Coachella Valley Preserve
The short drive from the RV park was nice since we got a later start and the directions were quite simple. The Parking lot is narrow and dusty not a place to bring an RV but spaces for cars and trucks were available. I could see someone finding difficulty with parking on a busier day, but there seems to be a smooth transition of people coming and going. The visitor center is made from palm logs and have faces carved in many places a few totem like poles are also located around the center. Grove’s of Palm trees surround the building with picnic tables and an outbuilding for a bathroom. The visitor center staff were very friendly and helpful, the center is a small museum of sorts with common items found in the area, rocks, artifacts, wildlife, and includes some native American history. The day we stopped in (24 Jan 2018 at 1200 noon) they had some palm fruit from one of the trees for visitors to sample. The fruit tasted like dates and is apparently very nutrient rich.
There are many trails to hike but due to our late arrival the McCallum Trail was recommended due to its one mile length. The weather was hot and dry so bring water, they do offer bottled water and a few snacks for a donation, and the staff will educate you on the importance of bringing plenty to drink and also bringing some snacks. They provide excellent maps of the trails for your use, it is wise to take one with you to help ensure you make it back alright. There are much longer hikes but they request you start those much earlier in the day. McCallum Trail begins to the right of the visitor center and quickly places you in the palm grove with some moderately steep stairs we had a friend with a walker and he was able to navigate the entire trail with minor assistance. The decent into the palms was very cool in both temperature and scenery. Part of a seasonal oasis is located at this point and there is a wooden walkway provided that winds through the grove. Once through the first grove you walk up a moderate hill in loose sand, from there the trail is a mix of mild slopes consisting of softer sand. There is a beautiful ridgeline to the (West) and a valley leading to the oasis. Depending on the time of day you hike determines what wildlife you may see! We saw assorted lizards, Pup fish (a few Gold fish), and some crawfish, the later obviously in the oasis.
Signs posted alert you to potential wildlife you could see to include, Bobcats, coyotes, rattle snakes, rabbits, road runners. The trail winds through some washes with brush providing some lovely wild flowers, lush palm groves providing welcomed shade and interesting shadows, and rugged mountains in the background. The Oasis was beautiful with crystal clear water surrounded by palm trees and full of fish and crawdads. Someone released a few Gold fish into the water which added some surprising yet brilliant color. The children loved them even though they are not natural to the environment. It was a fun hike enjoyed by several families with children ranging from 1-15. I would return to complete some of the longer hikes and even to walk the McCallum Trail again. I liked the fact that you could enjoy the scenery and good conversation at the same time. The park offers more strenuous hikes but time constraints prevented us from taking advantage of those. The ridgeline hikes have little to no shade so if you decide to give them a try bring lots of water and sunscreen! The diversity of scenery on our short two mile hike was very nice and captured the children’s attention generating some excitement as to what may lie ahead. I would definitely return and hike the same trail again or attempt one of the much longer more difficult trails with a smaller group and better provisions.
Our trip started from the Palm Springs RV Resort (Thousand Trails), 77500 Varner Rd, Palm Desert, CA 92211 [Just 15 minutes from] the Coachella Valley Preserve-Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, 29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Rd, Thousand Palms, CA 92276.
Link and other information: coachellavalleypreserve.org, phone (760) 343-2733, Hours of Operation 8AM–5PM