Outdoor Recreation for Guests of Palm Springs Vacation Rentals
Palm Springs, California is a paradise for outdoors enthusiasts and nature lovers. Cyclists will find miles of well-marked trails in the Palm Springs area and can pick up a trail map at the Visitors Center in Palm Springs or call 800-347-7746. Hikers can contact the Coachella Valley Hiking Club (760-345-6234) or the Desert Trails Hiking Club (760-340-2256) for information on local trails and conditions. Vacationers staying in
condo rentals in Palm Springs | can also explore the natural beauty of this area by taking a hot air balloon ride above the desert, going rock climbing or horseback riding, or taking a Hummer or Jeep tour. Big Wheel Tours (760-779-1837) offers bike, Jeep, and hiking tours as well as bike rentals.
Guests of
Palm Springs rentals | can hike and ride horseback on 20 miles of trails at the 17,000-acre Coachella Valley Preserve (760-343-4031), situated 10 miles east of Palm Springs near Thousand Palms. This pristine wilderness area encompasses springs, three separate desert dune fields, and six palm forests containing over 1,500 palms. The main palm groves are called the Thousand Palms Oasis. Facilities include picnic areas and a rustic visitor center. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to Noon in September, May, and June and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from October through April; closed in July and August.
Indian Canyons (760-325-3400), ancestral home to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, consists of four canyons situated just south of Palm Springs. Tahquitz Canyon, Palm Canyon, Andreas Canyon, and Murray Canyon are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon are known as the world's largest California Fan Palm oasis. Guests of
vacation rentals in Palm Springs | can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, and picnicking amid the rugged natural beauty of this area.
Fifteen-mile-long Palm Canyon features a paved foot path descending into the canyon for picnicking near the stream. Andreas Canyon offers scenic trails amid groves of skirted palms, unusual rock formations, and Andreas Creek. Less-visited Murray Canyon is an easy hike south from Andreas Canyon and is home to the endangered Big Horn Sheep.
The Indian Canyons are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12, and $10 for equestrians. The Trading Post offers hiking maps, refreshments, and Indian art and artifacts while rangers offer interpretive hikes and talks about the cultural and natural history of the canyons.
When the temperature soars in Palm Springs, guests of
Palm Springs condos | can cool off at Palm Springs water parks such as Knott's Soak City USA (760-327-0499), which features 18 major water slides and attractions. Knott's Soak City is open daily from mid-March through Labor Day and on weekends through October. Admission is $41.95 for adults and $16.95 for children 3-11. Southern California Residents in ZIP codes 90000 to 93599 pay $33.95 for adult admission. Tickets are discounted after 4:00 p.m.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (888-515-TRAM) is one of the area's most popular attractions as visitors climb 5,873 feet in the 15 minute trip to the top of Mt. San Jacinto aboard a large cable car gondola. On the mountain top, guests of
Palm Springs condo rentals | will find spectacular views of the valley, a restaurant and cocktail lounge, gift shop, picnic area, and movie theater. Temperatures may be 30 to 40 degrees cooler on the mountain. Palm Springs aerial tram cars depart at least every half hour starting at 10:00 a.m. from Monday through Friday and 8:00 a.m. on weekends and holidays. The last car goes up at 8:00 p.m., with the last car down at 9:45 p.m. Tickets are $21.95 for adults and $14.95 for children ages 3-12.
The Moorten Botanical Gardens (760-327-6555) showcases 3,000 examples of desert cacti and plants grouped by geographic region. Guests of
Palm Springs villas | can tour the gardens from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday; closed Wednesday. Admission is $3 for adults and $1.50 for children.
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