The Living Desert

When people think about visiting Palm Springs, they tend to think about relaxing by the pool, hiking, and shopping. However one of the hidden gems of the Coachella Valley is the Living Desert Zoo and Garden. This zoo houses various animals and plants that are native to desert climates. The zoo is broken up into two different sections: North American desert animal exhibits and gardens and African desert animals and gardens. Some of the animals include cheetahs, big horn sheep, and condors. There are insect exhibits visitors can stroll through as well, such as the butterfly garden and bee garden. There are numerous botanical gardens throughout the park that make you forget that you’re down the street from the busy streets of HWY 111. Similar to other zoos there are animal shows and extras that people can pay for. One of my personal favorites is feeding the giraffes. You either get carrot sticks or leaves of lettuce to share adult or baby giraffes. This is a fairly new addition. Visitors used to be able to feed the giraffes for free, but now there’s a fee of $5 per visitor. Check their website for feeding times, it only happens twice a day. At the moment it takes place at 9am and 11am.

The Living Desert is located on Portola Ave in Palm Desert. Regular hours are 9am to 5pm, but during summer (June through September) the hours are 8am to 1:30pm—shorter due to the extreme heat. Admission prices are as follows:

adults - $19.95

children -$9.95

children 3 & under - free

seniors - $17.95

Hiking Trails

Mountains surround the Coachella Valley, which makes for great hiking and outdoor adventures! There are countless hikes to explore, but within this post I'm going to write about a few of my favorite hikes.

IndianCanyons

This is an area located on an Indian Reservation in south Palm Springs. There is an admission price of $9 for adults and $5 for kids (6-12; 5 & under are free). Visitors can visit the canyons between 8am and 5pm.

There are different trails within the reservation. One of my favorites is Murray Canyon that leads to a series of waterfalls named the Seven Sisters. If there has been heavy rain over the year, you’ll be crossing streams and plentiful waterfalls. Unfortunately, with the drought we’re currently experiencing the waterfalls are minimal. This hike is 4 miles out and back.

If you’re looking for a guided experience, rangers lead hikes on weekends at 10am and 1pm, these are about 1 mile long and last for an hour and a half.

Bump and Grind

This is a 3.4-mile loop trail, you can find the trailhead behind the Target shopping desert in Palm Desert. The views aren’t as breathtaking as other trails in the valley, but this is a great conditioning hike. One of the best things is it’s free!

Ladder Canyon

You can find this 4.3-mile loop trail near Desert Center in the Mecca Hills. It is a moderate hike that takes you through slot canyons and one of the most unique aspects of this trail is the series of ladders you climb to reach different levels. This is a fun hike that people of all ages can experience. It’s best to go between October and April, for cooler temperatures.

Mt. SanJacinto via Tram

Take a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tram and you’ll feel worlds away from the desert below. Tramcars take visitors up to Mt. San Jacinto State Park. Up top you’ll find numerous trails, including one to the summit. If you visit during the winter, you will enter a winter wonderland where you can build snowmen, sled, cross-country ski, and snowshoe.