A quick turn off from the switchbacking Pines to Palms Hwy, the Cahuilla Tewanet Vista Point is a…read morewell maintained, informative experience of the life of the Cahuilla Indians. Once you've parked in their parking lot there's a paved path toward an outlook deck. There are many interactive and educational signs that teach you about the wildlife and the surrounding landscape. The views here are amazing, and it's usually less crowded than the viewpoint a few miles down the road. They also have a short nature walk here but you have to keep your eyes open for the sign, it's easily missed. - Tip If you're carsick or prone to it, this is a great place to pull over and recover. The winding roads on this highway are brutal.

We hiked near Palm Desert for a week and this was by far the best experience we had (although…read moreJoshua Tree was pretty great, too). This Vista Point had fantastic scenery and a wonderful path, not so hard to hike but full of things to see. We could not have had a better day - Palm Desert up to the Coachella Vally Vista Point, then to Cahuilla Tewanet and over the mountains on CA 74 and north on the "Pines to Palms Highway" past the Pacific Crest Trail.

My husband and I are in the practice of decolonizing thanksgiving. We call it ThanksLiving…read more We thought it would be a good day to hike in Tahquitz Canyon. We learned about the indigenous Cahuilla people that inhabited this beautiful desert land. We thought of them as we did this moderately challenging, beautiful hike. The creek was flowing and the waterfall was gorgeous. The canyon is so peaceful. There are plenty of rock steps, so good hiking shoes with traction are essential. The park rangers in the visitor center make sure you have enough water with you, as there's no shade and the sun can be brutal. On this day, temps were cool and we hiked early so the sun was still shining on the other side of the mountain, but we still brought along our reusable water bottles, and sunscreen of course. This is truly a special place. There wasn't any trash along the trail, which was good to see that people are respecting the space, and/or staff is cleaning up after any littering occurs. This really was a great way for us to spend this day, my heart is full and my body is happy for the movement and exercise.

This is a really family-friendly hiking trail with well-marked, interconnecting trails throughout…read morethe park. The falls are the highlight, but I found fun views throughout!

A beautiful state park and such amazing campgrounds. There are a few campground options, but during…read moremy recent visit, we stayed at the Doane Valley Campground. It was very easy to book ahead online and pay for our daily parking pass once we checked-in. The campsite itself is tucked into the forest, very high up on Palomar Mountain. We found it easy to park our one SUV at our campsite and pitch our tents. The sites do have water, tables, and food boxes. The bathrooms were kept quite nice and tidy. We were all very impressed with the simple but clean and well maintained facilities. We did do a dog friendly hike that starts in the Doane Valley Campground and it's about 4 miles round trip. We had a lovely hike with a decent amount of incline along with beautiful weather. They also have a lovely stop/view area at the beginning of the campgrounds with picnic tables. Palomar mountain is great for camping, hiking, a nice Sunday cruise up the mountain for the beauty, etc. Cell phone service is spotty up there so make sure to either download your map ahead of time or use satellite service.

WARNING Do not…read moreattempt to drive on Nate Harrison Road unless your vehicle can handle off-road conditions. It is not paved and has many dangerous sections for cars not equipped for them. Take 76 and S Grade Road instead. Phone reception is limited on the mountain. I strongly suggest downloading maps before you visit. The park headquarters is quite small and it doesn't seem like it is continually staffed. Make sure you have plenty of fuel. Bring lots of water. Keep in mind that it may be hotter on the mountain than the temperature at sea level. We didn't see any potable water during a recent visit. As long as you're well-prepared, you will enjoy this beautiful park. Have fun and stay safe.

Great work out thru the snow!! Start with your free permit from the Forest Ranger 1/2 before you…read morepark at Deer Springs Trail. Parking is free. Don't leave any valuables in your car. Do your leg stretches before and after your hike. Bring your hiking ribbons, waterproof hiking boots with added spikes or cleats (for snow), hiking poles/sticks, sun hat, sunscreen, backpack with water, electrolytes, snacks, extra jacket, tissue, mini medic kit, antibacterial spray, music speaker, and a positive attitude!! This is a great hike for healthy athletic souls! Ask your doctor before going I highly recommend it. It's about 9 miles total there and back and 7 hours total in snow! Plan ahead you cannot rush or accidents happen! I hope I helped you guys out before going! -A

Easy parking at the trail head (or across the street in the nature center with some shade). You…read moremust obtain a free trail permit before hiking (in town at the forestry office). Very light weekdays... Most of the trail is shaded with pine canopy; semi-loose trail with minimal overviews and vistas. Some wild flowers, no water (June).

very easy, meh hike. You can park along the road & do the uphill portion first (I recommend doing…read moreit this way) Or you can park in a parking lot and do the uphill on the way back to your vehicle. It's an out and back trail. About 2.5 miles each way from trailhead to trailhead - takes around 2 to 3 hours. Path is kept clear - we saw lots of families and dogs on this trail. It just didn't have spectacular views in my opinion, making it a mehhhh hike.

Moderate hike, half shaded, with some pretty nice Yosemite-esque views! I enjoyed some fall foliage…read morein mid-November. Nothing mind blowing, more like a nice walk with some incline to get your cardio in. Dogs allowed on leash and limited parking available at trail head.

Great location for families with kids! Cabins clean and comfortable! Great amenities for the family…read moreto enjoy.

A perfect quick escape for a dose of tranquility. The weather during this visit was nothing short…read moreof amazing, clear skies and a gentle breeze, that made sitting by the lake an absolute delight. It wasn't crowded so you were not assaulted by loud voices which allowed you to decompress from the hustle that is life. The fish taunted us by jumping out of the water close enough to see but far enough to escape our line. It was perfect.

