Upcoming Events

Theilman Trail Hike

Theilman Trailhead aka Frank Bogert Bogert Trail and Andreas Hills Drive, Palm Springs, CA, United States

Grab your hiking poles and join our Friends’ volunteer docent, on the Theilman Trail. This urban hike begins with a few rolling hills, a steep ascent with some switchbacks and levels out as you near the Whitehorse intersection. Once you reach the top, there are sweeping vistas of the Coachella Valley, Mount San Jacinto, the […]

Free

VOLUNTEER ONLY: Birds of the Coachella Valley

Friends of the Desert Mountains Conference Room 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Enjoy lectures to enhance your knowledge and share with the public. Expand your knowledge of the Desert Mountains and be a better “Friend”. Kurt Leuschner is a Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert. Kurt has extensive experience abroad and domestic and will be talking about birds found on the local areas throughout […]

Free

Painted 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 Family Friendly Interpretive Walk in the Painted Canyon found in the Mecca Wilderness and the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument. We will walk up a canyon full of amazing geology with colors that you will not see elsewhere, […]

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

Friends & Volunteers Holiday Party

Join Friends staff, VC staff, board members and volunteers to celebrate the holiday season. We are ready to enjoy some delicious food, holiday games and camaraderie with a great group of friends. Bring a dish or dessert to share – drinks will be provided by Friends. Purchase a unisex gift for $20 to participate in […]

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

La Quinta Full Moon Hike – 7pm Group

La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot Calle Tecate & Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA, United States

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 […]

Free

La Quinta Full Moon Hike – 7:15p Group

La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot Calle Tecate & Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA, United States

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 […]

Free

La Quinta Full Moon Hike – 7:30p Group

La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot Calle Tecate & Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA, United States

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 […]

Free

Night Sky Star Observations – La Quinta

La Quinta Cove Trails Parking Lot Calle Tecate & Avenida Bermudas, La Quinta, CA, United States

Join us to view the night sky through telescopes.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 […]

Free

Nature Walk at Blixseth Park

Blixseth Mountain Park Mirage Road, Rancho Mirage, CA, United States

Our volunteers will take you on a nature walk in Rancho Mirage. Join our Friends’ volunteer docents for a nature walk in Blixseth Mountain Park. The Park features native desert landscape, walking paths and benches for observing desert vistas, plants and geography. We will share fun facts about desert flora and fauna as well as […]

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

Indio Badlands Trail Full Moon Hike – 7pm Group

Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 […]

Free

Night Sky Star Observations in Indio Hills – Vistazo de estrellas en Indio

Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

Join us to view the night sky through telescopes. Únase a nosotros para ver el cielo nocturno a través de telescopios.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 […]

Free

Indio Badlands Trail Full Moon Hike – 7:15p Group

Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 […]

Free

Excursión Bajo la Luna Llena en el Sendero Indio Hills

Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

Nuestros voluntarios lo llevarán en una caminata a la luz de la luna a través de las tierras baldías de Indio.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. […]

Free

Indio Badlands Trail Full Moon Hike – 7:45p Group

Indio Hills Badlands Trail Golf Center Parkway, Indio, CA, United States

Experience the desert in the moonlight!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 […]

Free