manip_100_1394About 2 mile round-trip

Beginning Elevation: 520′

Elevation Gain:  850′

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!

To reach this trail, go to the corner of the Palm Springs Art Museum’s north parking lot, where you will see a sign marking the trailhead. Do not park in the museum parking lot for this hike, I am told they will now ticket you for that. The Museum Trail rises above the city of Palm Springs, and offers spectacular  views of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.   From the parking lot at the museum, to the top of the trail is a good, hard, uphill hike. When you finally reach the picnic tables at the top you will be ready for a rest. We usually bring a lunch or snack in our backpacks and just sit and enjoy the fantastic views of Palm Springs, the San Jacinto Mountains, and the San Gorgonio Mountains.

This trail intersects with the North Lykken trail, and you can hike down into Chino Canyon, or you can take the North Lykken to Ramon Road and walk back to the Palm Springs Art Museum from there ( or you can use two cars and have one waiting at the bottom on Ramon Road ).

Skyline Ridge Route

The Museum Trail also intersects with the Skyline Ridge Route,  which will let you continue all the way to the Palm Springs Tramway via the Skyline “Trail” if you want, this part of what is called the Cactus to Clouds Hike, where you hike from the valley floor to the top of Mt. San Jacinto ( however, don’t attempt that hike unless you are ready for the hike of your life . . . SEVEN HOURS PLUS ).

For more information on the Skyline Trail and the Cactus to Clouds Hike,  and how dangerous it really is, click here.

This is no joke, the Skyline Ridge Route is for experienced climbers only, not weekend hikers! It is not a clearly marked trail, and is very dangerous! Don’t be the next person to have to be rescued from this trail, or worse, the next fatality!!

Map of the Palm Springs Museum Trail

Here is a GPS map of the Palm Springs Museum Trail from the parking area on Belardo Rd. up to the picnic tables.