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View across the desert foothills from the Art Smith Trail, with the Coachella Valley and mountains beyond.

Hiking Trails in Palm Desert, CA

Palm Desert is one of the Coachella Valley’s best hubs for desert hiking—quick-access trailheads, rugged Santa Rosa Mountain foothills, and wide-op...

 Lake Cahuilla, View of Coral Mountain.

Lake Cahuilla Park

Your practical guide to fishing, camping, family afternoons, birds and mountain scenery. Lake Cahuilla is where a La Quinta outing can slow dow...

 A long, colorful mural painted along a low wall in Coachella.

Shady Lane Community Mural at Dateland Park

The Shady Lane Community Mural is a collaborative public-art installation located directly across from Dateland Park in Coachella. Unlike a traditi...

 An illustrated Arnold Palmer golf-victory scene with spectators and a Palm Springs Golf Classic sign.

Arnold Palmer

Arnold Palmer, affectionately known as "The King," was more than a golf legend—he was a transformative figure in the Coachella Valley, leaving an i...

 Close-up of a fan palm trunk and hanging dry fronds against a blue sky.

California Fan Palm

The only palm species native to the western United States and is a defining feature of desert oases in the Coachella Valley and surrounding mountai...

 An ostrich standing in dry grass at The Living Desert.

Ostriche

Meet the world’s largest bird—up to 9 feet tall and 300+ pounds. They can’t fly but make up for it by sprinting up to 45 mph across African savanna...

 Coyote standing in a field with mountains and buildings in the background

Coyote

The Coyote (Canis latrans) is one of the most adaptable and iconic mammals of the Coachella Valley and surrounding desert mountain ranges. It plays...

 A spotted big cat resting in a shaded, leafy enclosure at The Living Desert.

Jaguar

The jaguar (Panthera onca) is one of the most striking and ecologically significant big cats, and while it is not native to the Coachella Valley, i...

 Aerial view of Gelson’s Market in Rancho Mirage, with its storefront, palm-lined parking area and mountains beyond; photographed by Mark Miller on October 13, 2026

Gelson’s Market, Rancho Mirage

Gelson’s Market is a grocery stop on Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage, combining everyday shopping with prepared food, a bakery and a wine bar. For ...

 Rüppell's griffon vultures in a shaded habitat at The Living Desert.

Rüppell’s Griffon Vulture

Status in the Coachella Valley: Not native; present only as an ambassador species at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens. The Rüppell’s Griffon Vul...

 Agricultural fields and distant mountains, photographed on a drone flight launched from Thermal, California. Mark Miller, October 23, 2026.

Agricultural Landscapes

A growing photographic collection of agricultural landscapes across the Coachella Valley, the Salton Sea region and the surrounding desert. Fields,...

 Original photograph: rocky Chuckwalla Trail with desert ridges and Rancho Mirage neighborhoods beyond.

Chuckwalla Trail

Rocky foothills, an open desert path and wide views across Rancho Mirage make Chuckwalla Trail a rewarding way to spend part of a morning outdoors....