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CV LINK GUIDE & TRACKER

CV Link Guide: Map, Open Segments & Construction Updates

Choose a CV Link segment, find access points and check construction notices, with maps, pathway rules and Mark Miller’s original photographs.

Updated October 19, 2026 23 min read By Mark Miller
CV Link pathway in Palm Springs with orange and blue pavement markings, tilted blue-and-white posts and mountain views.
CV Link’s Palm Springs pathway, photographed September 9, 2026. Photo © Mark Miller / Desert Oasis Insider.

CV Link is open, but it is not one uninterrupted 40-mile trail across the Coachella Valley. The system currently consists of three principal open segments in the west, central and east Valley, with gaps through Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells and additional connections still being planned.

This living guide explains where the open sections begin and end, what is allowed on the pathway, where major closures are expected, and which future extensions are moving through planning. The map and tracker will be updated as official schedules change and as Desert Oasis Insider verifies conditions in the field.

  • Current system: CVAG describes CV Link as an approximately 40-mile shared-use pathway divided into three open Valley segments.
  • Open mileage: West Valley 19.63 miles, Central Valley 5.44 miles and East Valley 16.02 miles.
  • Not continuous: the approved mainline does not run through Rancho Mirage or Indian Wells.
  • Allowed users: pedestrians, bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters and qualifying low-speed electric vehicles, including golf carts.
  • What is changing: three major bridge or interchange projects are expected to affect the route between 2026 and 2029, while connectors and longer extensions remain in development.
Start here · Three separate segments

Choose one part of the Valley, find your access point, then check the latest path notices. The segment mileages below describe the network, not a recommended outing distance.

West Valley · 19.63 miles

Palm Springs & Cathedral City

Palm Springs Visitor Center to Date Palm Drive

Includes the South Palm Springs branch and on-street portions.

Before you go: review the planned Ramon Road closure.

See Mark’s photographed entrance Ramon Road notice
Central Valley · 5.44 miles

Palm Desert

Bump & Grind access to Cook Street

Combines on-street sections with the Whitewater River corridor.

Listed nearby facilities: Bump & Grind access area and Civic Center Park.

Explore Bump & Grind Explore Civic Center Park
East Valley · 16.02 miles

La Quinta, Indio & Coachella

Washington Street to Airport Boulevard

Officially listed facilities include North Jackson Park and Sierra Vista Park.

Before you go: check Avenue 50 path access and the future Monroe Street work.

Avenue 50 notice Monroe Street notice
Open the official route map Read pathway rules

Plan an out-and-back? Allow for the return distance. Check access and park hours before relying on parking, restrooms or water; named facilities are not a promise that every service is available.

Sources checked October 19, 2026. Construction notices describe planned impacts; active closure conditions and signed detours at Avenue 50 and Ramon Road remain unverified.

Mark’s latest field visit: September 9, 2026. See the Palm Springs entrance photographs.

CV Link map: what is open, interrupted and still planned

The first map is a Desert Oasis Insider status schematic—not a navigation map. It is designed to make the three open sections, two main city gaps, announced disruption points and future directions understandable at a glance.

CV Link status at a glance

Select a layer to isolate the open route, announced disruption points or future projects.

Schematic map of CV Link across the Coachella Valley Three rust-colored open segments connect portions of Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella. Gray dashed gaps separate the segments. Red points show scheduled project disruptions. Gold dashed lines show future project directions. WEST CENTRAL EAST Arts & Music Line Desert Hot Springs study Mecca / North Shore study Ramon Rd.Monroe St.Avenue 50 Palm SpringsCathedral CityPalm DesertCook St.La QuintaIndioCoachella Rancho Mirage gapIndian Wells gap
Open mainline Gap between principal segments Announced disruption point Anticipated or studied project
Three open segmentsThe official mileage figures add to 41.09 miles, while CVAG describes the overall system in rounded terms as 40 miles.
Three announced disruptionsRamon Road, Monroe Street and Avenue 50 have project schedules extending as late as 2029.
The next networkThe Arts and Music Line has an anticipated 2027 construction start; other connectors and extensions remain in planning or study.

