The Coachella Valley Preserve is a popular destination for our guests who want to go on an interesting yet moderate hike. It’s easy to get to from the Aqua Soleil Hotel and Mineral Water Spa. Make a left on Palm Drive, left on Dillon Road, then right on 1000 Palms Canyon Trail. The preserve will be on your right-hand side. There is a small parking lot near the big groups of palm trees. This area is right on top of the biggest fault line in California, the one they’re always warning us about.
The McCallum trail takes you along the San Andreas Fault to a lush palm oasis which has been a home to pupfish and a strange variety of tiny shellfish. One of the friendly docents told me that the pupfish have been relocated to Borrego Springs while they try to trap and remove all of the crawdads in the pond. There are several traps you can see in the clear water. Apparently, the crawdads were eating the pupfish and don’t belong there.
The little benches by the pond make a great spot to have a sack lunch or sit and talk with your hiking buddy. Remember to bring plenty of water because the hike to this spot is two to three miles. It starts with wooden boardwalks laid into the swamp and turns into a sandy walkway. The trails are clearly marked and you can see the palm oasis for most of the hike, so you shouldn’t have to worry about getting lost. There are also little signs indicating the local flora and fauna species.
To learn more please go to their website.
If you need driving directions printed out, please see one of our friendly Front Desk Agents.
Coachella Valley Preserve
Thousand Palms Canyon Rd
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241
760-343-2733
Article and Pictures by Mike Bennett