Upcoming Events

Desert Mountains Art Fair

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Join us at our monthly Desert Mountains Art Fair! Mediums may include photography, paintings, ceramics, hand painted silks, and more. Support local artists and find beautiful and unique gifts and desert mementos, all while enjoying the natural beauty of our desert mountains! For more information contact the Visitor Center at 760-862-9984.   Sponsored by the […]

Earl Henderson Trail Hike

Earl Henderson Trail Bogert Trail at Barona Rd, Palm Springs, CA, United States

Our volunteers will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument!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 […]

Free

Volunteers ONLY: Interpretative Hike Training via Zoom

Both new and returning hike team volunteers need to attend this training. Join Friends of the Desert Mountains Hike Program Leader Ada Nuckels for an interactive session for returning and aspiring hike team members.Topics to be discussed are resources and talking points for hike leads, the role of hike leaders, role of hike sweeps, reporting […]

Free

Carrizo Canyon Interpretative Hike

Art Smith Trailhead Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 […]

Free

Dead Indian Canyon Interpretative Hike

Art Smith Trailhead Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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. […]

Free

Yoga with a Ranger

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Join a park ranger for yoga at a National Monument!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 […]

Free

Birding Walk-About, Visitor Center

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Calling All Birders!Our experienced 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 on to the Ed Hastey Garden Walk (paved) and tortoise […]

Free

Mecca Aster Canyon Hike

Box Canyon and Painted Canyon Roads Box Canyon Road and Painted Canyon Road, Mecca, CA, United States

Our volunteers will take you on a guided hike in the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument.Join us for a hike into the Mecca Wilderness and the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument. This is a brand-new hike never offered by Friends. On this hike we will walk through a wash full of amazing geology with colors that you […]

Free

Chuckwalla Trail Interpretative Hike

Rancho Mirage City Hall Parking Lot 69825 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States

Explore this popular trail in Rancho Mirage.This trail meanders through the rolling foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains above Rancho Mirage and Cathedral Canyon. You may see a few wildflowers along the trail. There are many other unique desert plants. You will learn about their adaptations to the desert and summertime survival techniques. Our volunteer […]

Free

Volunteer Orientation

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Orientation for new volunteersWe need ALL volunteers (that are new or have not attended an orientation in the prior season) to attend orientation and sign paperwork. If you have not already attended a general volunteer orientation this season, please attend one of these sessions to begin or continue your great work with our organization.RETURNING VOLUNTEERS […]

Free

Returning Volunteer Agreement Signing + Updates

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Orientation for returning volunteersWe need RETURNING volunteers (those who have attended a general volunteer orientation) to attend ONE session this year and sign new BLM volunteer agreements. Please attend one of these sessions to continue your great work with our organization.Questions? Contact Dallas Williams at 760 568-9918 or email dwilliams@desertmountains.orgTo learn more about volunteering with […]

Free

Star Party at the Monument

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Join the Astronomical Society of the Desert to view the night sky through telescopes.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. For more information call 760-862-9984.Etiquette: please […]

Free

Carrizo Canyon Interpretative Hike

Art Smith Trailhead Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 […]

Free

Dead Indian Canyon Interpretative Hike

Art Smith Trailhead Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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. […]

Free

Volunteer Only: Trail Maintenance/Weed Warriors Training Day

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Orientation for new and returning volunteers to the Trail team or Weed WarriorsExisting Outreach volunteers and new volunteers interested in learning more about working Outreach tables – PLEASE ATTEND THIS SESSION.Do you enjoy learning about our interacting with the public, and educating them on all the wonderful things we have to offer? Are you available […]

Free

Earl Henderson Trail Hike

Earl Henderson Trail Bogert Trail at Barona Rd, Palm Springs, CA, United States

Our volunteers will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument!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 […]

Free

Friends & Champions

SilverRock Park 51900 Silverrock Way, La Quinta, CA

Join us for a light-hearted evening benefiting Friends’ wonderful programs and connecting people to the land. Friends & Champions is the annual fundraiser of Friends of the Desert Mountains. In early November, we gather 300+ attendees outdoors at exciting locations to celebrate and honor our “Friends and Champions” – those who inspire our work and […]

Carrizo Canyon Interpretative Hike

Art Smith Trailhead Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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 […]

Free

Dead Indian Canyon Interpretative Hike

Art Smith Trailhead Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

This bighorn sheep habitat is only open 3 months a year!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. […]

Free

Yoga with a Ranger

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Join a park ranger for yoga at a National Monument!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 […]

Free