Hiking Trails 🥾 (La Quinta, CA)

Most people start at the La Quinta Cove but you can also start at Lake Cahuilla and go backwards.

Significantly Challenging. 12.8 mile loop trail. Elevation gain of 2,290 feet.

When you start from the parking lot, walk straight South, all the way up into the Santa Rosa Mountains. As you begin to climb you will notice immediately the change in flora and terrain. The La Quinta area of the Santa Rosas hosts tons of Teddy Bear Cholla and Ocotillo as soon as the elevation rises. When you reach the top of the trail (half-way), witness exceptional elevated views of the La Quinta Cove neighborhood of homes and most of the city. As you start to decline, you will find a garden of Teddy Bear Cholla and views of the Salton Sea to the East. At the end of the decline you end up in a wash, that wraps around and spits out between the Coral Mountain and the Quarry Golf Course until you reach Lake Cahuilla. From Lake Cahuilla, take the "Cove To Lake Hike - Trail" back to the parking lot.

🏺: Holds historical significance as well, originating as an ancient Indian path that was later enhanced by the Desert Riders, an equestrian group dedicated to preserving and improving the trails.

💡: Remember, you do not have to complete this entire trail. A really nice hike includes starting at the parking lot in the Cove, and walking to the top of the Boo Hoff trail to where the "Teddy Bear Cholla and views of the Salton Sea to the East" is located, and then walk back to the parking lot. This will take you around 4 hours to complete.

Moderately Challenging. 8.3-mile out-and-back trail.1,989 feet of elevation. 4-6 hours to complete.

Start at the parking lot from the La Quinta Cove. Walk past the shaded picnic area and make a right into the wash. The wash will lead you to a trail that will take you up the mountains heading S/W. Along the climb of elevation look back and appreciate the elevated view of the housing community in the La Quinta Cove. You kind of zig zag your way up the mountain and and when you start to get around 1,200 feet elevation you can get a nice view of the South Palm Desert section of the Santa Rosa Mountains. At the higher elevation expect to see tons of Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus. At the top, be carful with cactus the Cholla are low to the ground and along the trail, making it easy to bump into. After you get to the top you will start to decline a short bit and end up cutting through a small wash and across a new mountain section until you reach a Oasis of Fan Palms. At the Oasis, there is not much to do but appreciate the shade and sound of the trees blowing in the wind out in the middle of the Santa Rosa Mountains. From the Oasis, reverse your trail and head back the same way you came until finding the parking lot.  

Moderately challenging. 5 miles (2.5 each way). Elevation Gain: 300 to 400 feet. Walk from the top of the La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla Park.

When you start from the parking lot, you hug the mountains and then drop down into a wash with soft sand. When the wash concludes, you arrive at the Quarry Golf Course and make a light climb back into the mountains. While strolling the mountain path you get some nice views of the golf course. Soon, the trail will navigate down into another wash, still along the golf course until it wraps around and will spit out at Lake Cahuilla. From there, you turn around and head back to the parking lot. 

🐐: Bighorn Sheep are sometimes found along the wash.