Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Hikes
From the floor of the Sonoran Desert to peaks above the tree line, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument offers a variety of unique and unforgettable hikes. Whether the classic Cactus to Clouds epic hike or a shorter hike to The Cross, there's something for everyone in this spectacular landscape.
| Name | Distance | Level | Location | Climb | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cactus to Clouds Hike | 21 | Very Hard | Palm Springs | 10800 | Y |
| Hike the Boo Hoff Trail Loop | 12.8 | Hard | La Quinta | 2560 | N |
| Palm Springs Tram Hike to San Jacinto Peak | 11 | Hard | Palm Springs | 2620 | N |
| Art Smith Trail Guide | 16.6 | Hard | Palm Desert | 3700 | N |
| Bear Creek Oasis Trail Guide | 9 | Hard | La Quinta | 2540 | N |
| Murray Peak Hike (Palm Springs) | 7.5 | Moderate | Palm Springs | 2000 | N |
| Museum Trail (Palm Springs) | 2 | Hard | Palm Springs | 920 | N |
| Araby Trail Guide | 3.4 | Moderate | Palm Springs | 1200 | N |
| The Cross Hike (Palm Desert) | 2.4 | Moderate | Palm Desert | 770 | Y |
| Bump and Grind Trail Guide (Palm Desert) | 4 | Moderate | Palm Desert | 1430 | N |
| Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Hike To Mt San Jacinto | 11 | Hard | Palm Springs | 2620 | N |
What is the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument?
- The Monument is about 280,000 acres.
- It contains an assortment of other land organizations, including
- BLM's California Desert Conservation Area
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Santa Rosa Wilderness Area
- San Jacinto Wilderness Area
- Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
- The Monument was created in 2000 by Congress "to preserve the nationally significant biological, cultural, recreational, geological, educational, and scientific values found in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains."
- The area is home to the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep.
- There is a visitor center at 51-500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260, that has good interpretive displays and a movie.
- The Friends of the Desert Mountains are a volunteer group that helps preserve the Monument and educate visitors.