• 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 8 to 18, and tickets should be in the youths’ name. For more information contact Friends of the Desert Mountains 760-568-9918 or the Visitor Center […]

    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 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 […]

  • Endangered Animals of the Monument: Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike

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

    Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with a volunteer docent and learn about two of our federally threatened animals and the challenges they face in the ever-changing environment. Both play different, but equally important roles in the desert ecology. The docent will help you search for them as you hike. Hike rating is easy for both […]

  • 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 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 […]

  • North Lykken Trail Hike

    North Lykken Trailhead West Ramon Road and South La Mirada Road, Palm Springs, CA, United States

    This trail has everything you need in a hike: a good workout, phenomenal views, and wildlife. We will be hiking to the Desert Riders trail junction picnic area and the Simonetta Kennett Vista Point. Take a moment to enjoy the quiet and listen for the calming sound of Tahquitz Canyon Falls. The trail has a […]

  • 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 desert vistas, plants, and mountains. We will share fun facts about desert flora and fauna as well as interesting information about the Native Cahuilla people. […]

  • Art Smith Trail Hike

    Randall Henderson Trailhead 51500 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. You will see many unique desert plants and learn how they survive the long hot summers. There are lizards and animals on the trail including […]

  • 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 and learn the history of the area. You will see many unique desert plants and learn how they survive the long hot summers. There are […]

  • Sunset 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 a sunset fun yoga flow for all skill levels. Relax as the sun sets and stars emerge, flowing through gentle outdoor yoga to unwind and connect with nature through a sequence of physical postures, movements, and breathing techniques that also strengthen your body and mind. Poses commonly mimic […]

    Free
  • Bear Creek Wash Hike

    Cove Oasis Trailhead Parking Lot Calle Tecate and Avenida Juarez, La Quinta, CA, United States

    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 […]

  • 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 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 […]

  • 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 opportunity to meet Bowser, our adopted Mojave desert tortoise who lives on site. Meet at the tortoise enclosure any time between 8:30am – 11:30am. NO […]

  • Geology of the Coachella Valley: Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike

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

    Hiking the Randall Henderson Trail makes the ideal place to talk about the Geology of the Coachella Valley. From the foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains, we have views of the San Bernadino, San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains. There is evidence of how both fault systems and water have shaped our Valley. A volunteer […]

  • Snow Creek PCT Trail Hike

    Pacific Crest Trail Snow Creek Snow Creek Canyon Road and PCT, Whitewater, CA, United States

    Join a Friends’ volunteer docent on a hike on the spectacular Pacific Crest Trail and learn about some of the epic resources unique to the Monument! Moderate hike through desert wash, 300-foot elevation gain, 3.0-miles round trip. Trail is of moderate difficulty. Sorry no dogs are allowed on this trail. . Bring 2 liters of […]

  • Earth Day Birding Bus Tour

    Sam’s Club Parking Lot 34220 Monterey Ave, Palm Desert, CA, United States

    Whether you are a beginner or a serious birder, enjoy spectacular desert and mountain scenery on a guided bus tour to well-known birding and nature hotspots in and around the Coachella Valley. Water and snacks will be provided. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy at one of our stops along the way. Before the day […]