Desert Mountain

Tortoise Chat (cancelled during government shut-down)
2025-10-04 08:30 - 09:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUT-DOWN, THIS EVENT IS 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 in the Monument. Also, great opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site.
Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 9:30am. (Note: times may be reduced due to heat.)
NO RESERVATION REQUIRED.
For more information call the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.
Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Friends of the Desert Mountains.

CANCELLED: Yoga with a Ranger
2025-10-02 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT SHUT-DOWN, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

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 activity is routinely performed barefoot.
Bring a yoga mat or towel, water, and sunscreen. Limited to 15 participants. Meet on the Visitor Center patio.
View map/UTM Coordinates for the Visitor Center: 33.67149, -116.40839
For more information contact Friends of the Desert Mountains at 760-568-9918 or the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.
Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Friends of the Desert Mountains.
RSVP required. Reservations begin 2 weeks prior to the event.

Native Planting Lecture at the Coachella Library
2025-10-01 17:00 - 18:00 UTC | Coachella Library, 1500 6th Street, Coachella, 92236, United States
Join Us for a Community Event on Rebuilding Our Natural Habitat.
Come learn how to restore our natural environment in our neighborhoods. Enjoy complimentary food and receive free native trees and shrubs!
Reservation is required.
For more information contact Edeli R. Gonzalez at egonzalez@desertmountains.org or at Friends of the Desert Mountains 760-568-9918.

CANCELLED-Dead Indian Canyon Interpretative Hike
2025-10-01 08:00 - 10:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Art Smith Trail Parking Lot, Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, 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 the geology of the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert.
This trail traverses a sandy wash with uneven terrain with cobble (small rocks). Hike rating is easy, approximately 2 miles round trip. Elevation gain is approximately 200 feet. Sorry no dogs allowed on this trail. Bring snacks and 2 liters of water per person. Wear close-toed shoes, sun hat and sunscreen.
RSVP is required. Check-in 15 minutes prior to start time.
Please note: We will meet at the Art Smith Trailhead parking lot located just past the driveway for the Visitor Center approximately 100 feet on the southwest side of Highway 74.View map/UTM coordinates for trailhead location: 33.667957, -116.407666
For more information contact Friends of the Desert Mountains 760-568-9918 or the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.
A suggested non-refundable donation of $5.00 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support our volunteer programs.
Ticket reservations begin 2 weeks prior to the event and will be published at that time. Your optional non-refundable donation is not a ticket to attend.

Carrizo Canyon Opening Day
2025-10-01 08:00 - 10:30 UTC | Art Smith Trail Parking Lot, Art Smith Trailhead, Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
The Carrizo Canyon Ecological Preserve opens for the season on October 1st. This docent led hike takes you into a canyon that provides a chance to see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep and other desert critters, learn about the geology of the area and a great outdoor experience close to downtown Palm Desert.
This trail is in a sandy wash with uneven terrain. As the canyon narrows there will be some rocks and small boulders to hike around and step over. Hike rating is easy, approximately 3 miles round trip. Elevation gain is approximately 350 feet. Bring snacks and 2 liters of water per person. Wear closed-toed shoes, sun hat and sunscreen. Sorry no dogs are allowed.
RSVP is required. Check-in 15 minutes prior to departure time.
Please note: We will meet at the Art Smith Trailhead parking lot located just past the driveway for the Visitor Center approximately 100 feet on the southwest side of Highway 74. View map/UTM coordinates directions for trailhead location: 33.667957, -116.407666
For more information contact Friends of the Desert Mountains 760-568-9918 or the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.
A suggested non-refundable donation of $5.00 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support our volunteer programs.
Ticket reservations begin 2 weeks prior to the event and will be published at that time. Your optional non-refundable donation is not a ticket to attend.

Tortoise Chat
2025-09-28 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-09-27 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-09-21 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-09-20 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-09-13 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-09-07 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-09-06 08:30 - 09:30, 2025-08-31 08:30 - 09:30 UTC and 7 more dates | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, 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 opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site.
Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 9:30am. (Note: times may be reduced due to heat.)
NO RESERVATION REQUIRED.
For more information call the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.
Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Friends of the Desert Mountains.