Use the official CV Link map below for the detailed alignment, access points, construction zones and posted detours. Open the map full screen when navigating; the schematic above is for project understanding only.

Official map maintained by the CV Link project. Route conditions and detours can change; follow signs and closures encountered on the ground.

Field visit and original photography by Mark Miller · September 9, 2026

I visited this Palm Springs access point on September 9 and photographed the entrance pavilion, pathway and CV Link marker below. One useful discovery: searching Google for CV Link sent me to a different nearby location. For the entrance shown here, use the street approach from North Gene Autry Trail onto East Via Escuela, near the bend into Executive Drive.

Start with these streets

  1. From North Gene Autry Trail, turn east onto East Via Escuela.
  2. Continue toward the bend where the road becomes Executive Drive.
  3. Look for the CV Link pavilion and entrance marker shown in the photos, then follow the signed path connection.

Google Maps tip: use the named streets to locate this access area. A general “CV Link” search may select a different nearby point.

Open the street approach in Maps
Street approach to the Palm Springs CV Link entrance North Gene Autry Trail runs north-south. Turn east onto East Via Escuela, which bends south into Executive Drive. Look for the CV Link pavilion in this access area. Diagram based on Mark Miller’s location screenshot; not to scale. CV Link E Via Escuela N Gene Autry Trail Executive Dr Look for the pavilion N Street approach · Not to scale
Street layout based on the location screenshot from Mark’s visit. The dotted circle marks the area to look for the pavilion; it is not a surveyed entrance or parking pin.

What the entrance looks like

The photos show a shade pavilion with seating and bike racks, a paved path with orange and blue accents, and CV Link entrance signage. Select any photo to view it full screen. Use the arrows or swipe to browse the gallery.

Angular CV Link shade pavilion with benches, bike racks and mountain views at the Palm Springs access point, photographed September 9, 2026.
Entrance pavilion. The angular shade pavilion, benches and bike racks give first-time visitors a recognizable landmark at the Palm Springs entrance.
Close-up of a CV Link entrance marker at the Palm Springs access point, photographed September 9, 2026.
CV Link marker. Look for the tall CV Link marker when you arrive. This close-up shows the sign used at the access point.

All three photographs © Mark Miller / Desert Oasis Insider · September 9, 2026.

Before you go: this visit documents one access point. Designated public parking, restroom access and working drinking water were not confirmed here. Follow posted parking restrictions and current path signs when you arrive.

The three open CV Link segments

West Valley • 19.63 miles

Palm Springs to Cathedral City

The longest open segment begins at the Palm Springs Visitor Center, follows the Chino Wash and Whitewater River corridor, and ends at Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City. It also includes the South Palm Springs branch along Tahquitz Creek and on-street portions.

Useful context: the Visitor Center and Esperanza Park are among the official locations with nearby restroom facilities.

Central Valley • 5.44 miles

Palm Desert

This segment begins near the Bump & Grind trailhead and continues through Palm Desert to Cook Street beside Palm Desert High School. It includes both on-street and Whitewater River portions.

Useful context: the Bump & Grind access area and Palm Desert Civic Center Park are listed as restroom locations along the network.

East Valley • 16.02 miles

La Quinta through Indio to Coachella

The eastern segment begins at Washington Street in La Quinta and runs through Indio to Airport Boulevard in Coachella. North Jackson Park in Indio and Sierra Vista Park in Coachella are among the official restroom locations associated with the route.

This is also where the planned Arts and Music Line, the future Mecca/North Shore study and two of the three announced 2026–2029 disruption points become most relevant.

Why the mileage appears inconsistent: CVAG describes CV Link as a 40-mile system, but its published segment figures total 41.09 miles. The most reasonable reading is that “40 miles” is the rounded project description while the segment figures are more precise. This guide preserves both figures instead of silently changing either one.

Is CV Link continuous across the Valley?

