Palm Desert
La Quinta Cove
La Quinta is a town south of Palm Desert in the Coachella Valley. Tucked away in the hills above the city center is the La Quinta Cove Trail complex that straddles the Santa Rosa-San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and the Santa Rosa Wilderness.
Straight out of the parking lot are a series of relatively easy trails on a mostly flat drainage basin. The Cove Oasis is an easy walk and has some interesting geography. However, once you reach the base of the mountains, the trails get significantly more difficult. I’ve seen some of these trails (or portions of them) classified as easy, I consider all of them challenging once you’re out of the flats. Cove to Lake is the “easiest” of the three but at the best of times there isn’t any shade, the terrain can be challenging and you’re relatively remote. Boo Hoff and Bear Creek Palm Oasis simply double down on these factors.
All that said, this was one of my favorite challenges while living in the desert.
Directions:
From Highway 111, go south on Washington for three miles and turn right on Avenue 52. After a half mile, turn left on Avenida Bermudas. In two miles, the trailhead and parking lot will be on your left. Here’s a link to Google maps (courtesy of Friends of Desert Mountains).
Trails:
Other Areas:
- Joshua Tree – Boy Scout Trail
- Coachella Valley Preserve – Willis Palms and Herman’s Hike
- Idyllwild – Tahquitz Peak
Considerations:
- Take plenty of water Dress appropriately
- Time your run (both time of day and time of year)