Adventure Aide: Local Guide- Coachella Valley & Greater Palm Springs Area

Local Guide: Coachella Valley &Greater Palm Springs Area

https://adventureaide.com/blog/local-guide-coachella-valley

Local Guide: Coachella Valley & Greater Palm Springs Area

Katie Martinez

October 18, 2018

The Inland Empire, situated east of Los Angeles, incorporates the vast deserts of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and most notably: the Coachella Valley.  Although it is probably most recognizable for the annual festival named after its location, the valley is home to beautiful desert landscapes and has plenty of trails to explore.

Many people make their way to the Coachella Valley during the winter when the desert climate is most comfortable, and the views the most beautiful. Although, hiking and various outdoor adventures are available year round as there's definitely no shortage of thing to see and do.

Oasis Hikes

Oasis Hikes vary in degree of difficulty depending on what you're looking for. These trails and preserves showcase the natural beauty of the desert and the history of the natives who still reside there. Some of these trails reside on reservation lands, so please plan accordingly.  

1. Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

2. Whitewater Preserve (3.5 - 5 miles)

3. Coachella Valley Preserve

4. The Indian Canyons Trails

5. Bear Creek Canyon (9 miles RT, strenuous)

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The San Jacinto Mountains

From the valley, there is one mountain that stands out: Mt. San Jacinto, standing at 10,833 ft. elevation. The mountain is accessible from a variety of locations: the PCT trails from the South, the Idyllwild Marion Mountain Trail, the Cactus to Clouds trail from Palm Springs, or for a more leisurely assent, the Palm Springs Aerial Tram.  The San Jacinto Mountains are also home to many campsites and lakes ready to be explored.  

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Desert Views

The desert offers some of the greatest opportunities for stargazing, which is often why so many stargazers flock to the area during astronomical events such as meteor showers or a lunar eclipse. There are two observatories that offer a closer look at the universe, and different groups offer stargazing night tours, the Rancho Mirage Observatory and Gargan Optics Observatory.

Unique Experiences

If hiking doesn't suit your fancy, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the desert. Check out these adventures for a unique perspective on the Coachella Valley.

1. Horseback Riding - there are a number of stables and ranches in the area that offer horseback riding tours and adventures.

2. Cycling - If it's not too hot, cycling can be a great way to explore the desert as well as get some physical exercise! More information.

3. Ariel Adventures - Experience the vastness of the Coachella Valley for yourself by hot air balloon or prop plane!

4. Off roading - Take the road less traveled and experience the desert off the beaten path. Check out this map for the best places to start.

Mt. San Gorgonio... lessons learned

As always, there was something to learn on this trip, and we came home with a lot.

First and foremost, we learned that hikers help and support one another.  One other camper/hiker even offered to pump water for us, so that we didn't have to have the taste of the tablets we had brought instead... it was a cheaper option and we are broke college students alright.  

The next morning was Easter, and we woke up to early hikers making the summit.  We talked to one hiker who was taking a break, and we discussed how you have to pace yourself, and not be ashamed to face your limits.  Before she left, she ended up giving us two Easter Eggs... awesome.  :) Thank you lady!

We did end up facing our limitations and decided to head down instead of making the summit.  That was the best for both of us, Kim with her back, and me with my rehabbed ankle. 

Camping- Kim's first time!!! Poor thing, it got so cold at night.  I did not take into consideration that the temperature drops in higher altitude.. so the night temp at the bottom of the trail was expected to be in the 30's F, at around 5000-6000 ft.  We were at 9000 ft, so give or take 10/15 degrees at the least.  Cold.  We ended up opening our emergency space blankets, and those little things work miracles!  Our tent also got wet quickly, so condensation and precipitation were other factors we didn't take into consideration. 

My mummy bag was great, and kept dry, and the head part kept my head warm.  Kim, on the other hand, had a normal square sleeping bag, that didn't contain heat too well.  Again, poor girl.  The mats and tent definitely helped though.  This is a must.  

Also, I need to invest in layers for sleeping.  Kim brought a sauna suit, which was light, and actually worked well at containing heat.  I was reading that a silk insert can also help at this point.  

 

Out packs... too heavy.  30-35 pounds.  On the way down, I took some of the extra weight in my bag.  Part of the training I was able to do, was to hike with 30 pounds on my back.  The first time I did 10 miles with 30 pounds, I remember being so tired, uncomfortable, and in lots of pain with the bruising.  My hiking buddy was feeling this for the first time, while in higher elevation, tired, and hungry.  

There are many ways to reduce the weight in our bags, and the biggest way was to invest in a water filter and not bring up as much water as we did.  We also need to bring more higher calorie foods, that are also lighter  Our bags themselves, are a bit on the heavy side, and that can be taken care of sometime in the future, when we can afford to spend around 300 on a bag.  My friend needs to invest in a proper, and lighter sleeping bag though. The expense makes it difficult.

Mt. San Gorgonio try #1

San Gorgonio Mountain is a tricky hike, with many ways to summit it.  It is the tallest peak in Southern California, standing at 11,503 ft.

There is a lot of prep that goes into this, including applying for permits to hike up the mountain.

You can request this here: http://www.sgwa.org/faq.html

We parked right below the Vivian Creek parking lot, which was closed, and then began our way up a road.  We then got to this, crossed it, and officially began the hike up.  

Here, our ascend consisted of switchback that led up the first parts, and then wound its way around the forest to Vivian Creek.  This is the first water source available.  

Savor the view on your way up. It is crazy, and neat to see these fallen trees.  You don't realize just how large they are, until you stand next to a fallen one.

Vivian Creek Camp

The hike felt a lot longer than what the map we had said it was.... and we started reading it at the wrong place... so we hoped beyond hope that we had made it to Halfway Camp early...

Then... we came to the sign that pointed to Halfway Camp on the right, and High Creek Camp to the left.

This part of the hike, felt like it went on forever.... It was the trail that never ends.  

The path first goes straight back, and then up switchbacks, around the mountain, and then straight onto the camp.

So take it slow and have some fun with it. 

 

 Again, the mileage felt off, but we were also struggling.  After asking a few hikers and getting wrong mileages so often, we finally got some helpful visuals from a hiker coming down. We were at the top of the switchbacks, and he told us that we just had to go around the mountain, in like a half circle. 

And so we did. 

And we came to a clearing...

And we thought we were in the clear, and we had finally reached the High Creek Camp... but no... we had not. 

And so we went on...

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And on... 

And then... light!

So we came to discuss and learn many things from this point on, that I think I'll write up and include in another post.  We did decide to call it the next day, and head down, and so we did.

Mountain Women... I am a bit swollen... normal with elevation changes, but unfortunate. 

 Some Views: 

Santa Anita Canyon try #1

So... this canyon is beautiful, but the trails are a bit confusing.  We came late, and had a little trouble figuring out where to go.  

So we parked in Chantry Flats, and then made our way up the Picnic area to check out a map.  

Check here for a map: http://adamspackstation.com/maps-trails-camps/maps/

There was a lot to see and do on this trail, and I cannot wait to go back.  These dam like things, cement remains, cabins, and campsites are scattered throughout the wilderness.  

We came around with only 5 miles on our pedometers, so we detoured and added the trail to check out Sturdevant Falls

Like I mentioned, there was so much to see and do... and these people were just awesome, that we had so many random adventures in this hike.  :)

Some of these adventures... ya, just wandering.