for all ages, wheel chair friendly. We spent about 1 hour here including photo ops. Since we got here in late afternoon, there are not many people around. read more

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Very cool spot!! Well worth a stop to explore the trails through the thick palm trees in this oasis!! Hours are 7-5. Bring lots of water, sunscreen and maybe long sleeves to protect against the sun. We walked along McCallum Trail, which is a 2 mile RT walk. Mostly flat and easy to navigate. We saw a coyote along the hills- which was cool!! Walking on the boardwalk through the palms was unique and a great way to cool down. We'd definitely come back to explore the rest of the preserve. Donation recommended. read more

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Kerry Berman's Desert Discovery Eco Tours has been blessed and honored to take hundreds of school children, seniors, and visitors to the Coachella Valley Preserve, sometimes called the Thousand Palms Oasis.. The Coachella Valley Preserve is a treasure. It sits atop the San Andreas Fault on the North American Tectonic Plate. The San Andreas fault is a right lateral strike slip fault. The tectonic plate movement pushes water to the surface creating a gorgeous pond and an incredible Palm Oasis. There are some excellent tour companies that have guides who will share with you the history and some secrets that make this place very special. Kerry Berman Certified Interpretive Guide California Naturalist read more

$5 per person donation will help raise funds necessary to repair the boardwalk that was destroyed by recent storms. The docents are very knowledgeable, if they are available, highly recommended spending time learning about this area. We've been here before and unfortunately can see the storms damage. We still enjoy our visit through the oasis and hike to the ridge top. read more

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It was gorgeous when we went and viewed the oasis. I don't remember the geologist's name, but he was super knowledgeable and answered our questions! read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Palms! - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

I was at Coachella, man. OK, not as part of the festival lineup. OK, not even as an Ariana Grande groupie. Or as a spectator or a ticket taker or even cleaning out the rubbish cans. Jamie W. and I were about a half-hour away at the Thousand Palm Oasis somewhere in the Indio Hills, and speaking of oases...(video: http://bit.ly/2ImDTCB) Midnight at the oasis Send your camel to bed Shadows painting our faces Traces of romance in our heads Heaven's holding a half-moon Shining just for us Let's slip off to a sand dune, real soon And kick up a little dust... No camels here and no time close to midnight. Late afternoon was when we got there, and the oasis was kinda hoppin' with daytrippers clad in beige REI khaki shorts and safari hats. We had no idea where to walk, so I asked the kindly ranger in the visitors center where to go if we were just looking for a brief but memorable experience in the reservation. She has immediately pointed me to the McCallum Trail which was just a mile in and a mile out with another oasis to savor... You don't have to answer There's no need to speak I'll be your belly dancer, prancer And you can be my sheik I know your daddy's a sultan A nomad known to all With fifty girls to attend him, they all send him Jump at his beck and call... It was a pretty chill walk that started on a winding boardwalk over the marshes in a grove of palm trees (photo: http://bit.ly/2XjZJtY). You eventually come out onto a sandy wash surrounded by colorful vegetation (photo: http://bit.ly/2Xj7lg2) and the occasional lizard. You've reached your destination when you make it to McCallum Grove, a lush little area dominated by a pond full of active pupfish (photo: http://bit.ly/2XjZxee). Heartier types can continue onto the Moon Canyon Trail which goes for another four miles, but we had a plane to catch. Besides, I couldn't miss my encore... Midnight at the oasis Send your camel to bed Got shadows painting our faces And traces of romance in our heads Oh come on, oh come on Woo hoo hoo, yeah, oh yeah Oh oh, yeah, yeah... RELATED - Planning to go to Palm Springs? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2uqw6KW read more

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A stunning oasis in the middle of the desert, the Coachella Valley Preserve is one of the most unique hiking opportunities anywhere in the world. You will be walking directly upon an earthquake fault and experiencing first hand the interaction between biology and geology. Plus, it is flat out gorgeous. There's a visitor center, well-marked trails, and a small parking lot. Come early or you may have to park on the street. Bring water and your camera. Free. But donations kindly accepted. read more

