Date: December 7, 2011
Time: 3 Hours
Length: 5 Miles
Location: Indio Hills, CA
Elevation: 863ft
Weather: 45-68’
Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
Description: This hike was started at 7:00am with 50 ounces of water and 5 energy bars. I ended up drinking 25 ounces of water and eating 3 bars.
The trailhead for this hike is very easy to locate, it’s off Thousand Palms Road at the Coachella Valley Preserve.
There is a large turnout located on the right, just before the Coachella Valley Preserve entrance that people use to access the trail. Some prefer it so they don’t have to cross the street, others like the security of the bigger parking lot.
Both locations are very well marked. I started from the parking lot at the visitor center. From the parking lot you will see the trailhead sign towards the east side of the lot. 
Follow the trail back to the street where you will cross. Be sure to look both ways, your crossing on a blind turn to your left. Again, the perk to parking at the turnout mentioned earlier, you don’t have to cross any streets.
Once you cross the street or park at the turnout, you will see a “Coachella Valley Preserve” sign. From here you should be able to see the stairway going up the side of the mountain ahead. Head southeast towards the stairs, the trail is very well marked from both starting points.
Eventually you will be able to see the stairs from the trail as shown above.
They’re usually in good shape, but at times the rain can get to them, so watch your step.
At the top of the stairs, stay to the left and head up the mountain.
As you continue on the trail, as you look to your right you will notice the Hidden Palms Trail.
If you look to your left, you will see the Indian Palms.
You will come to a fork in the trail, stay to the left. If you go right it will take you to the Horseshoe Palms and Hidden Palms Trail.
Great view of the Horseshoe Palms, the early morning sun doesn’t work well with photos.
As you continue southeast, you will come to a left in the trail where people tend to go straight. Stay left and continue down the Pushawalla Palms trail as posted. If you go straight, it will still get you back to the main trail, it’s just a little harder.
Directly after that, you will see another sign that is in the photo above. Continue straight, even though left will take you to the palms, it’s not as easy to go down the rocky side.
If you would have continued straight when coming down the mountain this is where you come out.
View overlooking the Pushawalla Palms Canyon.
You will see the Horseshoe Palms trail coming up towards the bottom of the mountain, go left and continue on the Pushawalla Palms trail.
The trail begins to lead you down to the wash for the Pushawalla Palms. There used to be another trail continuing above the wash, but when I recently hiked it, the trail was closed.
One of the reasons this trail is a little hard is the technical areas with rocks.
As you come out into the wash you will go under a fallen palm tree, then take a left.
Stay to the far left on the trail, it does not lead through the wash. However, if you miss this, the wash will lead you back to the trail.
When you come back to the wash you will see some water flowing in and out of the ground. This Oasis will have water all year round, but only this far into the wash during winter or after rain. Head north through the wash into the Pushawalla Palms.
After a little rain, it would be a good idea to go to the right of the Oasis. Follow the trail up the hillside if you don’t want to walk through water or mud. It wasn’t that bad when I went, so I headed into the oasis.
The trail heads left around the water into the palms. If it is summertime, there will not be any water here, continue to the left.
When there is water present you will hear and see a many birds and wildlife in the morning.
You will come to another point in the trail that allows you to stay dry if you wish. Go right here around the palms if you don’t want to get wet. I went through them again.
This portion of the trail is very narrow, and hard to navigate around the water if you go through the palms.
This is normally what it will be like during winter, there isn’t many dry spots for your feet at the end.
I noticed a Coyote coming down to get a drink of water as I came out of the palms. However, once I decided to slowly go for my camera, he saw me and took off.
The way out of the wash is to the left, up that canyon where you will see a rusted old truck.
Another portion of the trail which made it a little hard, there isn’t much of a trail up this, so watch for loose rocks on your way up.
The Car/Truck.
Halfway up you will see there are two canyons, stay left again.
When you get to the top of the canyon, follow the signs to this next fork. Again your going to go left to another fork in the road.
There is a big open area with several signs posted, take a right heading northwest following the “Visitor Center” sign as shown above.
This part of the trail is very easy, but very hard to follow at times. The trail itself stays along the mountainside very closely. You will follow the trail until it comes to a wash. You’re only in this wash for about 20 feet, then you take a left back onto the trail. Most people stay in the wash and it will take you back to your car, but the sand is much softer and proves to get annoying fast.
Above is a great example of the trail following the mountain, and the wash being on the right.
If you want to stay on the trail, a good rule of thumb is stay to the left as far over as you can. The trail will take you back to the bottom of the stairs.
Keep heading northeast towards the street and you will find the parking lot.
If you have any questions regarding this hike, or would like the GPS Track file, please contact me for more information.
