Hikers at Joshua Tree National Park (photo by Ruth Caldwell)
Arlene Daigle
The SaddleBrooke Hiking Club took their spring trip this year to Palm Springs Feb. 25-27. The group included 61 enthusiastic hikers. Typical late February temperatures there hover around the high 60s and low 70s during the day, with nights in the mid-40s. Not this time! Instead, they experienced temperatures in the 90s—quite unusual and required the guides to adjust their planned hikes. They began hikes earlier in the morning, and some rerouted hikes to Joshua Tree National Park, which is at a higher elevation. No problem—they are a flexible bunch.
Palm Springs is in the Colorado Desert’s Coachella Valley. It is a vacationer’s paradise for fine dining, golfing, shopping, cultural attractions, biking, and hiking. The city is surrounded by the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains on the south, and the San Jacinto Mountains to the west.
One group of hikers chose to take the 2.5-mile rotating Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the mountain station, which is at 8,516 feet in Mount San Jacinto State Park. There are over 50 miles of hiking trails and views for miles and miles.
On the south side of the city are the Indian Canyons, which are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Palm trees abound in this area. Palm Canyon is said to have the largest stand of California fan palm trees in the world. Andreas Canyon and Murray Canyon provide a tranquil setting and a year-round flowing stream.
Many of their hikes took place in Joshua Tree National Park. The Joshua Trees, for which the park is named, dominate the open landscape. There are hills of bare rocks, usually broken up into boulders. There was a heart-shaped rock, a face, and a natural arch. Hiking in this area is an “otherworldly” experience.
Southeast of the city in Mecca is a hike for the adventuresome called Painted Canyon/Ladder Canyon Trail. Some of the group called it a bit treacherous, and others called it exciting. Hikers used ladders to climb up the steep side of the slot canyons all the way to the rim. It is called the Painted Canyon because of the variably colored mineral deposits. The views and unique rock formations make it well worth the trek.
Trips like these are a team effort, and the club is fortunate to have excellent leadership from its trip committee, and particularly Hike Director Jim Solon who did a fabulous job of planning and organizing the hikes. Also, they could not have managed such a successful trip without their corps of guides. They extend thanks for an excellent job to Ruth Caldwell, Seth Basker, Dave Corrigan, Dave Sorenson, Kathryn Madore, Tom Stafford, Jim Thompson, Bruce Olson, Carol Olson, Randy Park, Susan Hollis, and Jim Solon. Thanks also to Leslie Hawkins for organizing the pre-trip potluck dinner.
A biannual Hiking Club trip to the Vegas area is planned for November and to Prescott in April of 2026.