Upcoming Events

CANCELLED: 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 […]

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

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

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, Desert Willow

Desert Willow Golf Resort 38-995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Calling All Birders!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 […]

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 […]

Randall Henderson Adaptive Sports Hike & Star Gazing

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

Join SoCal Adaptive Sports and Friends of the Desert Mountains volunteer docents on a hike for persons with disabilities on the Randall Henderson Trail. This trail is home to our endangered Desert Tortoise. Keep your eyes checking out the trail for moving rocks. We will enjoy trekking through a sandy wash into a short canyon […]

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

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Partial Trail

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

Explore this popular trail on the National MonumentWHO 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 […]

Free

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Full Trail

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

Explore this popular trail on the National MonumentWHO 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 […]

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

Araby Trail Hike

Araby Trailhead Southridge Drive, Palm Springs, CA, United States

Our volunteers will take you on a guided hike through the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument!J. Smeaton Chase, an Englishman is credited with naming the Araby Trail. The hike begins with a continuous switchback ascent uphill. The trail climbs to the ridge, you will see historic homes and mansions. Great views of […]

Free

Volunteer Only: Bighorn Sheep Recovery

Friends of the Desert Mountains 51500 California 74, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Visit the Bighorn Institute! Expand your knowledge of the Desert Mountains and be a better “Friend”. We have arranged a special trip to the Big Horn Institute. While there, Aimee Byard will share information on the Institute’s efforts to help the Big Horn recovery. This lecture is limited to 20 people. We will meet at […]

Free

Birding Walk-About, Desert Willow

Desert Willow Golf Resort 38-995 Desert Willow Drive, Palm Desert, CA, United States

Calling All Birders!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 […]

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 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

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

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Partial Trail

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

Explore this popular trail on the National Monument ENDANGERED ANIMALS OF THE MONUMENT! Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with a volunteer docent and learn about two of our federally threatened animals and the challenges they face in the ever-changing environment. Both play different, but equally important roles in the desert ecology. The docent will help […]

Free

Randall Henderson Interpretative Hike – Full Trail

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

Explore this popular trail on the National Monument ENDANGERED ANIMALS OF THE MONUMENT! Explore the Randall Henderson Trail with a volunteer docent and learn about two of our federally threatened animals and the challenges they face in the ever-changing environment. Both play different, but equally important roles in the desert ecology. The docent will help […]

Free

Ed Hastey Garden Walk

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

Enjoy the garden surrounding the National Monument Visitor Center. 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 […]

Free