CANCELLED: Star Party at the Monument
2025-09-27 18:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
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 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
This event is wheelchair accessible with asphalt surfaces.
For more information call 760-862-9984.
Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope field.
NOTE: OVERCAST SKIES CANCELS THIS EVENT.
Registration begins 14 days prior to the event. A suggested nonrefundable donation of $5.00 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support our volunteer programs.
View map/UTM Coordinates for the Visitor Center: 33.67149, -116.40839

Star Party in the Mountains
2025-09-20 19:00 - 22:00 UTC | Sawmill Trailhead Parking Lot, HGHX+XQG, Pinyon Pines, CA
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 must be accompanied by parent or guardian.
This event is wheelchair accessible with asphalt surfaces.
For more information call 760-862-9984. RSVP is not required.
Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope field.
NOTE: OVERCAST SKIES AND HIGH WINDS CANCEL THIS EVENT.
View map & UTM coordinates for the Sawmill Parking Lot: 33.57995, -116.45056

Tortoise Chat - CANCELLED
2025-09-14 08:30 - 09:30 UTC | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
VISITOR CENTER IS CLOSED THIS DAY.
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 opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site.
Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 9:30am. (Note: times may be reduced due to heat.)
NO RESERVATION REQUIRED.
For more information call the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.
Sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management in partnership with Friends of the Desert Mountains.

Night Sky Viewing Stars and Planets
2025-09-13 19:30 - 22:30, 2025-08-16 20:15 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Art Smith Trailhead, MH9R+7Q, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
Night event-

Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer astronomers will be setting up their telescopes and are inviting you to stop by any time while they are there to view the ever-changing display of fascinating objects to see — stars, constellations, bright planets, moon and sometimes meteors.
This is a family friendly event. Minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Bring water and wear closed-toed shoes.
RSVP is required. Ticket reservations begin 14 days prior to the event. A suggested non-refundable donation of $5.00 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support our volunteer programs.
NOTE: CHECK WEATHER BEFORE DEPARTING, THIS EVENT WILL BE CANCELLED FOR HEAVY CLOUD COVER, WIND OR RAIN.
For more information contact Friends of the Desert Mountains at 760-568-9918.
We will meet at the Art Smith Trailhead parking lot located just past the driveway for the Visitor Center approximately 100 feet on the southwest side of Highway 74.
View map at coordinates: 33.667957, -116.407666

Monument Night Adventures 7:30p Group
2025-09-13 19:30 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Art Smith Trailhead, MH9R+7Q, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States
Night hike-

Discover how the desert comes alive after dark! Do you know which animals change colors when you use a blacklight?
Using blacklights, a Friends’ volunteer docent will begin a short walk on uneven cobbled desert terrain in the basin below the dike/levy looking for scorpions and other nocturnal creatures that inhabit our desert.
This is a family friendly event. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bring water, wear closed-toed shoes and a black light if you have one. If not, we will have a few black lights to share. Sorry, no dogs allowed on this trail.
RSVP is required, check-in 15 minutes prior to start time. Ticket reservations begin 14 days prior to the event. A suggested non-refundable donation of $5.00 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support our volunteer programs.
For more information contact Friends of the Desert Mountains at 760-568-9918.
Please note: We will meet at the Art Smith Trailhead parking lot located just past the driveway for the Visitor Center approximately 100 feet on the southwest side of Highway 74.
View map at coordinates: 33.667957, -116.407666

Star Party at the Monument
2025-08-30 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, 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 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. For more information call 760-862-9984.
Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope field.
NOTE: OVERCAST SKIES CANCELS THIS EVENT.
Registration begins 14 days prior to the event. A suggested nonrefundable donation of $5.00 per person is appreciated and encouraged to support our volunteer programs.
View map/UTM Coordinates for the Visitor Center: 33.67149, -116.40839

CANCELLED - Star Party in the Mountains
2025-08-23 20:00 - 22:00 UTC | Sawmill Trailhead Parking Lot, HGHX+XQG, Pinyon Pines, CA
THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO CLOUD COVER.

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 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. For more information call 760-862-9984.
Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope field.
NOTE: OVERCAST SKIES AND HIGH WINDS CANCEL THIS EVENT.
View map & UTM coordinates for the Sawmill Parking Lot: 33.57995, -116.45056

Monument Night Adventures 8:15p Group
2025-08-16 20:15 - 22:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Art Smith Trailhead, MH9R+7Q, Palm Desert, CA, 92260, United States

VOLUNTEER ONLY! POTLUCK AND SUMMER SWIM PARTY
2025-08-14 15:00 - 19:00 UTC | Cheryl’s Place, Royal Carrizo neighborhood, Mountain Center, CA, 92561, United States
Grab your swimsuits and join fellow Friends’ volunteers at Cheryl’s home to celebrate another successful year for the Friends volunteeers, staff and board members. This is a great event for the Friends’newest volunteers to relax and get to know other volunteers and Friends staff. And of course, find out what everyone has been doing to stay cool during the heat wave.
Bring your favorite dish to pass and your favorite drink.
RSVP to Ada (AdaNuckels@gmail.com) to receive directions and codes.