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One of the coolest places I have seen in a long time. The drive was not to far from the main city area. Street parking is limited but we were able to find a spot easy. Be careful crossing the street with little ones. The Coachella Valley Preserve Visitor Center is a quick walk. Amazing to be surrounded by so many palms. It is cool to learn you are standing on the San Andreas Fault and it created all the palms. Friendly workers here. They have a bathroom in the center area. The center has great views and picture spots. Easy loop walk. Thousand Palms Oasis is a mile hike but the oasis area is blocked off so you cannot see it. Great place to visit if you are in the area! The kiddos loved it here. read more

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I thought this was a delightful place to visit. Admission is free, but they do have a donation box on the grounds if you wish to help contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of this park. It is actually owned privately and is kept open to the public. There is a parking lot, but for some reason it was roped off when I got there and all the cars had to park on the side of the road just outside the entrance. As I entered I was greeted by a very knowledgable and friendly docent who ended up explaining a whole lot to me about the park. The preserve is located virtually right on the San Andreas Fault, and that is why water from underground rises to the surface to make for such a beautiful oasis. I also learned that the particular strain of palm trees found here are the only indigenous palm tree species found in California, as all the others were actually introduced from somewhere else in the world. If you take the McCallum trail, it will lead you on a boardwalk through the oasis for a very pleasant walk. It is basically flat, but there are some steps and they can get wet and slippery, so you will need to be careful. read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Visitor Center and Docent Led Talks - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

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Friendly staff when you first walk in, clean trails and a very unique environment. It is fun to be walking In The trees. We hiked back to vista point which does not have shade so make sure to bring water. One spring was closed for the summer which was a bummer but still a fun little hidden gem. Would definitely recommend! read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

Nice place but please heed the warning signs about vehicle theft. My car was broken into and the window was smashed. As I approached my car, a white jeep (I'd guess 2013-14) that was idling next to it quickly sped off. It was a couple and the woman driving waved to me as they drove off. I think they must have just smashed the window and then someone drove by or pulled in to the parking area, which made them wait. Luckily nothing was stolen but it cost me $439 to replace and my plans for the day had to be abandoned. Also note that while it says the preserve opens at 7am, I was there at 7am and the gates were not open. It would be better if it opened earlier, especially when it gets really hot - early morning would be a nice time to be here. read more

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A family-friendly desert hike through an oasis, to a pond, and back again.. It's only 2 miles total but factoring in the extreme climate of the desert this is an amazing experience for most. Much of the Oasis hike is on a wooden boardwalk over the boggy palm tree marsh. Well covered from the stinging sun your kids will love running around along this area. When you eventually make it to the pond keep a keen eye open for fish. There are a few mysterious Koi fish swimming around too. Not sure how those got there. - There's a small parking lot but if that's full you can park along the road. - Bathrooms on site - Bring water, that mile between the oasis and the pond has no shade. - There are longer hikes you can take from this parking area. read more

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Hard to know when they are open and no number or website working to check We have driven there more times to find closed. Great walk/ hike when and if open read more

Such a great experience. Everyone should check out the Coachella valley preserve. They were not open on Monday and Tuesday, but it was worth the wait. I explored on my own and if you are interested the hikes can get to a difficult degree (I am not a hiker), but being outdoors and listening to the variety of birds was amazing. read more

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This is a fairly small spot, closes early and does not seem to be much to see. Do yourself a favor and go to the nearby Anza-Borrego or Salvation Mountain instead. read more

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Loved it...so cool a real oasis right on the San Andeas fault line....i saw small fish in rhe deserr! read more

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We were just here February 8, 2023. Visitor center is closed with a sign they are having a challenge to find staff. The port o potties have a stench inside that smells like these bathrooms have not been maintained, yes I saw a turd smashed on the floor too. The pond (main reason we went) is closed. Very unkempt. As far as a bird refuge the only thing we saw is large squawking loud crows like The Birds movie. You have seniors out here walking and seeing Coyotes. The parking lot is not open you have a busy street where you park and run across to walk in. (Cars go very fast on this street and often) Dangerous for the elderly. This place needs huge donations or just shut it down! Nothing much to see here. The palm trees look extremely dry too. read more

Beautiful area! I loved it. Bring plenty of water. Wear good shoes (hiking boots are best). Bring a picnic lunch and eat below the palm trees. NO DOGS read more

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A beautiful and easy hike. You'll see some amazing palms and desert landscape. This hike is NOT dog friendly. There is a beautiful pond that is open if a ranger is available to staff it. Parking is free and across a small highway. read more

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A must-see for all my guests. Great hiking trails, interesting flora, and an interesting geographic destination.