We tackled Volcan Mountain Trail with an eight-year-old, so we didn't make it the full way but it…read morewas such a nice experience. We also brought along our dog as it is a dog friendly trail as long as your dog is on a leash. The trail starts out pretty steep, but it's well-marked with clear paths throughout. One thing I really loved was all the signage explaining local plant life and animal tracks so it made the hike feel educational and engaging. My kiddo was really into looking at the different animal paw prints. This trail is great for hiking enthusiasts and beginners alike but just know your limits and pace yourself if you're newer to hiking. I would definitely say if it's sunny to make sure you bring plenty of water with you, but there are a lot of shady spots on this trail so that is a nice change from the hikes that are closer to coastal San Diego.

It's a good hike to pair with a trip to Julian. My husband and I picked up sandwiches in town for a…read morepicnic on the trail. Parked next to the road and knew we were in the right place because of all the other cars. We made our hike a loop as we went up the mountain, taking the 5 Oaks Trail, and then came down using the Vulcan Mountain preserve trail. The 5 Oaks Trail has more of a view. There are a few seats to stop, sit (catch your breath) and enjoy the view. Sadly, we haven't had rain so it wasn't as green as I'm sure it would be on a normal January. Nevertheless, a great hike to work off all the apple pie you eat in Julian.

What a spectacular experience. So much to learn about the Indians that lived here and why. From a…read morenice cool walk under the trees next to the natural water flowing up through the ground then to some fabulous hiking with glorious views of the mountains to all the creatures that live all around it. Keep your eyes open for all of them and especially for the dangerous ones hiding around rocks. Stay away from the selfies with them. Shouldn't have to say it but.... Well worth the $12.00 entry fee per car. Come here when it's hot for a cooler experience under the trees or winter for some good hiking. This is Palm Springs after all.

Nov, 2025. Palm Springs, CA. "The Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band…read moreof Cahuilla Indians. These canyons are especially sacred to the Cahuilla people today and are historically important to scientists and nature lovers. The Cahuilla people have thrived here for thousands of years. Ancient trails, rock art, house pits, foundations, irrigation ditches, dams, reservoirs, and food preparation areas still exist in the canyons." While there are many hiking trails in the Indian Canyons, our preference was to hike one of them that offered some shade. (While Palm Springs was only expected to reach 81 degrees today, it feels hotter when you're hiking in direct sun!) We spoke to a friendly ranger near the Trading Post, and he suggested that the two trails with shade are: (1) Palm Canyon, which is described as a moderated-graded footpath that winds down into the canyon for picnicking near the stream, meditating, exploring, hiking and equestrian trails. (2) Andreas Canyon, a tranquil setting with a one-mile walking loop and a year-round flowing stream showcasing magnificent palms and more than 150 species of plants. We chose the Palm Canyon hike as we were already close to its trailhead. The trail was mostly wide, well-maintained, and dry. It's an out-and-back trail that's 0.9 miles in each direction. Total elevation change is 224'. At the 0.9-mile mark, it intersects with other trails that allow you to lengthen the distance of your hike. For instance, there was an option to return via another route that would be 2.0 miles (rather than 0.9), but it appeared that it would be mostly in the sun so we decided against it. A few general observations: *this is a family-friendly trail, and there were quite a few kids on the trail. It is NOT stroller-friendly as there's a fairly steep descent at the beginning from the parking lot down to the palms. *the trail was crowded on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, 10:30 am, but many hikers turned after the first 1/4 to 1/2-mile. *there is an entry fee to enter Indian Canyons, but you're allowed to hike as many trails as you'd capable of doing during operating hours. Adult admission is $12, seniors (62+) and students are $7, children (6-12): $6, and U.S. military, and first responders are free. HINT: we purchased our tickets at the Palm Springs Visitors Center and got a $1 discount per ticket. *there are regularly scheduled ranger-led interpretive hikes and ranger talks. *there are three parking areas, all with port-a-potties. *some concessions, including water and Gatorade, are available at the Trading Post, but there aren't any public fountains so make sure to bring a lot of water for this desert environment. *we didn't see any creatures, but you need to careful of where you step or place your hands as there are rattlesnakes in the canyon. *signage is good, but it's also easy to unintentionally go off-trail as there are quite a few unofficial trails. We enjoyed our visit to the Indian Canyons, and will return to do some of the other hikes.

This review is for Ladder Canyon & Painted Canyon Trail which was a ~4.4 miles round trip that took…read more~2.5 hours to complete. Ladder Canyon & Painted Canyon Trail was a popular and crowded hike near Mecca, California. Trail was flat and sandy while you're at the bottom of the canyons. Started the loop clockwise; look for the ladder on your left. Requires a little bit of rock scrambling at this part and some ladders to get to the slot canyons. Trail becomes a bit more rocky with a slight incline towards the top of the canyons. Furthermore, there was a rope and ladder near the end of the loop. Overall, this was unique trail with stunning views throughout the hike! Required to drive on a well maintained dirt road for ~4.6 miles. Low clearance cars could make it; go slow and dodge the bigger bumps as you get closer to the parking. No restroom at the trailhead! Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/7HECQHARzvs

I went there on April 6, 2025. There's 7 cars at parking area. I ran into 6 hikers while I was on…read morethe trail. It's quiet and really enjoyed the nature. Gloves and hiking boots are game changers. Last 2 miles are very rocky and sandy, so it's hard to walk. I forgot my sunscreen and sunglasses.