One of the most beautiful outdoor recreation areas in the greater Palm Springs region is the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. The Monument is managed by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service.
From the desert floor to the highest point at 10,834 feet, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains offer an abundance of wildlife and pristine trails that lead to panoramic vistas of the Valley below.
There are three main areas within the Monument offering trails for hikers and a Visitor’s Center on Hwy. 74. Most of the trails in the Monument are strenuous and require preparation and planning before you hike.
The Randall Henderson Trail near the Hwy. 74 Visitor’s Center is an easy hike and family friendly. The Long Valley Loop Trail located at the Mountain Station for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is another easy hike, but requires a trip up the tram to reach the trailhead.
While there are some easy trails for the newcomers to the area, the Monument offers experienced hikers a variety of challenging tracks. Use the links below to visit the BLM site for maps and more detailed information about each trail. Dogs are not allowed on most trails, so be sure and research which trails are dog-friendly.
Southern Santa Rosa Mountains Trails
Cactus Spring Trail – 11.7 Miles, elevation change of 2,639, strenuous
(Access is from the Sawmill Trailhead off Highway 74 near the community of Pinyon)
Boo Hoff Trail – 8.8 miles, elevation change of 1,916 feet, strenuous
(Access the trail from the top of La Quinta Cove.)
Randall Henderson Trail – 2.4 miles, elevation change of 423 feet, easy.
(Access the trailhead from the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor’s Center on Hwy. 74)
San Jacinto Mountains Trails – These trailheads start in Idyllwild or from the Mountain Station at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.
Devils Slide Trail – 2.5 miles, elevation change 1,623, strenuous (Trailhead in Humber Park/ Idyllwild, CA)
Tramway to San Jacinto Peak – 5.5 miles, elevation change of 2,455 feet, strenuous (Trailhead at Mountain Station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway)
Long Valley Loop Trail – 1.2 Miles, elevation change of 138 feet, easy.
(Trailhead at Mountain Station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway)
Click here for more information.
Northern Santa Rosa Mountains Trails
Palm Canyon Trail – 15 miles, elevation change of 3,566 feet, strenuous.
Art Smith Trail – 8.3 miles, elevation change of 1,465 feet, strenuous.
(Trailhead starts from Hwy. 74 near the Visitor’s Center)
Hopalong Cassidy Trail – 8.3 miles, elevation change of 1,345 feet, strenuous.
(access via Art Smith Trail or multiple other access points, see link below for details.)
Click here for more information.
Monument Visitor Center: (760) 862-9984
Bureau of Land Management
Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office
1201 Bird Center Drive
Palm Springs, California 92262
Phone: (760) 833-7100
Contact us by Email: BLM_CA_Web_PS@blm.gov
Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains
National Monument Visitor Center
51-500 Hwy 74
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Phone: (760) 862-9984
Hours of Operation:
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., 7 days a week (Oct 1 – May 14)
8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Friday -Tuesday (May 15 – Sept 30)
