Upcoming Events

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 on the sidewalk adjacent […]

Free

South Lykken Trail at Mesquite Road

South Lykken Trail at Mesquite 500 East Mesquite Avenue, Palm Springs, California

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 and listen for the calming sound of Tahquitz Canyon Falls. The trail has a few steep switchbacks and is rocky in […]

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 an interactive nature conversation at Blixseth Mountain Park. As we walk along the paths we can talk geology and look for evidence of how both fault systems and water have shaped our land. Perhaps we can sit […]

Free

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 on the sidewalk adjacent […]

Free

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 […]

Free

Tortoise Walk and Talk

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

The Randall Henderson Trail is habitat for the endangered desert tortoise. Meg, National Monument Park Ranger, will lead you on this 1-mile loop hike. You will learn many interesting tidbits as you search for the tortoises on the trail. At trails end, you will have the opportunity to visit with the National Monument’s desert tortoise […]

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. For more information call 760-862-9984. Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope […]

Free

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Partial Trail

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

GEOLOGY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY! 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 […]

Free

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Full Trail

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

GEOLOGY OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY! 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 […]

Free

Birding Walk-About, Visitor Center

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

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 habitat areas. […]

Earl Henderson Trail Hike

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

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 loop, we will wander down into the wash to checkout a few desert plants. Sorry, no dogs allowed […]

Free

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 […]

Free

Star Party in the Mountains

Sawmill Trailhead Parking Lot HGHX+XQG, Pinyon Pines, CA

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 do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope […]

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Partial Trail

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

WHO MADE THAT HOLE! As you walk the desert trails, have you noticed the holes and wondered who made them? Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with our volunteer docent leaders to learn the difference between burrows and holes, and the importance of these to the delicate balance of the environment. We will be looking for […]

Free

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Full Trail

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

WHO MADE THAT HOLE! As you walk the desert trails, have you noticed the holes and wondered who made them? Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with our volunteer docent leaders to learn the difference between burrows and holes, and the importance of these to the delicate balance of the environment. We will be looking for […]

Free

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 on the sidewalk adjacent […]

Free

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 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 activity is routinely performed barefoot. Bring a yoga mat […]

Free

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 on the sidewalk adjacent […]

Free

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 […]

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. For more information call 760-862-9984. Etiquette: please do not touch equipment unless requested. No white lights near telescope […]

Free