PEACE, HIKING, SUNLIGHT, NATURE: Whatever we're doing throughout the year, whatever errands we're running or appointments we're completing or tasks we're seeing through, we can be certain that the trails we love, the natural places that bring us peace, are still out there. Sometimes they're covered with snow and ice, if they wend around a peak, and sometimes, due to summer heat, they're shuttered to foot traffic, but only for awhile. That's what happens at The Living Desert in Palm Desert each year, around the hiking trails of Eisenhower Peak. It's no surprise that the region receives some real scorchers, in terms of temperature and sunlight intensity, when July and August heat up, and even the animal park portion of The Living Desert changes up its hours, observing earlier close times. But when October begins, and temperatures around California's arid stretches begin to ease back down, you can count on those trails, which are still there and waiting for the feet of fans to trek on through, to once again hum with visitors.
HIKING IS NOW OPEN... as of Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017 on a trio of lovely loops, including the Inner Loop, the Middle Loop, and the Wilderness Loop. The Inner Loop can be done in a short spurt of time — it's about a quarter mile — while the Middle and Wilderness Loop offer a few more challenges. And will you see critters and birds and ocotillos and chollas and the splendid living flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert? We'd recommend those eyes staying peeled, but even if you keep an eye on the trail, which you should, you'll still take in some classic desert sights. For a chance to breathe deeply, to find some quiet and room to think, carve out some time on The Living Desert trails this fall and winter. The trails'll shutter again, as is tradition, when next summer draws near, so plan at least one visit while the magnificent desert is at its mildest. Tips on getting an early daily start, and the animals and plants you'll see, are right here.
