manip_pdagPlease Note: The upper portion of the Bump and Grind hiking trail was closed off on June 27, 2011. The California Department of Fish and Game said closing the trail, which sits on a wildlife refuge, is necessary to encourage endangered peninsular bighorn sheep to return and raise their young. While I don’t particularly care for the Bump and Grind Trail I also don’t believe hikers are much of a threat to the sheep. I believe all the hillside development that has made a lot of people very wealthy is much more of a threat to the sheep than a few hikers.

About 2 Miles

Beginning Elevation 250′

Moderate to Strenuous hike with an elevation gain of about 1000′

If you are ready to experience some of the most beautiful hiking the Palm Springs area has to offer, grab your CamelBak, other Hydration Pack or Hydroflask and get out on the trail!

The Rancho Mirage “Bump-n-Grind” trail is quickly becoming one of the Coachella Valley’s most popular trails. It actually is known by several different names, including the Desert Drive Trail, Patton Trail ( some people say it was built by General Patton’s troops, Desert Mirage Trail, the ever-popular Dog Poop Trail (plastic bags and a trash receptacle used to be made available at the beginning of the trail to users for animal waste) and more. Please keep in mind Palm Desert has amended it trail-use ordinance, legally prohibiting all but service dogs from most Palm Desert trails. The official reason dogs have been banned is to preserve habitat that is home to a number of endangered and protected species, in particular the Peninsular bighorn sheep.

After starting out as a narrow trail at the bottom, it joins a wider road that leads up from the valley floor to a vantage point that gives the hiker a nice view of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and the Coachella Valley. While the Bump-n-Grind doesn’t give the hiker an experience of solitude like they will get hiking some of the other Coachella Valley trails, it is a great cardio workout for hikers, and those who just want to get in shape. It is also a good trail to hike during the summer months because it is a wide trail that makes it easier to see and avoid the Rattlesnakes that are out and about during the warm weather.

The trail in not considered to be an “official” trail, and does cross private property in some areas so only use the official trailhead to access the trail.

The access point for this trail is located on Painters Path behind the Target store in Palm Desert. The City of Rancho Mirage is restricting entrance to the Bump and Grind from the other older trailheads located in residential areas, so do not use them.

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