No. The three principal open segments are separated. The approved CV Link mainline does not include a route through Rancho Mirage or Indian Wells, leaving the largest central gaps between Cathedral City, Palm Desert and La Quinta.

That does not mean all active-transportation planning stops at those city boundaries. The separate Community Connectors project has coordinated with Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells on potential cycling and pedestrian connections using surface streets. Those connections are not a revival of the CV Link mainline through either city, and they should not be shown as built until a final route, funding and construction are established.

Navigation warning: do not assume that the dashed gaps on the schematic are safe or signed connector routes. Plan each open segment as its own outing unless the official map and current local conditions confirm a usable connection.

Who can use it?

Pedestrians, bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters and low-speed electric vehicles—including golf carts—are permitted. Gas-powered automobiles, minibikes, dirt bikes and off-road vehicles are not.

How fast can you travel?

The CV Link maximum is 20 mph. Electric scooters and boards have a 15 mph limit. Stay right, pass carefully and slow down around other users.

When is it open?

CVAG currently lists no posted hours of operation. Solar-powered lighting is incorporated into the path and access points, but users should still bring appropriate lights and visibility equipment after dark.

Are golf carts street legal?

Permission to use CV Link does not erase California Vehicle Code or individual city requirements encountered before reaching the path. Licensing, insurance, registration and street-use rules depend on the vehicle and route.

What amenities are available?

The project identifies shade structures, water stations, benches, bike racks, wayfinding signs and solar lighting. Restrooms are available at several parks and access points rather than continuously along the route.

What do the colors mean?

Official orange wayfinding points toward the San Jacinto Mountains; blue points toward the Salton Sea. Colored glass and lighting reinforce that directional system.

Desert conditions matter. Long exposed portions of CV Link can become dangerous during extreme heat. Check the forecast, carry more water than you expect to need, choose turnaround points before starting and avoid treating shade or working fountains as guaranteed.

Grant approved · Installation not verified

The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy approved a $1,248,586 Proposition 4 grant to CVAG on August 10, 2026, according to September 1 reporting by Patch. The project adds shade structures and approximately 26 native shade trees at five rest stops in Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Coachella. City News Service also reported the award and an expected completion by 2028.

This is a funded improvement to existing CV Link access areas, not a new route segment. DOI has not independently verified installation or completion at the individual stops. The planned shade should therefore not be counted as available shelter when arranging an outing.

Separate city planning: The Palm Springs Post's September 13 meeting preview also identifies a citywide shade-and-heat plan update at the September 14 Active Transportation Subcommittee meeting. That broader planning discussion is separate from this regional grant; it does not establish that additional CV Link work has been approved.

Adams Street cable-railing project

La Quinta · Safety improvement

Railing planned; installation start unverified

For your trip: the contract specifications allow partial-width closures while crews work, but require the path to remain open and return to full width outside work hours. This describes the work rules, not a confirmed active work zone.

Procurement page checked October 19, 2026 · No posted bid result, award or notice to proceed was located.

Bid history & project details

October 16 source check: the October 15, 2026, 1 p.m. bid deadline has passed. CVAG’s procurement page still lists the invitation and addenda, including October 5 Addendum No. 3. This review did not locate a posted bid result, contract award or notice to proceed. The elapsed deadline does not establish that a bid was accepted or installation began.

The bid documents call for approximately 450 linear feet of cable railing at the Adams Street undercrossing, identified as the highest-priority location after user feedback about portions of the pathway beside channel slopes. The initial work is due within 60 calendar days after a future notice to proceed; the documents do not establish that such notice has been issued.

CVAG’s specifications say the path may have partial-width closures during work hours but may not be fully closed, and it must reopen to full width outside work hours. Up to 1,000 additional linear feet at other locations may be authorized later through separate task orders.

View CVAG’s current bid posting and addenda

Construction closures and detour tracker

Official notices checked October 19, 2026 · A planned closure is not confirmation that barriers are in place today.

