Best Walking Trails & Routes in Cathedral City

This trail is a little tricky to find, it’s on South Palm Canyon Dr., heading south approx. 600 feet after passing Murray Canyon Dr. “T” intersection. Nice scenic trail and popular with the locals. There’s two picnic summits at either end. You can hike it from South Palm Canyon Dr., all the way to West Mesquite Ave and do a city walk back to the trailhead Is a 5 mile loop. This is scenic trail with little shading. Best to hike in October - March.

This is the trail behind the mountains at Smoke Tree Stables. A bit tricky to find, you need to go to South Palm Canyon Dr head south, left turn on Bogart Trail, after passing the bridge, left turn on Barona Rd and park anywhere on that street. The trail starts at the end of the street. This trail connects to many trails and is best done early in the morning (before 9 am). This trail has many scenic views, especially at the summit, where you have the City Grid on the north and the millionaires neighborhood on the south. This trail is dog friendly up to 800 feet elevation (guessing). There’s two loop hikes to this trail I would highly recommend, both are a must do. The north loop you’ll want to go on Shannon Trial. The south loop you’ll want to stay on Garstin Trail where it turns right, then go all the way where it ends and go right before Wild Horse Trail. That trail is part of the Goat Trail but connects to Bogart Trail. Garstin Trail is moderate, note all the trails on the Santa Rosa Mountains offer little shade, means sun protection and bring water (8 oz). Best time to hike between October - March.

This is the trail behind Smoke Tree Stables, a bit tricky to find because you’ll have to hike one trail in order to find this trail. Why when anybody decides they want to hike Shannon Trail? You have to hike Earl Henderson Trail or Garstin Trial. If anyone is really determined to hike this trial, you’ll want to make this a loop hike to really get the whole experience. This is why you want to start early in the morning. If you arrive at the summit of Garstin Trail at 9:00 am? That’s perfect timing, 8:00 am would have been better but that will do. Although its mostly a sunny trail, the last 1/3 of Shannon you’ll be in mountain shade. This is why you want to get there early. At the bottom of Shannon you’ll “T” intersect Earl Henderson Trial, which you’ll want to go on next and hike west to return to parking. The best views if you compare Garstin, Shannon, and Henderson will be on Shannon Trail. This trail is difficult if you’re ascending but moderate if you’re descending. Best time to hike this trail between October - March. Always have sun protection and water when hiking any trails on the Santa Rosa Mountains...

This is the trail behind Smoke Tree Stables, a bit tricky to find. The trailhead is located at the same place where Garstin Trail starts. You’ll want to take South Palm Canyon Dr head south, left of Bogart Trial and after passing the bridge, left on Barona Rd. This is where you’ll see many locals who like to take their dogs for a walk. Once in awhile you might actually encounter a tour guide on horse back (three to twelve horses). You’ll want to watch your steps, this is the trail, because it the trail with the most horse dropping. This also why you want to start early in the morning because this trail will be 90% if not 100% in total shade if you start at 7 am. This is the trail where you’ll be closest to Palm Canyon Wash which many people aren’t aware is also a trail. There are certain times of the year where there’s water there but most of the time is dry. This Earl Henderson is also the trail where you’ll encounter more Barrel Cactuses. The best time to hike this trail is between October and March. This is an easy hike but becomes moderate when you getting close to Shannon Trail. This trail if you take it all way ends at the Palm Canyon Wash.

Golf course

A short hike, where 50% is the trail is in the wilderness of Santa Rosa Mountains and the other half is a neighborhood walk back to the trailhead parking. The neighborhood walk might actually be more interesting because there’s so many custom design homes. Incredible looking homes.

This is one of eight - bike trails: It’s city walk that goes along Hwy 111 (noisy portion). On Gene Autry Trail (street) at the bridge, you end up going under that bridge where you’ll begin to see Tahquitz Creek and the Golf Course. From here on is where you’ll experience the beauty of this loop where you leave the Golf Course going through Demuth Park and then through Mesquite C.C. Where there’s a small walk bridge to cross and walk through Desert Chapel Church and School grounds area. You end up on Sunrise Way and the final leg of this loop that takes you back to Hwy 111.

This is a partial section of the actual loop. It’s the area on the west end at South Palm Canyon Dr up to La Verne where it goes right and is shared by two other loop trails starting at La Verne (Deepwell Loop and Citywide Loop). This is a neighborhood walk.

Palm Canyon Creek (Wash) has a levee on the north side that’s approx 15 feet tall. Popular with pet owners. Unfortunately they do not pickup after their pets. So be careful where you’re stepping and watch out when you encounter a horrible smell. Otherwise the entire stretch is nice and scenic especially at the Indians Golf Course area. Popular route with mountain bikers.