There are almost countless breathtaking hikes in the mountains surrounding the Coachella Valley and the greater Palm Springs area. Before you take off on one of the most memorable hikes that you will ever take it is good to make sure you know useful information about the terrain and the weather to keep you safe.

Weather is always warm in the Colorado Desert where the Coachella Valley is located but right now it can get hotter than other times of the year. The trails throughout Palm Springs and Coachella Valley and beyond into Joshua Tree, San Jacinto Park, and Anza Borrego as well as the Salton Sea are waiting for you to come and explore.

Before you head out you want to make sure that you are aware of the extreme desert and mountainous conditions of the area and that you plan accordingly to make sure you and everyone with you is safe.

Here are some great tips for hiking in the Coachella Valley

Some useful items to bring with you

Whether you are heading off on a short few hours’ hike or plan to traverse the area all day long here are some things that you should have with you to ensure your trip continues to go smoothly.

A backpack to carry all of your helpful things. If you plan to take an overnight hiking trip, you want to make sure that you have a high-quality large overnight hiking backpack that can carry larger items like a tent.

Pocket knife. A recently sharpened knife can come in handy in many different situations, especially for overnight hikers

A paper map plus an extra. Hiking trails do not always receive the best cell phone signals so you want to make sure that you have a paper map and an extra one in case you are unable to find your location through your phone. One of the biggest issues with hikers is getting lost even in terrain that they frequently hike.

Plenty of water and snacks. While you don’t want to bring a heavy amount of canned foods it is a good idea to make sure that you’re bringing snacks such as meal replacement bars and dried fruit to help keep your energy up. It is always a good idea to make sure that you have plenty of water to stay well hydrated, especially in the dry desert climate.

Whistle. A whistle can help you to signal that you are out in the wilderness and need some assistance. It can help anyone searching for you to find you if you have been on your hike longer than you have planned.

First aid kit. Even the most experienced of hikers can experience an accident or a fall on any hike that they take. It is always best to make sure that you have a well-stocked first aid kit to handle any accidental injury.

Sunscreen and light layers. It is good to pack some sunscreen in your bag after applying it shortly before you head out on your hike. You want to make sure you are reapplying in the heat of the desert. Nobody wants a painful sunburn. Other items that can be helpful are a hat with a wide brim or a bandanna to tie around your neck for some protection as well as sunglasses. It can also be good to have a light layer in case the wind picks up and you begin to get chilly.

Great Planning Tips

The more details of your hike plan in advance the safer your hike will be. Hiking is more than just casually strolling up a trail into the hills. You will want to make sure that you are never hiking alone and always have at least one hiking buddy with you when possible. Each member of the hike should have their own pack with plenty of water, snacks, sun protection, and any other necessary emergency items.

If you’re hiking with kids make sure that you have researched the trail you plan to hike to ensure that it is an easier hike, able for kids to successfully traverse. You also want to make sure that the hike is not incredibly long as kids can be more sensitive to the heat conditions in the Coachella Valley.

If you plan to bring your dog along with you on the hike you will want to make sure that they are up-to-date on all of their vaccinations and that they have a current and up-to-date collar with dog tags. If this is the first time you are taking your dog for a hike start with a short one with a training mindset and then you can work up to longer treks. You also want to make sure that your dog is well-versed in interactions with other pets. There are bound to be other dogs on the trails and you want to make sure they know how to properly conduct themselves when they see another dog.

Make sure that you are researching the trails and reading up as much information about them as possible before you make a decision to go hiking on one. You don’t want to just pick a trail as you are driving around. It is always best to know what is ahead of you on the trail and stick to walking the trail only.

There’s a reason that the trails around the Coachella Valley are world famous and with the proper preparation you just may find your new favorite thing to do in the valley and the Palm Springs area.

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