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 and an elevation gain of over 300 feet. Experience walking along the San Andreas Fault network and see and touch red fault gorge covered hills […]

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 […]

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 trail winds through a sandy wash with uneven terrain. As the wash narrows there will be some rocks and small boulders to hike around and […]

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 in the Monument. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Friends of the Desert […]

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 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 […]

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 in a sandy wash with uneven terrain. As the canyon […]

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 in the Monument. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Friends of the Desert […]

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 our feathered friends in their native desert habitat at the new observation area. Then onto the Ed Hastey Garden Walk (paved) and tortoise habitat areas. […]

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 to the Cahuilla people who lived off the land and more recently played a role in the mining history of the National Monument’s land. This […]

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 other tidbits about Palm Springs history and the National Monument. Hike rating is moderate. Elevation gain is approximately 800 feet and 3 miles roundtrip. Sorry, […]

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 in a sandy wash with uneven terrain. As the canyon […]

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 […]

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 still able to find a little native desert environment surrounded by local trees and shrubs that many of our feathered friends call home. As you […]

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 in the Monument. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Friends of the Desert […]

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 the Desert Mountains needs YOU!We’re looking for enthusiastic, dedicated volunteers to help us preserve the natural wonders of the Coachella Valley. Whether you’re a trail […]

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?- Get the latest updates on our programs and projects- Brush up on best practices and volunteer guidelines- Sign your updated volunteer paperwork for the new […]

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 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 […]

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 in a sandy wash with uneven terrain. As the canyon […]

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 in the Monument. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Friends of the Desert […]

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 little native desert environment surrounded by local trees and shrubs that many of our feathered friends call home. As you walk the perimeter of an […]

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 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 value of urban conservation. This short, easy walk is suitable for persons of all ages and abilities with a paved 3-foot-wide path. All topics are […]

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 in the Monument. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Friends of the Desert […]

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 in a sandy wash with uneven terrain. As the canyon […]

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 in the Monument. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO RESERVATION REQUIRED. For more information contact Friends of the Desert […]

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 our feathered friends in their native desert habitat at the new observation area. Then onto the Ed Hastey Garden Walk (paved) and tortoise habitat areas. […]

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 this sensitive habitat area. On our return loop, we will wander down into the wash to checkout a few desert plants. Sorry, no dogs allowed […]

We invite you to join us for an upcoming lecture exploring the Friends of the Desert Mountains’ history of land transactions and conservation efforts. Our guest speaker, Tommy Texeira, Land Administrator with Friends, will explain how the organization has acquired land over the years, including the strategies and partnerships that make these purchases possible. He […]

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 family-friendly adventure offers a manageable […]

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 — stars, constellations, bright planets, a full moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers or an eclipse. While observing […]