May 2021

In January I set a goal of hiking 52 different trails with my family in 2021, and we’re totally crushing it. You can read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here. 

That brings us to April and hikes 27-31. The temperature has been rising in our desert, and I’m scared of rattlesnakes, so we ventured beyond Palm Springs for this month’s trails.

Keep in mind: 
• I say these hikes are “family-friendly,” meaning they were good for my family. They are not necessarily stroller accessible or toddler-friendly. 
• I’m strategic about when I go. Some popular trails get heavy traffic throughout the day, and I don’t like being on trails with a lot of people, so I usually head out very early. 
• Don’t take my distance as gospel. Hiking with a 6-year-old child involves a fair amount of wandering, so your mileage might vary. 
• Do check a website like AllTrails for current trail conditions. I always look the map to get an idea of the terrain, and I read the most recent comments for any relevant info. 
• I know covid restrictions are loosening, but I still bring a mask along and put it on when I encounter others on the trail.

Potato Chip Rock, Poway • 4.2 miles

Potato Chip Rock has been on my personal California bucket list for a while now, and we finally did it!

There are two trails to reach the summit. The Mt. Woodson Trail is 7.3 miles, boasts a more gradual climb, and is supposedly more picturesque. We opted for the steeper, shorter route to get up and down before the heat of the day. And it was still a gorgeous hike!

There was definitely a point where the path felt almost too steep for me to go on. And that’s when I noticed another hiker holding a pudgy Basset Hound — and I figured if someone else can make it up a mountain while CARRYING A DOG, I can do it sans hound.

Red Dome, Whitewater • 4.5 miles

Wildflowers and striking views along a gentle segment of the Pacific Crest Trail? Yes, please.

Also this hike ends at the rocky banks of the Whitewater River, surrounded by textured canyon walls. The water is always frigid, and I soaked my feet until they were numb.

49 Palms Oasis, Joshua Tree National Park • 3.2 miles

I can’t believe I’ve lived in the desert for so long, and this was my first time doing the 49 Palms trail, located in a section of the park I’ve never seen before.

This was a quick, moderate trail (a few Marines in weighted vests were running it), and the payoff is a lush palm oasis where it feels like you’re the only person on earth

.

Canyon View Loop, Whitewater • 4 miles

Another hike I regret not having done before. It was a fairly quick ascent up the wildflower-carpeted canyon, followed by some incredible views of the valley below. This is a real showcase of desert beauty.

La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla loop, La Quinta • 6.6 miles

Okay, I know I sound like a broken record, but this is another place I never visited before my hiking challenge. (I’m starting to wonder if I ever did anything before this year? Where did I go? It’s weird that I’m seeing more of where I live now, during a pandemic, than I ever did before.)

I’ve heard that Lake Cahuilla is usually crowded, but on the morning we hiked there, it was the perfect place to stop for a snack break. The trees provided a cool, shady spot to rest, and it was so quiet, we could hear birds’ wings flapping.

The hike back was a slog, because a large portion of it is through a soft, sandy wash with a gradual uphill, and hiking in sand sucks. But we felt very accomplished when it was over.

For 2021, I set a goal of taking 52 different hikes with my family. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here. 

That brings us to March! The most exciting thing about this month was that we ventured out of the area for a quick road trip. More on that below.

Here are the 7 hikes we did this month.

Keep in mind: 
• I say these hikes are “family-friendly,” meaning they were good for my family. They are not necessarily stroller accessible or toddler-friendly. 
• I’m strategic about when I go. Some popular trails get heavy traffic throughout the day, and I don’t like being on trails with a lot of people.
• Don’t take my distance as gospel. Hiking with a 6-year-old child involves a fair amount of wandering, so your mileage might vary. 
• Do check a website like AllTrails for current trail conditions. I always look the map to get an idea of the terrain, and I read the most recent comments for any relevant info. 
• I always bring a mask along and put it on when I encounter others on the trail.

Indio Badlands, Indio • 5.5 miles

This hike made me thankful for the 52 Hikes challenge, because I never would have done this trail otherwise — and I would have missed out on one of the most stunning areas in the Coachella Valley.

Don’t let the first boring mile fool you. After a bit of mediocre trail, the scenery becomes incredibly dramatic with interesting geological features and some sweeping views of mountains and agricultural areas.

Big Morongo Preserve (combo of four trails), Morongo Valley • 2.5 miles

I’ve been having issues with my lower back, and on this particular day it was acting up. I still wanted to get outside, though, so we patched together portions of four trails that didn’t have a huge elevation gain.

No matter which trail you take here, they’re all winners. Plus the preserve has been recognized as an “important bird area” by many organizations, and I often see deer. Somehow I always *just* miss seeing the bobcats, but someday …

South Lykken (trailhead at Oswit Canyon), Palm Springs • 2.3 miles

The steep climb pays off with great views of Palm Springs and a lot of little hilltops to explore. (We only went as far as the picnic tables at the summit, but the trail links up to other parts of Lykken, so this hike can be much, much longer.)

Also we saw bighorn sheep near the trailhead, which is the first time I’ve ever seen them in the low part of the canyon.

Museum Trail, Palm Springs • 2.1 miles

Challenging and beautiful, but crowded. It had been a long time since I’ve done this one, though, and I was delighted to find a pull-up bar near the picnic tables.

To be clear, I can’t really do a pull-up. I just like surprises.

Bike Trails (East), Cathedral City • 2.1 miles

Not very picturesque or fun. On the plus side, we didn’t encounter any other hikers, so it was nice to be in a quiet, still space.

Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, Cambria • 4.2 miles

Spring break! We took a quick road trip to Cambria and stayed at a motel across the street from Moonstone Beach, where we spent every evening picking up cool rocks and watching the sunset. It was glorious.

One of the best days I’ve had in recent memory was spent at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. The trail we did had a little bit of everything, from evergreen forest to coastal bluffs, back to evergreens again. Highly recommend.

Boucher Trail, San Simeon • 3.75 miles

If you’re driving the Pacific Coast Highway, carve time out of your schedule for this easy but stunning hike.

It begins at an elephant seal overlook and winds through wetlands, grassland, and fields of wildflowers to the Piedras Blancas lighthouse. All the while, you have the most jaw-dropping views of the Pacific.

The best part is that it offers seal viewing areas that are far from the crowds. So if peering down at fat, funny seals is your thing (it’s definitely my thing), this is the trail for you.