Palm Springs / Cathedral City

Ramon Road Bridge

Closure planned · Start unconfirmed
What is happening
The bridge project requires the CV Link undercrossing to close and be removed during reconstruction.
For your trip
Check the official map and posted signs before planning a through-route at Ramon Road. A usable detour has not been verified.
Still unconfirmed
An active path closure, final detour, contract award and notice to proceed.
Schedule, sources & project details

City schedule: construction was announced for fall 2026, with completion anticipated in December 2028.

The bridge over the Whitewater Channel is scheduled to be widened. At the October 5 Active Transportation Subcommittee meeting, Palm Springs engineering staff said the CV Link undercrossing must close and be removed during the approximately two-year project because the work reaches across the channel and includes deep scour protection.

Detour: An alternate route has not been finalized. The reported preferred Sarah Street option would require private-property access in Cathedral City, and the city/CVAG coordination remains unresolved. No unconfirmed bypass has been drawn on DOI’s map.

What is not confirmed: The October 6 report said bids would open October 8 and staff hoped to bring an award to City Council in late October or November. DOI has not verified an award, notice to proceed, active path closure or posted detour.

Read the City of Palm Springs project notice Read the October 6 meeting report

Coachella

Avenue 50 Bridge

Path access & detour unverified
What is happening
A groundbreaking was reported October 15. CVAG anticipates a path closure during bridge construction.
For your trip
The vehicle crossing is intended to remain open. That does not establish access along CV Link; check path signs before continuing.
Still unconfirmed
Whether the path closure has begun, the signed detour and the exact work-start date.
Schedule, sources & project details

October 15, 2026 milestone: Coachella held a groundbreaking ceremony at Sierra Vista Park, according to KESQ’s on-site reporting and City News Service / MyNewsLA. This supersedes the earlier “bids closed” checkpoint; it is a reported ceremony, not a DOI field inspection.

Purpose and timing: The bridge will replace the low-water crossing over the stormwater channel, with related Avenue 50 and Tyler Street improvements. Officials described an approximately two-year construction period. That is a forecast, not a confirmed completion date.

Road access is not trail access: KESQ reports that the existing vehicle crossing is intended to remain open during construction. This does not confirm that the CV Link pathway remains open or establish a usable trail detour.

CV Link access still needs verification: CVAG’s construction notice anticipates a path closure and posted detour but still carries its older August 2026–2028 window. DOI has not verified an active path closure, detour alignment, notice to proceed or exact field start. No unconfirmed bypass has been drawn on the map.

Indio

I-10 / Monroe Street Interchange

Future closure · 2027 start expected
What is happening
CVAG’s published window is January 2027–2029 for the interchange project.
For your trip
CV Link beneath Monroe Street is expected to close during the work, with a posted detour.
Still unconfirmed
The eventual path closure date and usable detour alignment.
Schedule, sources & project details

Expected: January 2027 through 2029.

The interchange upgrade is expected to close CV Link beneath Monroe Street for the duration of the project. A detour is expected to be posted around the construction zone.

Check official construction notices Open the official route map

For current access questions: CV Link project hotline 833-428-5465 or info@coachellavalleylink.com. Follow the signs and barriers at the path.

Future CV Link projects and extensions

Main system officially opened

CVAG celebrated the opening of the approximately 40-mile system after substantial completion in June 2025.

Community Connectors narrow toward priorities

The regional connector study moved from a Top 15 set in January 2026 toward final priority connections. The plan is intended to guide future funding and design; it is not a construction schedule.

Desert Hot Springs alternatives

CVAG authorized an alternatives analysis and conceptual plan in September 2025. At least five route alternatives were being analyzed, with the analysis expected to wrap in 2026.

Arts and Music Line

CVAG anticipates beginning construction on this community connector along Avenue 48 and Dillon Road through La Quinta, Indio and Coachella. “Anticipated” is not the same as a guaranteed groundbreaking.

Mecca and North Shore extension

A separate study is examining a longer mainline extension toward Mecca, North Shore and the Salton Sea, with outreach and alignment work still underway.

