Lace up your hiking boots and look at the big picture.
Photos taken from the Araby Trail, South Lykken Trail, Eisenhower Mountain Trail, Morrow Trail and San Jacinto Peak Trail
Photography by Tom Brewster
The Morrow Trail -
Watch out for errant golf balls along the Morrow Trail. This hike, on the west side of Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta, follows the edge of the golf course at The Quarry. The 6-mile trail doesn't take you very high, but it does offer sweeping views that include Coral Mountain (at left) and connects with the longer and more difficult Boo Hoff Trail, from which you can see the Salton Sea.
The South Lykken Trail
The Eisenhower Mountain Trail -
The 6-mile loop trail from The Living Desert in Palm Desert offers panoramic views of three exclusive country clubs: The Reserve and Ironwood Country Club to the southwest and The Vintage Club. At the right time of day, you can see the shadow of Eisenhower Peak on the hillsides to the southwest
Araby Trail
The hike from Southridge Drive and Highway 111 in Palm Springs takes you up the west end of the Santa Rosa Mountains above the exclusive houses beyond the gates on Southridge. They include the former abodes of William Holden, Steve McQueen, and David Janssen, as well as the flying sauceresque house where Bob Hope entertained large crowds (a particularly popular postcard image when the roof was copper). But the real view is west and north toward the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains and the windmill-filled pass between them. Though Araby Trail itself is less than 2 miles in distance, it connects with a vast system of trails that lead you as far east as La Quinta.
The South Lykken Trail
The South Lykken Trail
The South Lykken Trail heads up the hillside from the western terminus of Mesquite Avenue. While hiking along the San Jacinto mountainside (mostly at about 1,000 feet in elevation), you'll enjoy views up Tahquitz Canyon and of Tahquitz Falls, which played the part of Shangri-La in Frank Capra's classic 1937 film Lost Horizon. The South Lykken Trail connects to the North Lykken Trail, which — for the intrepid hiker — leads to the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (and beyond to Mt. San Jacinto at 10,834 feet).
The San Jacinto Peak Trail
Although there are no hiking trails up the steep Snow Creek and Although there are no hiking trails up the steep Snow Creek and north face escarpments of Mt. San Jacinto, you can hike up from the desert on the Lykken Trail or from Idyllwild or ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to 54 miles of hiking trails. One of them leads to the 10,834-foot summit, which offers inspiring 360-degree views of the landscape, Interstate 10, and developed communities. The hike takes you through meadows and forest up to the large granite boulders that comprise the summit.
The Morrow Trail -
Watch out for errant golf balls along the Morrow Trail. This hike, on the west side of Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta, follows the edge of the golf course at The Quarry. The 6-mile trail doesn't take you very high, but it does offer sweeping views that include Coral Mountain (at left) and connects with the longer and more difficult Boo Hoff Trail, from which you can see the Salton Sea.
The South Lykken Trail
The Eisenhower Mountain Trail -
The 6-mile loop trail from The Living Desert in Palm Desert offers panoramic views of three exclusive country clubs: The Reserve and Ironwood Country Club to the southwest and The Vintage Club. At the right time of day, you can see the shadow of Eisenhower Peak on the hillsides to the southwest
Araby Trail
The hike from Southridge Drive and Highway 111 in Palm Springs takes you up the west end of the Santa Rosa Mountains above the exclusive houses beyond the gates on Southridge. They include the former abodes of William Holden, Steve McQueen, and David Janssen, as well as the flying sauceresque house where Bob Hope entertained large crowds (a particularly popular postcard image when the roof was copper). But the real view is west and north toward the San Jacinto and San Gorgonio mountains and the windmill-filled pass between them. Though Araby Trail itself is less than 2 miles in distance, it connects with a vast system of trails that lead you as far east as La Quinta.
The South Lykken Trail
The South Lykken Trail
The South Lykken Trail heads up the hillside from the western terminus of Mesquite Avenue. While hiking along the San Jacinto mountainside (mostly at about 1,000 feet in elevation), you'll enjoy views up Tahquitz Canyon and of Tahquitz Falls, which played the part of Shangri-La in Frank Capra's classic 1937 film Lost Horizon. The South Lykken Trail connects to the North Lykken Trail, which — for the intrepid hiker — leads to the top of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (and beyond to Mt. San Jacinto at 10,834 feet).
The San Jacinto Peak Trail
Although there are no hiking trails up the steep Snow Creek and Although there are no hiking trails up the steep Snow Creek and north face escarpments of Mt. San Jacinto, you can hike up from the desert on the Lykken Trail or from Idyllwild or ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to 54 miles of hiking trails. One of them leads to the 10,834-foot summit, which offers inspiring 360-degree views of the landscape, Interstate 10, and developed communities. The hike takes you through meadows and forest up to the large granite boulders that comprise the summit.