The Coachella Valley has so much to offer its residents. From almost 350 days of sunshine to endless hiking trails, award-winning restaurants and an overall cool vibe, there’s something for everyone! Throughout this blog series, we’ll highlight some of the irresistible parts of Palm Desert, Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley as a whole.
Outdoor activities
The Coachella Valley isn’t just a great place to lay in the sun and relax, it’s also a great place to become one with nature. Located in the beautiful desert of California, the Coachella Valley has a unique environmental landscape that offers great opportunities and hidden gems for individuals to explore the great outdoors.
Surrounded by a number of unique hiking trails at different levels of difficulty, choosing only one specific trail might be the hardest decision you make during your time here. Don’t forget to bring lots of water, food and sunscreen before heading out. Here are some of the best trails the Coachella Valley has to offer:
Tahquitz Canyon
Named after a shaman whose spirit supposedly still roams the trails, Tahquitz Canyon is a short two-mile loop hike that’s great for anyone who doesn’t hike too often, but still enjoys a little adventure in their lives. As part of the Agua Caliente Reservation, this trail leads hikers up 350 feet in elevation and through steep rock steps to finish off at a 60-foot waterfall, where hikers are encouraged to swim in the pond below.
Thousand Palm Canyon
As part of the Coachella Valley Preserve, Thousand Palm Canyon alone is 880 acres of beautiful desert scenery on the edge of the San Andreas Fault. With 25 miles of hiking trails, a desert wetland, two palm oases and sand dunes, the canyon creates a unique habitat for a variety of little critters and birds to call home.
Whitewater Canyon Preserve
It gets its name from the beautiful white water river that flows year-round throughout the preserve. The Whitewater Canyon Preserve plays home to a number of amphibians, birds and species of plants that serve as a background to the many picnic areas in the canyon. And with five hiking trails ranging from easy to difficult, the gorgeous river shouldn’t be too hard to miss.
If exploring canyons and hiking isn’t your thing, the Coachella Valley offers great attractions that still allow you to experience nature without all the dirt and sweat.
Moorten Botanical Gardens
Family owned and established in 1938, the Moorten Botanical Gardens, also known as a Living Museum of Desert Lore, offers a peaceful and serene escape from the scorching desert. Moorten Botanical Gardens offer tours around the estate featuring local birds and it’s collection of more than 3,000 species of desert plants, including a variety of rare cacti and trees from all over the world.
The Living Desert Zoo
With numerous walking trails that help to highlight more than 1,600 species of plants and over 140 species of desert animals from North America and Africa, The Living Desert gives way to a different and unique zoo experience. The main mission of The Living Desert is to conserve, maintain and interpret desert wildlife to the best of its abilities. The zoo offers tours and animal feedings as a fun and interactive way to learn more about desert life.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
With the largest rotating cable car in the world, this 2.5-mile tram ride up the cliffs of Chino Canyon offers an amazing view of Palm Springs. And if the view wasn’t enough, you can enjoy dinner and drinks 8,000 feet up and a nice documentary at a theater.
Originally posted on 3/5/2016