Palm Springs Hiking Tours - Blog

Spring in the Desert, (no matter what!)

25/3/2020

Hello hiking friends,
These are challenging times we're in at the moment, and nature can be a great place to spend time. Trail Discovery will continuing to providing guided hikes, (according to local regs.), for private parties & small groups to select wilderness locations.

Our local deserts & mountains have received much needed rain & snow this winter and the month of March.
Now, some lower elevation areas are displaying some beautiful wildflowers, including the usual's like canteberry bells, encelia, fiddleneck, heliotrope, cheese bush, lavender, chuparosa, etc.

There are several areas that remain accessible for hiking, many within 15-20min. of downtown Palm Springs.
The Palm Springs Aerial tram remains closed for now, and Joshua Tree NP is only allowing entry via foot & hose travel.

We realize it's difficult, (if not impossible, in some cases), to travel, book hotels, eat at restaurants, etc. Hopefully, this will pass & we won't be drawn into to much hype, fear, and doom & gloom.

We're making sure we get plenty of exercise, sunshine, fresh air, spending time with friends & family, outdoors in nature.

Feel free to drop us an e-mail, (listed below), or give us a call to discuss possible hiking options.
Happy, (& healthy) trails, Scott owner, chief guide.

Autumn is just around the corner!

25/8/2019

Hi friends,
We're still hot here in the Sonoran desert, but we do have a couple great hiking options regardless.
Sunrise tours to Joshua Tree Nat'l park are magical, cool, and one of the best times to visit this area.
If your willing to get up early, the park is almost deserted, (pretty nice, considering JT see's approx. 2,5mil visitors a year now). Temps are pleasant, wildlife viewings are common, and we're finished by lunch time.

The San Jacinto State park, above the Palm Springs Aerial tram, at 8,500 ft. elev.), is THE place to be during summer. Temps remain in the 60's & 70'sF during summer months, and this year, the small streams are still flowing, after a very wet winter.
We offer hikes from 2-10 miles, most lasting 2.5-4 hrs. The tram will be closing for annual maint. beginning the 2nd week of Sept., reopening end of month.

Give us a ring, or send over an e-mail if your plans take you around the Southern Cailf. area. We can arrange a great hike according to your fitness level & interests.

Happy trails, Scott

Wildflowers coming to the desert!

31/1/2019

Hi friends,
We're experiencing a rather wet winter, considering the drought-like conditions most of the west has been going through for over a decade.

We received some rain in Sept. when temps were still warm, then several storms this winter, including some lasting several days.
So, we should have at least a good season of blooms, if not an excellent one.
When, is a good question, it depends partly on when it begins to warm up. If we have a number of days in Feb were temps approach 80F, that could trigger an early bloom, otherwise, any time in March is typical.

We offer hikes in several of the areas that have good displays, including Indian Canyons, Whitewater Canyon Preserve, (even the road leading there), Coachella Valley Preserve, and the south entrance area of Joshua Tree NP.
We hope to show you what a desert wildflower bloom can look (& smell) like.
Happy hiking, Scott / chief guide

Summer is coming to the desert

11/4/2018

Hi Happy Hikers,

Well, summer is just around the corner here in the Sonoran desert. We had a mediocre winter regarding rainfall, so there's not a lot of snow left to melt, to keep our streams in the canyons running through summer.

Wildflowers are out in the lower elevations, but it doesn't appear we'll have much of a bloom, depending on the area. Some of our open spaces close to Palm Springs are showing sand verbena, and the edges of the 10 freeway & Hwy 62, (the route to Joshua Tree Nat'l Park), are showing desert dandelion, and some dune primrose. I haven't checked on conditions at Anza Borrego State park, but it's generally similar to the Coachella Valley.
We'll be offering our Sunrise Joshua Tree tours this summer, meeting before sunrise to enjoy the cooler mornings with excellent opportunities to spot wildlife, (coyotes, ravens, snakes & lizards, maybe even a rare desert tortoise). We avoid the crowds & have many of the areas to ourselves, (plus, you can be back & napping at the pool by noon!).

And, there's always the cool forest with fresh mt. air at 8,500 ft. We offer several hikes up there, ranging fro 1-2 fairly easy miles, a great 5 mile loop, and the fitness challenge climb to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto, 10,834 ft. for amazing 360 degree views.

We look forward to meeting you & exploring one of the gems here in the southwest.

Happy trails, Scott chief guide

Happy New Year Everyone!

3/1/2017

Winter is here, but the desert remains nice for outdoor fun

Here's a quote I've always loved by one of the great minds of time past:

"To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded'.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

We here at Trail Discovery wish you & yours an amazing year ahead, full of life, love, exploration & continued growth & prgress towards all your hopes & dreams.

Happy Trails,
Scott 2

Say goodbye to Summer, Hello to great hiking weather!

