Indio Hills Badlands | Indio, California

The Indio Hills Badlands are one of the Coachella Valley’s most distinctive desert landscapes. Located along the northern edge of Indio, the area features sculpted ridges, sandy washes, narrow passages and dramatically tilted layers of sediment shaped by erosion and movement along the San Andreas Fault.

The landscape is best explored along the East Indio Hills Badlands Trail, a moderately challenging hiking route that winds through rugged geological formations before opening to panoramic views across the eastern Coachella Valley. With virtually no shade, the trail is best visited during the cooler fall, winter and early-spring months.