Our volunteers will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument!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 levels out as you near the Whitehorse […]

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert. This trail is […]

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 the geology of the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert. […]

Join a park ranger for yoga at a National Monument!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 that also strengthen your body and mind. Poses commonly mimic Earth, animals and trees. This outdoor […]

Come learn about native plants and how to use them in your garden.

Calling All Birders!Our experienced 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 our feathered friends in their native desert habitat at the new observation area. Then on to the Ed Hastey Garden Walk (paved) and tortoise […]

Explore this popular trail on the National MonumentOur 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 and learn the history of the area. You will see many unique desert plants and learn how they […]

Join SoCal Adaptive Sports and Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer docents on a hike for persons with disabilities, their family, and friends to Simone Pond. The Coachella Valley Preserve has the second largest fan palm oasis in the valley. The trail begins at the “palm house” through the oasis along the wash to the […]

Join us at our monthly Desert Mountains Art Fair! Mediums may include photography, paintings, ceramics, hand painted silks, and more. Support local artists and find beautiful and unique gifts and desert mementos, all while enjoying the natural beauty of our desert mountains! For more information contact the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.   Sponsored by the […]

Enjoy lectures at the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountain National Monument Visitor Center.Ready, set, explore! The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument is a national treasure with over 280 miles of designated trails, geological wonders, thousands of plant and animal species and a living laboratory for various scientific studies. Embark on a […]

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert. This trail is […]

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 the geology of the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert. […]

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 levels out as you near the Whitehorse intersection. Once you reach the top, there are sweeping vistas of the Coachella Valley, Mount San Jacinto, the […]

Enjoy lectures to enhance your knowledge and share with the public. Expand your knowledge of the Desert Mountains and be a better “Friend”. Kurt Leuschner is a Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert. Kurt has extensive experience abroad and domestic and will be talking about birds found on the local areas throughout […]

Our volunteers will take you on a guided hike in the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument.Join us for a Family Friendly Interpretive Walk in the Painted Canyon found in the Mecca Wilderness and the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument. We will walk up a canyon full of amazing geology with colors that you will not see elsewhere, […]

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert. This trail is […]

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 the geology of the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert. […]

Join a park ranger for yoga at a National Monument!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 that also strengthen your body and mind. Poses commonly mimic Earth, animals and trees. This outdoor […]

Join Friends staff, VC staff, board members and volunteers to celebrate the holiday season. We are ready to enjoy some delicious food, holiday games and camaraderie with a great group of friends. Bring a dish or dessert to share – drinks will be provided by Friends. Purchase a unisex gift for $20 to participate in […]

Calling All Birders!Our experienced 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 our feathered friends in their native desert habitat at the new observation area. Then on to the Ed Hastey Garden Walk (paved) and tortoise […]

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 trail. Our astronomers will have their telescope set-up to view the night sky.This is a family friendly easy 3-mile loop […]

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 trail. Our astronomers will have their telescope set-up to view the night sky.This is a family friendly easy 3-mile loop […]

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 trail. Our astronomers will have their telescope set-up to view the night sky.This is a family friendly easy 3-mile loop […]

Join us to view the night sky through telescopes.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 fascinating objects to see — stars, constellations, bright planets, a full moon, and sometimes special events like […]

Our volunteers will take you on a nature walk in Rancho Mirage. Join our Friends’ volunteer docents for a nature walk in Blixseth Mountain Park. The Park features native desert landscape, walking paths and benches for observing desert vistas, plants and geography. We will share fun facts about desert flora and fauna as well as […]

Orientation for new volunteersWe need ALL volunteers (that are new or have not attended an orientation in the prior season) to attend orientation and sign paperwork. If you have not already attended a general volunteer orientation this season, please attend one of these sessions to begin or continue your great work with our organization.RETURNING VOLUNTEERS […]

Orientation for returning volunteersWe need RETURNING volunteers (those who have attended a general volunteer orientation) to attend ONE session this year and sign new BLM volunteer agreements. Please attend one of these sessions to continue your great work with our organization.Questions? Contact Dallas Williams at 760 568-9918 or email dwilliams@desertmountains.orgTo learn more about volunteering with […]

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 on the desert terrain. The sky will be brilliantly lit up for the desert creatures to be scurrying about. This […]

Join us to view the night sky through telescopes. Únase a nosotros para ver el cielo nocturno a través de telescopios.A Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer astronomer will be setting up a telescope and is inviting you to a “star party”. A clear night sky offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects to see […]

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 on the desert terrain. The sky will be brilliantly lit up for the desert creatures to be scurrying about. This […]