Hiking in Palm Springs

The Willis Palm Oasis located in the Coachella Valley Preserve near 1000 Palms is part of a series of oases that are found along the San Andreas Fault. It is located in the Coachella Valley Preserve which is home to more than 183 bird species. It is also the home of the protected Coachella Fringe-toed Lizard.

The hike to Willis Palms is an easy hike to a palm oasis. You can hike from the parking area to the oasis, which is about a 10 minute walk. You can also take a trail that goes to the right shortly after leaving the parking area that takes you on a loop above and around the oasis. The loop hike leads you uphill for a while, and is a little more difficult. If you follow the loop you will end up at the far end of the oasis and you can follow the trail back to the parking area.

Willis Palms Trail

View photo gallery of the Willis Palms Trail.

While the trail is mostly flat and easy to follow, there is a lot of soft sand which makes the hike a little more difficult. No dogs are allowed on trails in the Coachella Valley Preserve.

On Nov 26, 2010 a fire burned most of the oasis; however as of Feb. of 2011 the vegetation is already showing signs of regeneration. We saw plenty of plant and animal life in and around the oasis.

The fire in November of 2010 burned the palm fronds and skirts where bats, birds and other animals made their nests, however the tops of the trees are once again showing new green growth, and in a few years most of the damage from the fire will probably have been erased.

The fire burned for about 3 hours and a cause for the fire was never been determined. While it is possible it was caused naturally, always please be careful when hiking in the area and please don't smoke.

• More trails in the Coachella Valley Preserve

Video of the fire

Hiking Books For Palm Springs

Philip Ferranti's books on hiking in Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley and surrounding areas are a must have if you are planning on hiking in the area. Amazon.com also has several other books that will make your hiking adventure a great one, including books on hiking and rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.

Click the hikers for Hiking Tips

For tips on how much WATER you need click above

Hiking In Palm Springs Disclaimer

Any outdoor recreation can be potentially hazardous, and hiking is no exception. All participants must assume responsibility for their own actions and safety, exercise sound judgment, and be prepared for and seek advice on weather and trail conditions.

Although the authors and publisher of Hiking-in-ps.com ("this site") try to make the site as accurate as possible, they disclaim any liability for accident, loss, injury, inconvenience or other damage that may be sustained by anyone using the information contained on the site.

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