• Winter Bioblitz: Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

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

    Join us for a week of recording observations in the SRSJM National Monument’s desert, foothills and mountains. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains is a hotspot for biodiversity with […]

    Free
  • 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 […]

  • Art Smith Trail Hike

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

    Join a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument! You will have excellent views of the Coachella Valley and learn some of the local history. […]

  • Tortoise Chat

    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 […]

  • Junior Ranger Day at the National Monument

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

    Learn about our desert through hands-on activities that explore the land, animals, and plants. After completing six challenges, you’ll earn your Junior Ranger Badge! This program is suited for ages […]

    Free
  • Star Party at the Monument

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

    Join members of the Astronomical Society of the Desert for fun “sky tours” and direct observations of the night sky through telescopes and binoculars. This is a family event. Minors […]

  • Birding Walk-About at the Monument Visitor Center

    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 […]

  • 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

    Earl Henderson Trail Bogert Trail at Barona Rd, 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 […]

  • Nature Walk at Blixseth Park

    Blixseth Mountain Park Mirage Road, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States

    Join our Friends’ volunteer docents for a nature walk in Blixseth Mountain Park. The Park features both native and non-native desert landscape, a wide walking path with benches for observing […]

  • Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Full Trail

    Randall Henderson Trailhead 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Our Friends’ volunteer docent will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument! You will see excellent views of the Coachella Valley […]

  • Friends & Volunteers 2026 Kick-Off BBQ

    Friends of the Desert Mountains 51500 California 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    We’re excited to kick off the year by gathering together with our amazing volunteer crew for some good food, great company, and plenty of laughs! Let’s celebrate all that’s ahead […]

  • The Grottos Trail via Sheep Hole Oasis and Hidden Springs Oasis

    Box Canyon Road at Mecca Hills Grotto Trailhead Box Canyon Road, Mecca, CA, United States

    Join us on this guided hike in the Mecca Hills Wilderness area and Chuckwalla National Monument. The Mecca Grotto hike is classified as strenuous: 5.75 miles with an elevation gain […]

  • 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 […]

  • Rancho Mirage-Chuckwalla Trail Full Moon Hike

    Rancho Mirage City Hall Parking Lot 69825 California 111, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States

    Grab your hiking boots and join Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer docents on a full moon hike on the lower portion of the Chuckwalla Trail. You will experience the […]

  • Rancho Mirage-Jackrabbit/Bighorn Overlook Trail Full Moon Hike

    Rancho Mirage City Hall Parking Lot 69825 California 111, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States

    Join Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer docents on a full moon hike on the Jackrabbit/Bighorn Overlook trail loop. You will experience the views of our desert mountains in the […]

  • Public Lands Day with City of Palm Desert

    Homme Adams Park 72500 Thrush Road, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Roll up your sleeves and make a difference with Friends of the Desert Mountains and the City of Palm Desert at a community cleanup you won’t want to miss! We’ll kick things off at […]

  • Who Made That Hole? Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike

    Randall Henderson Trailhead 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    As you walk the desert trails, have you noticed the holes and wondered who made them? Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with our volunteer docent leaders to learn the difference […]

  • La Quinta Full Moon Hike

    La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot Calle Tecate & Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA, United States

    Experience a hike by moonlight! See the beauty of the shadows and wash of moonlight over our mountains. We will be looking for all types of night creatures along the […]

  • Night Sky Star Observations – La Quinta

    La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot Calle Tecate & Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA, United States

    Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer astronomers will be setting up their telescopes and are inviting you to their “star party”. A clear night sky offers an ever-changing display of […]

  • 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 […]

  • Indio Badlands Trail Full Moon Hike

    Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

    Strap on your hiking boots for a full moon hike on the first mile of the Indio Badlands Trail. As we embark on this hike, the moonlight casts enchanting shadows […]

  • Excursión Bajo la Luna Llena en el Sendero Indio Hills

    Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

    Póngase las botas de montaña para una caminata bajo la luna llena en el sendero Indio Hills. Mientras nos embarcamos en esta caminata, la luz de la luna proyecta sombras […]

  • McManus Trail Hike

    McManus Trailhead, Palm Hills Road, Palm Springs, CA Palm Hills Road, Palm Springs, CA, United States

    A 3 mile out-and-back trail near Cathedral City. This is a popular trail to the Goat Trails area, but you can still enjoy some solitude during a quieter time of […]

  • Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike

    Randall Henderson Trailhead 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Our Friends’ volunteer docent will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument! You will see excellent views of the Coachella Valley […]

  • 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
  • Tortoise Chat

    Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 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. Also, great […]