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 […]

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 views of our desert mountains in the amazing wash of moonlight and shadows, as well as the urban night lights of the Coachella Valley. This […]

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 amazing wash of moonlight and shadows, as well as the urban night lights of the Coachella Valley. This is a family friendly easy 1-mile hike […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 encantadoras sobre el terreno desértico. El cielo estará brillantemente iluminado para que las criaturas del desierto puedan corretear. Esta aventura familiar ofrece una caminata manejable […]

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.   

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 hike with 150 feet […]

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 meteor showers or an eclipse. While observing the […]

NOTE: THIS EVENT WILL BE CANCELLED IF THE GOVERNMENT IS STILL SHUT DOWN 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 trained on our new volunteer portal – Get the latest updates on our programs and projects – Brush up on best practices […]

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.   

Join Friends of the Desert Mountains for a lecture at the Rancho Mirage Library on the amazing native plants found in our Coachella Valley. Native plants can enhance any landscape while also providing many benefits, from increasing local biodiversity to saving water and saving you money on your utility bills. Come learn more about our […]

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. Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white […]

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUT-DOWN, THE SPECIAL ONE DAY EVENT TO GO OUT WITH OUR RESEARCHERS WILL BE CANCELLED. YOU ARE FREE TO BIOBLITZ ON YOUR OWN DURING THIS WEEK. The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains is a hotspot for biodiversity with over 3,100 species. Help us find and document more species by participating […]

We begin at the location of the town known as Kenworthy. Using the old mining road, we will trek to the mine ruins. We will discuss some Cahuilla culture and colorful early pioneer settlers. Can you name a few significant events from the mid-20th century to today that have shaped Garner Valley? This 6.0-mile hike […]

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.   

IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUT-DOWN, THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED. Come out to celebrate the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument 25th anniversary with a special hike lead by the Monument Manager. Join us for a hike on the spectacular Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and learn about some of the epic resources unique […]

Join our volunteers for a unique hiking experience in the Magnesia Spring Ecological Canyon trail. This canyon is only open Oct-Nov-Dec as it is home to the endangered Peninsular Bighorn sheep. We begin our trek from Blixseth Park to the canyon. At the canyon entrance you will begin hiking a series of dry waterfalls. The […]

IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUT-DOWN, THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED. Celebrate Bat Week and learn about one of the most amazing mammals on the planet…BATS! These critters are incredible wonders of nature that represent nearly a quarter of all species on the planet. Come to learn about local bat species, the important role they play in […]

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 […]