What Community Connectors would change

The connector program is meant to make CV Link useful beyond the main pathway. Its planning goals include safer walking and biking routes between neighborhoods, schools, parks, community centers, businesses and the main CV Link spine. That makes it potentially more important to everyday residents than simply adding recreational mileage.

However, the connector plan should remain in the “planning” layer of this tracker until specific alignments, funding, environmental work and construction schedules are adopted. A line appearing in a workshop does not mean the route has been approved or funded.

How to plan your first CV Link outing

Step 1

Choose one segment

Do not begin by planning a full Valley crossing. Select the West, Central or East segment based on the access point, mileage and nearby facilities that work for you.

Step 2

Check construction

Review the official map and construction page on the day of the outing, especially near Ramon Road, Monroe Street and Avenue 50.

Step 3

Set a turnaround point

The published mileage is segment length, not necessarily the distance you should travel. Remember that an out-and-back doubles the distance and water requirement.

Step 4

Navigate by landmarks

Note the nearest major street, city boundary and mile marker. Use orange toward the San Jacinto Mountains and blue toward the Salton Sea as a secondary orientation aid.

What Desert Oasis Insider will verify next

The September 9 Palm Springs visit adds a photographed entrance and a clearer street approach. The next field checks will extend that coverage to more access points, parking, amenities and detours.

Real access points

Where a first-time user can confidently enter the path, park legally and recognize the correct direction.

Detour conditions

Whether announced bridge and interchange closures have actually begun and how the posted bypass works.

Amenities in practice

Restrooms, drinking water, shade, seating and bike support at useful intervals—not simply whether they exist somewhere on the system.

Segment character

Which sections are best for a short walk, a family ride, a longer workout, desert views or low-speed electric travel.

Crossing safety

Locations where users leave the protected path, cross higher-speed streets or encounter confusing wayfinding.

Repeat photography

Dated images from the same disruption and future-project locations so visible change can be separated from announced schedules.

CV Link update log

October 18, 2026 — Avenue 50 groundbreaking reported

Added the October 15 ceremony using KESQ’s on-site reporting and City News Service / MyNewsLA. Separated the approximately two-year construction forecast and the plan to retain the existing vehicle crossing from the unresolved CV Link path closure and detour. The earlier November 3 third-party projection is no longer presented as the next project milestone. CVAG’s procurement page still did not establish an Adams Street bid result, award or notice to proceed. Mark’s September 9 Palm Springs photographs remain the latest field visit.

October 19, 2026 — Visit planner and clearer path notices

Added three segment choices with access resources, simplified construction cards around trip impacts, and moved detailed project history into expandable sections. Rechecked the official route, construction and procurement pages; current path access and signed detours remain unverified. Updated related places while retaining the September 9 field photographs.

October 16, 2026 — Adams Street deadline passed; result unverified

CVAG’s procurement page and October 5 Addendum No. 3 still identify October 15 at 1 p.m. as the bid deadline. This review did not locate a posted bid result, award or notice to proceed. The next documentary checkpoints are the procurement result and authorization to begin work. The official construction-update page still describes future bridge disruptions; it does not establish an active Ramon Road closure. September 9 remains DOI’s latest field visit.

October 12, 2026 — Ramon Road undercrossing closure confirmed in planning
  • Replaced the unverified September meeting preview with the October 5 meeting outcome: engineering staff said the path must close and be removed during the bridge reconstruction.
  • Recorded the City’s December 2028 completion target and kept the construction start, contract award and active closure unconfirmed.
  • Marked the detour as unresolved; no street-by-street bypass has been added to DOI’s map.

This is a research update only. Mark Miller’s September 9 Palm Springs photographs remain the latest field record in this guide.

October 10, 2026 — Adams Street cable-railing bid opening moved
  • Added CVAG’s October 5 addendum extending the public bid opening to October 15 at 1 p.m.
  • Recorded the approximately 450-foot Adams Street undercrossing scope and separated the bid milestone from any future award, notice to proceed or construction start.
  • Added the operating constraint: partial-width closures may occur during work hours, but CV Link may not fully close and must reopen to full width outside work hours.

