Wildlands Conservancy Trails
Trails for all levels in California's largest nature preserve system, the Wildlands Conservancy. The trails in the Wildlands Conservancy are open for free, forever, due to their hard work preserving important wilderness areas.
| Name | Distance | Level | Location | Climb | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hike Indian Loop Trail at Pioneertown Mountains Preserve | 8 | Moderate | Pioneertown | 1460 | Y |
| Beeks Place Hike From Black Star Canyon | 16 | Hard | Silverado | 2240 | Y |
| Mission Creek Preserve Hike | 3.4 | Easy | Desert Hot Springs | 340 | Y |
| Whitewater Preserve Hike – Canyon View Loop Trail | 4 | Moderate | Whitewater | 790 | Y |
| Santa Margarita River Trail | 5.7 | Moderate | Fallbrook | 630 | Y |
All Guides
Hike Indian Loop Trail at Pioneertown Mountains Preserve
Pioneertown Mountains Preserve sits strategically between the high mountains and desert. It’s a unique and varied landscape, and the Indian Loop Trail takes you on a tour of everything it has to offer. You’ll climb to the 5,541-foot Chaparrosa Peak, wind through the foothills with views to the high peaks of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, and then descend through Pipes Canyon, along a critical watershed bringing life to the desert.
Pioneertown, CA - 8 miles, Moderate
Beeks Place Hike From Black Star Canyon
The Beeks Place hike takes you to the ruins of an old cabin compound built at a scenic spot high in the Santa Ana Mountains. From Beeks Place, you can see from San Gorgonio to Mt Baldy to Catalina. The hike is challenging, taking you 2000 feet up fire roads through the mountains, and along the way, you get epic views, hidden pastures, and even a Native American settlement. While Beeks Place might not be a big-name peak bagging experience, it is a nice long mountain hike that you can do all year.
Silverado, CA - 16 miles, Hard
Mission Creek Preserve Hike
The Mission Creek Preserve hike is a great family-friendly adventure that offers a little bit of everything in an easy package. You’ll be able to visit the ruins of an old “glamping” resort, follow a creek that started high in the mountains and is now irrigating the desert, pass a rare wetland, enjoy views of the high peaks, and then visit an old stone ranch house. The trail is wide, the climbs gradual, and it’s easy to follow. Even if you’re an experienced hiker, there’s enough beauty here to warrant at least one visit.
Desert Hot Springs, CA - 3.4 miles, Easy
Whitewater Preserve Hike – Canyon View Loop Trail
One of my favorite hikes, the Canyon View Loop Trail at the Whitewater Preserve, between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, offers beauty at every twist and turn. The well-marked trail follows the Whitewater River Canyon until it reaches the iconic PCT and then climbs up to a bluff that offers non-stop views into the canyon and high peaks of the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area. It’s a hike that’s worth making a trip for, so give it a try.
Whitewater, CA - 4 miles, Moderate
Santa Margarita River Trail
The Santa Margarita River Trail hike is a true gem. The hike follows the shady shores of the Santa Margarita River, Southern California’s last undiverted, free-flowing river, home to over a hundred species of animals. The peaceful river banks also hold glimpses into the area’s past, including Native American artifacts and relics of a railroad that once connected San Diego to the outside world. Today the Santa Margarita River Trail is protected and well-marked thanks to the non-profit Wildlands Conservancy. It’s a beautiful trail that’s easy, with a flat 3 mile option or a longer 5.7 hike to a hidden beach.
Fallbrook, CA - 5.7 miles, Moderate