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Stay on the Trails- Safety Tips for Hiking in Palm Springs

The natural beauty of the desert brings thousands of tourists to the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley every year. 

When I moved to Palm Springs nine years ago, one of the first activities that I immersed myself in was hiking. Being a “city boy” most of my life, I never had the opportunity to go to any of the National Forests or Desert to indulge in this sport.

I heard about the Lykken Trail, the Bump & Grind, and the Mecca Hills.  I wanted to jump right in, and start exploring everything that the desert had to offer.

I didn’t start my journey hastily though.  The sport of hiking comes with some responsibility.

Hiking in the open wilderness or desert can be a fun and exhilarating experience, but it can also be a dangerous  one if you are not prepared.  This week alone, there were 2 instances where hikers had to be rescued from the mountains above Palm Springs.  One was a man who went on the trails above the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway,  and went off the trails and got lost for 2 days.  This man was by himself, not wearing the appropriate clothes, and had no food and water.  Another was a father and his young daughter who decided to take a short cut and got separated from his group.  They were found the next day.

These people were lucky.  There have been many instances where hikers have died because they were not prepared.

Here are some of the basics you need to know before you go hiking in Palm Springs:

• Don’t Hike Alone- Go with a friend
• Take a cell phone- you may need to call for help
• Tell someone where you are going- This way someone  call for help if you don’t come back
• Food & water- Bring protein bars & plenty of water.  Dehydration is the #1 killer of lost hikers.
• Where proper clothing- The mountains are usually 20 degrees cooler than the desert floor.
• Stay on the trails- Do not go off & explore.  The trails are there for a reason.  54 sq miles of trails should be plenty of excitement for anyone.

Follow these simple rules, and your Palm Springs hiking experience should be a pleasant one.  We have an excellent Search & Rescue Team here in the Desert if you do find yourself in a precarious situation. We want our visitors & residents of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley to have a memorable experience in our mountains. Have fun and Happy Trails!!!

For more information on the local Palm Springs Hiking Trails, click here. 

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