If you love the outdoors and want to learn about nature and a little bit of history when in the Palm Springs area, this is the place to go. I had never been to an oasis before, and this was such a wonderful introduction! The staff are all volunteers, and they are all super friendly and helpful. There is a visitors center and a bathroom at the beginning of the trails. Stop in to the visitors center for some cool displays. They are all run on donations, so donations are highly encouraged. The hikes range from easy to moderate, I think, and kids are definitely able to do at least some of them. Bring lots of water if you're coming during the summer. The website discourages parking on the side of the road, but in the middle of the day the parking lot is so full that it's inevitable. We only did one trail this time, but I can't wait to bring the rest of my family back for some more hiking and outdoor fun. read more

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Despite the fact that the Palm Springs (PS) Aerial Tramway had a 3-4 wait, I was directed to the Coachella Valley Preserve by the PS visitor's guide. I wasn't disappointed. Yes, the Coachella Valley Preserve is for nature lover (sneaker or hiking boots recommended), so be ready for a nice easy hike. Driving 20 minutes Northeast from PS, you'll arrive at this desert oasis filled with tons of palm trees. Everything is free here. They have docents on-site to give you a run down of the preserve, a bathroom (the ones you find in the wilderness with no water, just a deep hole in the ground), you'll actually be standing on the infamous San Andreas fault as well. Bring your own snacks and water, free parking, it probably gets reallllllly hot during the summer time. Not a lot of shade after you leave the visitors guide area. You'll be amazed at how the water just seeps up from the earth due to the cracks and water's the many palm trees in the area. For you hiking buffs, you can hike through the small trails with ease. Probably a 2 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the hardest trail you've ever hiked). I had a great time. It was a nice easy 3 mile walk (round trip) from the visitors guide area to the pond. Don't forget that hat and sunblock. read more

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If I could give this place 10 stars I would! What a beautiful place. My friend and I decided to have a spontaneous adventure and drive out to Palm Springs and possible visit Joshua Tree National Park. So we drove for hours and for some reason my GPS was going crazy just misleading us. But then, heavens spoke and these giant palm trees appeared in front of us. Coachella Valley Preserve. You know when they say 'everything happens for a reason'? Well now I know why. It was a totally act of serendipity. We were looking for Joshua Tree Park but instead stumbled upon this majestic place. There were hundreds of Palm trees that were otherwordly! They were so huge and so perfectly trimmed. It was as if someone drew them. And the mountains, the beautiful desert that was surrounding them looked like something out of a painting. There were birds chirping and flying around. The peacefulness of this place was overwhelming. We took the trail to see the McCallum Pond. Let's just say coming from two girls in their cute little skirts and cute flip flops it was totally worth it! The body of water that lays there in the middle of that huge desert was shocking and yet so metaphorical. We sat there for an hour or so and saw the sun kiss the top of the mountains and we knew it was time to go. After we left I felt so blessed to have witnessed such a beauty. I captured some of it. Hope you guys enjoy the photos and get the chance to experience the real thing yourselves. read more

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It is so beautiful here and the team of volunteers are just amazing. Lots of trail options and some are even partially shaded. read more

Coachella Valley Preserve - Oasis - Hiking Near Me - Thousand Palms, California

How many old black & white movies were made that included a scene of a thirst-quenched, unshaven character of dubious integrity crawling on his stomach through the desert in search of a mouthful of water? Have you ever been to an actual oasis? Well, you don't have to crawl to the Coachella Valley Preserve, a real oasis just a short, convenient, air-conditioned drive from Palm Springs (which is not a real oasis). Tight groves of fan palm trees that look like very tall hula dancers with thick skirts moving in the wind will shade and cool you no matter what the temperature is. Be on the lookout for the small fringe-toed lizard that is unique to this area. Coachella Valley Preserve is a refreshing diversion just like an oasis is supposed to be. read more

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Unique experience in the desert. Quick and easy family activity with nice walking paths.

This is a beautiful place to go hike. The scenery is gorgeous and peaceful. And you will see plant life everywhere. Lots of shade in various areas. Low impact. read more