WHAT WE DO
There Are Two Deserts
Desert Magazine publisher Randall Henderson had quite a vision of the Coachella Valley desert, as he wrote in his 1937 editorial “There Are Two Deserts”:
“One is a grim desolate wasteland. It is the home of venomous reptiles and stinging insects, of vicious thorn-covered plants and trees, and of unbearable heat. This is the desert seen by the stranger speeding along the highway, impatient to be out of ‘this damnable country …’
The other Desert—the real Desert—is not for the eyes of the superficial observer, or the fearful soul or the cynic. It is a land, the character of which is hidden except to those who come with friendliness and understanding …”
This other Desert—the real Desert—is the one we help thousands of locals and visitors experience safely every year. Whether on a guided hike or educational field trip, we can help you build the knowledge and confidence to embrace this unique landscape.
Once You Love The Desert, You Too Will Want To Protect It
As Friends of the Desert Mountains (Friends), we are dedicated to building a community of support to help preserve the unique wildlife and scenic beauty of the Coachella Valley and our Desert Mountains. We acquire and preserve wildlands, promote stewardship of trails, conduct educational programs, and support ecological research.
Friends’ team works with biologists, conservationists, and government agencies to identify key lands for protection. We select land for its scenic, biological, recreational, or cultural significance, and then offer to purchase it from willing sellers at fair market value. Through these key acquisitions, we give permanent protection to the beauty, character, and diversity of the Coachella Valley.
63,000 ACRES
Since 1987, we have acquired tens of thousands of acres of desert mountains, canyon and woodlands. These lands are conserved now and for future generations.
27+ SPECIES
Our work protects dozens of threatened and endangered plants and animals found nowhere else on Earth—and the habitat where they live and thrive.
310+ MILES
We build, restore, and improve access throughout the Coachella Valley to ensure the safety and enjoyment of hundreds of miles of recreational trails.
Land Conservancy
“We’ve Got The Land, Now We Have to Teach The Children”
Friends co-founder Buford Crites spoke succinctly of our land conservation work—and what still needs to be done.
We have spent 37 years in conservation and have achieved many successes, but we know that without the support of future generations, our preservation efforts may be in vain. We have made it our mission to reach out to tomorrow’s leaders. We steward the land, support the Santa Rosa and SanJacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, and educate the community. We go into the field with kids, lead hikes, and give classes. By doing so, we hope to reveal the wonders of the fragile desert and mountains we call home and instill an environmental awareness that will last a lifetime.
Youth Programs
Environmental Education with Friends
As we prepare for the future impacts of climate change and widespread development in our region, we know that community education will be extremely important when it comes to the preservation of wildlife habitats and natural resources. Our Environmental Education works within many spaces of our community to help strengthen our youth’s knowledge regarding wildlife, conservation of our natural resources, and safe and responsible outdoor recreation.
Friends of the Desert Mountains has partnered with several local organizations to bring environmental education courses to our local youth programs.
We’ve been working with Coachella Valley Unified School District, The YMCA of the Desert, and the Desert Recreation District by inviting them out to the trails and providing fun, hands-on education courses that can help our students learn more about the plants, wildlife, and natural resources found around the region. This program is now a major focus of our organization because we know that learning about our local wildlife and natural resources at a young age will help our kids develop the knowledge and the sense of responsibility needed to take care of our natural environment.
Equity and Inclusion
Many communities in our region lack the resources needed to safely access our region’s outdoor recreational opportunities.
We see it as our responsibility to reach out to these communities to offer transportation, education, and mentorship in the outdoors to help bridge the gap between them and their natural environment. One partnership that has helped us accomplish this goal is our program with the Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC). CVHC develops and manages several affordable housing projects throughout the Coachella Valley. Through our partnership, we have been able to take groups of students and families on guided hiking trips to explore the surrounding natural landscapes. One popular location during the hot summer months has been the trip to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. By reaching the higher elevation of the San Jacinto mountains, our local families are able to escape the heat of the desert and enjoy a fun day of outdoor recreation in the mountains adventuring and learning about new plants and animals that they are not exposed to in the lower desert.
We have also partnered with The Center Coachella to provide services for LGBTQ+ youth, many of them who also come from local low-income families. We have built this partnership with The Center because we recognize the need for safe spaces for our LGBTQ+ youth to be able to enjoy outdoor activities without the fear of judgement or other obstacles that may keep them from participating in outdoor recreation. Through our partnership, we are able to provide guided hikes, transportation, educational materials, and other resources to help facilitate trips and events throughout the Coachella Valley.
We look forward to continuing to build new partnerships with local organizations as we do our best to include all of our community’s residents in outdoor recreation, environmental education, and the preservation of our natural environment.
Trails & Hiking
There’s Room for EveryBODY Outdoors
Coachella Valley offers an amazing opportunity to access nature through an amazing network of trails. Maintaining Coachella Valley’s historic trails, and developing new access all across the Valley, Friends’ Volunteer Trail Maintenance Crews invite you to explore these highways and byways on your own.
Remember to recreate responsibly and leave no trace!
Our Impact
Protecting the Coachella Valley
Friends of the Desert Mountains is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 1987 by a group of passionate, concerned citizens determined to help to protect the conservation land resources of the Coachella Valley.
We’ve built a community of support with our partners, volunteers, and donors to save the unique diversity of the Coachella Valley.
Annual Report
Take A Closer Look: Friends’ Annual Report
Our stewardship mission never wavers whether carving new pathways or following in the steps walked for time immemorial. It is gratifying to see that the vision our Founders had for a beautiful, sustainable, and natural Coachella Valley has been carried out consistent with their challenging goals and, in some cases, moving beyond their initial dreams.
Our accomplishments include the preservation of over 63,000 acres of critical natural habitat, almost 30 unique plants and animals protected, and over 300 miles of trails that we helped build, restore or improve access to. Who knew in 1987 that hiking would become the #1 draw for visitors to the Coachella Valley? Or that it would become a favorite pastime for families and people of all ages?
As with our Founders, we are energized also as we look forward to the next 35 years and the continued impact we can have on future generations during times of increasing environmental challenges. We have evolved from a quiet non-profit that handled land transactions to a visible partner helping our community connect to the land.