California Desert Adventure

This year’s girls’ adventure trip was to the glamorous and vibrant Palm Springs, Coachella Valley, the historic Pioneertown, and Joshua Tree National Park. My travel companion was none other than CAE contributor, Rebecca Barham. This California desert trip was colorful from start to finish, beginning with the tail end of Pride Week in Palm Springs!

Base Camp:

Outside of one night in Pioneertown at the Pioneertown Motel (next to the famous Pappy and Harriet’s Palace), we set up base in Palm Springs, California. From Palm Springs, we easily accessed Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino National Forest, the San Bernardino Mountains, and Coachella Valley. This write up will be thorough so you, as a reader, have every tool necessary to truly enjoy this iconic area.

Outfitter:

I didn’t have the time or energy to plan all of the minute details for this trip, so I passed the reins to expert adventure outfitter, Backroads. I cannot say enough good things about Backroads, known to some as Snackroads because you will never go hungry on one of their trips! They do all the heavy lifting and book your lodging and a few restaurants, handle bike and gear setups and storage, arrange local guides when needed, and also allow the flexibility to make your trip as challenging or laid-back as you prefer. They also help with the logistics and share lists of recommended activities and restaurants for you to enjoy in your downtime. Finally, for all of you post-hike beer champs, they provide your beverage of choice after every long hike!

Activities:

Where to start? Rock scrambling and climbing at Joshua Tree, biking through Palm Springs and Indian Canyons, and scenic hiking in Pioneertown Preserve and Palm Springs are all good starting points. There is something for everyone. There is also scenic hiking in Coachella Valley, but we got rained out. For the record, rainouts are a rarity in this area!

Lodging:

We flew into Palm Springs a day early and stayed at the Colony Palms Hotel. The restaurant was phenomenal, but our room was a little tired and poorly insulated from the ambient noise in the hotel. If you stay at the Colony Palms, bring a sound machine or ear plugs, or both!

My initial plan was to stay at the Parker Palm Springs after seeing photographer Gray Malin’s work there, but my bank account encouraged other options!

On the second day, we met up with our trip outfitter, drove an hour to Mane Street in Pioneertown, and relocated to the Pioneertown Motel for a day of hiking followed by our first group dinner at the amazing cantina next door. This was a California desert trip highlight!

On the third day (this is beginning to sound like a Christmas song!) we headed back to Palm Springs to the Rowan Hotel (Kimpton Family) where we stayed for the rest of the trip. This hotel is centrally located to restaurants, shops, galleries, and exhibits. For all you Marilyn Monroe fans, it’s right next to the giant Marilyn Monroe statue.

Logistics:

You can drive in from LA, but it takes 2 hours and requires you to navigate Los Angeles traffic. Although it is more expensive to fly into Palm Springs, the airport is literally 5 minutes from most hotel options in the area and the small airport is easy to navigate, making return flights a breeze.

This area is too hot for my taste between April and early October. High season starts the day after Halloween and continues until early spring. Adventure outfitters typically close shop during the summer as tourism slows down for the low season.

Where to Eat:

Let me start by saying we never had a bad meal in Palm Springs. It is a foodie haven! I somehow managed not to take a single photo of us cleaned up and in our evening clothes. Sophisticated casual is the dress code for most nice restaurants in the area.

• Uptown Gastropub
• Copley’s (formerly Cary Grant’s estate)
• Workshop Kitchen + Bar (reservations recommended)
• Farm (reservations recommended)
• Colony Club Restaurant

Gear Tips:

As there are thousands of things trying to stick you or poke you in the California desert, sturdy, closed-toed shoes are a must for hiking in this area. Save your Tevas for summer hiking at the lake! Don’t believe me? Look up the bane of the desert, the Cholla Cactus!

Now, on to the Detailed Activity Notes:

1. Take a day trip or camp out in Joshua Tree! The full Joshua Tree writeup, including recommended guides, is here.
2. Do not miss out on an architectural bike tour with Brennan Pardee. He is equal parts historian and comedian. This is one tour I could do twice in the same trip! I loved learning about and seeing the restored, old-school glamour of Palm Springs all while getting some exercise.
3. Visit Indian Canyons by way of a bicycle or car. Regardless, don’t miss out on the Andreas Canyon Loop hike. The giant fan palms, springs, and rock formations made this one of my favorite scenic hikes to date.
4. It blows my mind that you can drive 30 minutes from Palm Springs and be in the desert or take the Palm Springs Aerial Tram up 8,500 feet to the top of Mt. San Jacinto and walk in snow. (Desert View Trail is available once you get to the top. It’s an easy hike; better for the views than getting your sweat on.)
5. I encourage spending one night at the Pioneertown Motel. Enjoy the day hiking in the Pioneertown Mountain Preserve (owned by Wildlands Conservancy), then wind down next door at Pappy and Harriet’s. You never know what musical act might show up!
6. Schedule a private stargazing experience with 29 Palms Astronomy Club.
7. Head to the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains and hike the Red Dome Route, the Whitewater Canyon Route, or if you really want to challenge yourself, the Whitewater Canyon with Canyon view route.
8. Hike Tahquitz Canyon and visit with the local tribal rangers. This is a great hike after a recent rain. Tahquitz Falls is magnificent when it’s flowing. If you are lucky, you will see their resident Chuckwalla lizard that resides by the gift shop!
9. Araby Trail in Palm Springs takes you right past Bob Hope’s 22,000 square foot estate in addition to offering great views of Coachella Valley and 800 feet in elevation gain.

Random Tidbit:

Despite the state flag, there are no longer wild brown bears in California.

In Summary:

Keeping this write up short was a real struggle for me. I could go on and on! There is so much to do in and near Palm Springs and the surrounding California desert. I only had 5 full days and could have easily added on an extra week. It’s easy to see what makes this area such a popular destination: low crime, a welcoming atmosphere, beautiful architecture, nature all around, great healthcare, and everyone just seems to be happy. Is it a coincidence that it is also a cannabis-friendly destination?