13/9/2016

Well, I've been a bit behind on the blog's, so here's one to keep you up to date on what's happening here at Trail Discovery & Palm Springs.
We haven't received much rain since spring, so the desert is waiting inpatiently for the life-giving fuel. That being said, we are rewarded by some sublte fall colors, some plants that bloom now, others with changing & dying leaves.
A few areas that demonstrate this include Joshua Tree Nat'l park, San Jacinto state park, & Whitewater Canyon Preserve. We offer tours to these locations mornings & afternoons. Temps can range from high's in the 80's, to 40's & 50'sF, (at 8,500 ft. elevation in the San Jacinto's).
As the days get shorter, it's more important to keep spending time outdoors for much needed exercise, fresh air, sunshine, unplugging & unwinding.
As clouds begin rolling in from the Pacific NW, hiking in the desert is my favorite time, (partly because we just finished another summer of triple-digit temps).

So, grab your hiking shoes, and come on out to the Palm Springs area, where we're blessed with over 250 miles of trails in amazing areas like Joshua Tree, our brand new Sand to Snow Scenic Monument, and the famous Pacific Crest trail.

We would love to show you one of the many outdoor wilderness areas we've been guiding people to for over 20 years. Check out the photos below, to get a taste of these locales. Feel free to give us a call, 760 413-1575, or drop us a line at scott@palmspringshiking.com.
We look forward to some great hiking this fall!
Happy trails, Scott, chief guide

Autumn in the Desert!

11/10/2015

Hello hiking friends,
Fall is doing it's best to arrive here in the Palm Springs area, but the Santa Ana conditions have heated all of SoCal for a week.
Cool mornings & shorter days can offer excellent hiking conditions, along with subtle fall colors, amazing sunrises & sunsets, combined with occasional clouds & shade.
Our Pacific Crest trails hikes have grown in popularity, as these tours are just 15-20 min. from Palm Springs, and offer a mix of desert, mountain & costal sage environs. Highlights of these hikes include 10k ft. mountain views, small streams & waterfalls, well maintained trails & good chances for wildlife viewing.
Choose from easy to moderate, (3-5 miles with gradual elevation gain & loss), to our 10+ mile treks that climb into the foothills & mountains for a fun, aerobic workout.
Our Whitewater Preserve tours finish at a peaceful camping area, complete with covered picnic tables, serene trout ponds & fall colors on the Sycamore & Cottonwood trees.
Rates range from $65 - $95 / per. depending on the length of tour, and the number of guests. We provide bottled water, hip-packs, snacks & fruit, plus lots of info on plants, animals, geography & history.
Give us a call at 760 413-1575 or you can contact us here on our website.

We look forward to providing you with a fun adventure to one of the amazing outdoor wilderness locations in & around the Coachella Valley.
Check out some recent photos of these areas below.
Happy trails,

Scott
chief guide

Summer rains bring green to the Mojave!

14/8/2015

Hi hiking friends,
The Mojave, (high desert, 30 min. from Palm Springs), has recieved several strong downpours in July. This has resulted in an amazing greening of areas in Joshua Tree Nat'l Park.

It's indeed hot during the middle of the day in August, but we've been hitting the park fisrt thing in the morning & experienced temps in the high 70's to low 90's by 1pm.

We're gearing up for the upcoming season beginning in Oct with some great hikes, including a couple sections of the Pacific Crest trail.

Feel free to drop us an e-mail, (yes, you can call too!), if you'd like some more info on this tour, or any of the many others we offer.

Happy Trails, enjoy the photos below,

Scott 2 chief guide

Summer is here, but we're still hiking!

1/7/2015

Hi friends,
The Coachella Valley & surrounding area has been experiencing some unusual weather & conditions the last month. Much cooler weather, (70's & 80'sF), followed by triple digit heat typical this time of year.

A 30k acre wildfire, (around the city of Big Bear), has blown through part of the San Bernardino Nat'l forest. Things are under control now, with no loss of life, & only a few structures destroyed.

We're conducting tours in the San Jacinto State park, (above the PS Aerial tram), in the cool, 8,500 ft. pine forest. Easy 1-2 mile walks, or the 5 mile, 2,400 ft. climb to the summit of San Jacinto, 10,834 ft.

Joshua Tree Nat'l park is also a summer option, if your an early riser. At 4,500 ft., there's magical, wide-open vistas that stretch for miles.

Have a great 4th of July weekend, and get in a nice hike with a friend, family, or just you!
Happy trails,

Scott, chief guide

We're also enjoying warm mornings at Whitewater Canyon Preserve.

February 10th, 2015

10/2/2015

Take a Gratitude Walk!

I often talk about the importance of gratitude when it comes to manifesting your greatest desires…

So today I want to share a quick gratitude exercise that will help to create more balance, love and peace in your life…

The exercise is to simply go on ‘a gratitude walk’…

You basically take a walk for 5, 10 or even 20 minutes and you dedicate 100% of that time to gratitude. You consciously think of all the things you appreciate in your life, notice all of the beauty and natural gifts that surround you and simply reflect on how lucky you are to have the life that you have.

Not only will you feel AWESOME, you’ll also notice an increased level of fulfillment.

In fact, in a study conducted on a group of people who practiced daily gratitude for just 3 weeks, it was measured that they had a 25% higher satisfaction toward life! They exercised more, drank alcohol less, and their friends and families noticed that they were more pleasant to be around. And, the effects lasted for several months past the initial 3 week study!

So remember to always show appreciation for the things, people and opportunities that exist in your life. And go on… why don’t you take a gratitude walk this week? I dare ya ;)

Yours in gratitude,

Natalie ~ Mind Movies