• Carrizo Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Carrizo Canyon is open October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about the geology of […]

  • Tortoise Chat (cancelled if government shut down)

    Tortoise Chat
    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population in the Monument. Meet at […]

  • Birding Walk-About, Desert Willow

    Desert Willow Golf Resort 38-995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Grab your binoculars and join a Friends’ volunteer docent birding expert to look for our feathered desert residents. In this unique urban area, we are still able to find a […]

  • Earl Henderson Trail Hike

    Araby Wash Parking Area S. Araby Drive in Araby Wash, Palm Springs, CA, United States

    Enjoy this easy hike along the hillside above Araby Wash. Explore the wonders of this critical habitat area to learn about the endangered Casey’s June Beetle and fire ecology in […]

  • Friends & Champions

    SilverRock Park 51900 Silverrock Way, La Quinta, CA

    Join us for a light-hearted evening benefiting Friends’ wonderful programs and connecting people to the land. Friends & Champions is the annual fundraiser of Friends of the Desert Mountains. In […]

  • Carrizo Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Carrizo Canyon is open October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about the geology of […]

  • Dead Indian Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Dead Indian canyon is only open from October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about […]

  • CANCELLED: VOLUNTEER ONLY – Skeleton Canyon Hike

    Box Canyon and Painted Canyon Roads Box Canyon Road and Painted Canyon Road, Mecca, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED VOLUNTEERS! We will be hiking into the Mecca Wilderness in the Chuckwalla National Monument. This hike is classified as easy with 3.5 to 4.5 miles […]

  • CANCELLED: Yoga with a Ranger

    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Join a National Monument park ranger for an outdoor fun yoga flow for all skill levels. Connect with the landscape through a sequence of physical postures, movements, and breathing techniques […]

    Free
  • Bear Creek Wash Hike

    Cove Oasis Trailhead Parking Lot Calle Tecate and Avenida Juarez, La Quinta, CA, United States

    Join us for this interpretative hike up the Bear Creek Wash. This hike is rated as easy with 4 miles round-trip and an elevation gain of approximately 325 feet. The […]

  • CANCELLED: Tortoise Chat

    Tortoise Chat
    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population […]

  • CANCELLED: Star Party in the Mountains

    Sawmill Trailhead Parking Lot HGHX+XQG, Pinyon Pines, CA

    DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED.   Join members of the Astronomical Society of the Desert for fun “sky tours” and direct observations of the night sky through […]

  • CANCELLED: Carrizo Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Carrizo Canyon is open October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about the geology of […]

  • CANCELLED: Tortoise Chat

    Tortoise Chat
    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population […]

  • Birding Walk-About at the Monument

    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Our experienced Friends’ birding volunteer docent will share interesting facts about the Coachella Valley native species and other migratory birds found in the National Monument. We begin the search for […]

  • Cactus Springs Trail to Horsethief Creek

    Sawmill Trailhead Parking Lot HGHX+XQG, Pinyon Pines, CA

    During 2021, this area was ravaged by a wildfire. Friends’ volunteer docents will discuss fire ecology and how flora and fauna are reclaiming this area. The forested area was important […]

  • Garstin Trail Hike

    Earl Henderson Trail Bogert Trail at Barona Rd, Palm Springs, CA, United States

    Join our Friends’ volunteer docent hiking the Garstin trail and getting your daily outdoor exercise. Learn the importance of this critical habitat area for the endangered Casey’s June Beetle and […]

  • Carrizo Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Carrizo Canyon is open October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about the geology of […]

  • Dead Indian Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Dead Indian canyon is only open from October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about […]

  • CANCELLED: Birding Walk-About, Desert Willow

    Desert Willow Golf Resort 38-995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Grab your binoculars and join a Friends’ volunteer docent birding expert to look for our feathered desert residents. In this unique urban area, we are […]

  • CANCELLED: Tortoise Chat

    Tortoise Chat
    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population […]

  • New Volunteer Orientation

    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Calling All Nature Lovers & Community Champions! Are you passionate about protecting our beautiful desert landscapes? Do you love hiking, wildlife, or simply giving back to your community? Friends of […]

    Free
  • Returning Volunteer Orientation

    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Welcome Back, Volunteers! As we gear up for another amazing season, we’re inviting all returning Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteers to join us for a mandatory orientation session.Why Attend?- […]

  • CANCELLED: Star Party at the Art Smith Trailhead

    Art Smith Trailhead Parking Lot MH9R+7Q, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO ANTICIPATED CLOUD COVER.   Join members of the Astronomical Society of the Desert for fun “sky tours” and direct observations of the night […]

    Free
  • Carrizo Canyon Hike

    Art Smith Trail Parking Lot Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Carrizo Canyon is open October through December and provides wonderful opportunities to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and many other desert critters. You will learn about the geology of […]

  • CANCELLED: Tortoise Chat

    Tortoise Chat
    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Have questions about desert tortoises? Come visit our desert tortoise enclosure and learn about conservation efforts to study and protect our wild desert tortoise population […]

  • Birding Walk-About, Desert Willow

    Desert Willow Golf Resort 38-995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Grab your binoculars and join a Friends’ volunteer docent birding expert to look for our feathered desert residents. In this unique urban area, we are still able to find a […]

  • Theilman Trail Hike

    Theilman Trailhead aka Frank Bogert Bogert Trail and Andreas Hills Drive, Palm Springs, CA, United States

    Grab your hiking poles and join our Friends’ volunteer docent, on the Theilman Trail. This urban hike begins with a few rolling hills, a steep ascent with some switchbacks and […]

  • Ed Hastey Garden Walk

    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Enjoy strolling the Ed Hastey Garden Walk led by Friends’ volunteer docent. It is a great introduction to learn about native plants and animals that inhabit our desert, and the […]