This is a research update only. Mark Miller’s September 9 Palm Springs photographs remain the latest field record in this guide.

September 18, 2026 — Avenue 50 bidding closed; construction start unconfirmed
  • Recorded the City of Coachella's September 3 bid deadline and closed solicitation status separately from a contract award or work-start confirmation.
  • Added an explicitly attributed November start projection from ConstructConnect. Retained CVAG's earlier published window as a schedule, not evidence that construction has begun.
  • Expanded the Avenue 50 project scope and kept the route map free of an unverified detour alignment.

This is a research update only. Mark's September 9 Palm Springs photographs and entrance observations remain the latest on-site record in this guide.

September 13, 2026 — Shade funding added; bridge notices rechecked
  • Added the previously announced August 10 shade-grant award, its five-stop scope and projected 2028 completion. Installation remains unverified.
  • Rechecked CVAG's three construction notices. Their date windows remain unchanged; the Ramon Road notice does not establish an active closure or a street-by-street detour.
  • Recorded the September 14 Palm Springs bridge/detour discussion as a future checkpoint, not an outcome. Kept the citywide heat-planning discussion separate from the regional shade grant.

This is a research update, not a new field visit. The September 9 photographs and entrance observations remain the latest on-site record.

September 9, 2026 — Palm Springs entrance photographed
  • Added three original photographs from Mark Miller’s Palm Springs field visit, with full-screen viewing.
  • Documented the approach from North Gene Autry Trail onto East Via Escuela near Executive Drive.
  • Added a street diagram and a note that a general Google search can point visitors to a different nearby location.
September 7, 2026 — Desert Oasis Insider tracker launched
  • Documented the three official open-segment lengths and endpoints.
  • Mapped the Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells mainline gaps.
  • Added the Ramon Road, Monroe Street and Avenue 50 disruption schedules.
  • Separated the anticipated Arts and Music Line from connector planning and longer extension studies.
  • Established the field-verification list for access, amenities, crossings and detours.
November 2025 — CV Link grand-opening celebrations

CVAG officially opened the approximately 40-mile system after reporting substantial completion in June 2025.

September 2025 — Desert Hot Springs study authorized

CVAG authorized up to $130,000 for alternative-route analysis and a conceptual plan to support future engineering, design and funding applications.

The desert, mapped

Explore the wider Coachella Valley

Use the Atlas to move from CV Link into the parks, communities, trailheads, cities and stories surrounding the route.

Explore the Coachella Valley Atlas
Palm Springs CV Link photos

Open original
What is CV Link?

CV Link is an approximately 40-mile shared-use transportation and recreation pathway across portions of the Coachella Valley. It is designed for pedestrians, bicycles and permitted low-speed electric vehicles and runs largely beside the Whitewater River and stormwater channel.

Can you travel continuously from Palm Springs to Coachella on CV Link?

No. CVAG currently identifies three principal open segments: West Valley, Central Valley and East Valley. The approved mainline does not include Rancho Mirage or Indian Wells, so users should not interpret the system’s total mileage as one uninterrupted off-street route.

Are golf carts allowed on CV Link?

Yes, qualifying low-speed electric vehicles and golf carts are allowed on CV Link with a 20 mph maximum. Operators must also follow California Vehicle Code and local city rules when traveling on public streets to reach or leave the pathway.

Is CV Link open at night?

CVAG currently reports no posted hours of operation. The system includes solar-powered lighting at pathway and access locations, but cyclists and low-speed vehicles should still meet applicable nighttime lighting and visibility requirements.

Where are bathrooms available along CV Link?

CVAG lists restrooms at or near the Palm Springs Visitor Center, Esperanza Park, the Bump & Grind access point, Palm Desert Civic Center Park, North Jackson Park and Sierra Vista Park. Availability can change, so confirm park hours and conditions before relying on a particular location.

Desert Oasis Insider

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