The Bear Creek Oasis Trail hike in La Quinta, CA is just spectacular; there’s no other way to slice and dice it. The first mile is flat and easy as you follow the Bear Creek wash up into the Santa Rosa foothills. And then you start climbing, winding your way up like a bighorn along the ridges and switchbacks, eventually getting to a point where you can see for miles: San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, the Coachella Valley, and the Salton Sea. But wait, there’s more! Toward the end, you wind down into a canyon nestled in the desert mountains to find a beautiful hidden fan palm oasis. It a tough one, but the payoffs are incredible.
How to Get to the Bear Creek Oasis Trail
So the maps and the trailheads for this hike can be confusing. Two trailheads are close to the start of the hike. I prefer to use the farthest one since it gets you closer to the main trail, and you spend less time in the general use/dog walker area. Other guides start you from the first trailhead. And then there’s a “Bear Creek Trail,” which is paved and not the “Bear Creek Oasis Trail,” so heads up.
As you drive toward the trailhead address, go past the first parking area and continue down to the end of the street, before it turns right.There’s a decent-sized parking area.This is not the trail you want.There are water and shade at the paved trailhead from the last image.There’s also a nice trail map at the parking area. La Quinta does a really good job of making it easy for hikers. I wish more places followed their lead.This is the trailhead that you want to start at from the parking lot. No pavement for you today!
There are no bathrooms at the parking lot.
Gear for the Hike
This is a proper desert backcountry hike, so plan accordingly. And don’t do this in the summer or on warmer days. The landscape is harsh and there is no shade.
Trekking poles will help with the loose soil and climbing.
Bring at least 2L of water.
The hike is all exposed and you’ll need sun protection.
The Most Comfortable Hiking Shoe Ever For most people, the Altra Lone Peak 4.5(Women: REI | Amazon + Men: REI | Amazon) is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they work great on the trail. It’s a favorite of PCT and AT hikers for a good reason!
Stay Safe Out of Cell Phone Range If you’re not familiar with the Garmin InReach technology, it allows you to send and receive text messages where you don’t have cell phone signals. You can also get weather reports and trigger an SOS to emergency responders. Even if you don’t have an emergency, sending a quick message telling a loved one that you’re okay or are running late is well worth the cost. The Garmin InReach Mini(REI | Amazon | My Review) fits in your palm and weighs next to nothing.
Gaia GPS Mapping App Smartphones are not backcountry instruments, but almost everyone has one today. And they all have GPS onboard. So I recommend getting a good GPS hiking app like Gaia GPS that supports offline maps. Just make sure to put your phone in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. GaiaGPS not only has smartphone and tablet apps, but also an online planning tool. You can drag the GPX hike tracks from my (or any) guides into the online map and they will sync to your phone. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get up to 40% off here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.
Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated February 2021.
No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps offset website expenses. There is no cost to you.
Bear Creek Oasis Trail Maps
The hike’s beginning can be a little tricky; there are a lot of use trails and mountain bike cutoffs. But once you start the climb at about 1.5 miles in, it’s very easy to follow (the only) trail. I’ll show you the details in the guide below.
How are you going to navigate this hike? To start, you should always have a paper map and compass. And it helps to print this guide out or save it on your phone. I highly recommend a GPS as well. I use the Garmin Fenix 6 Smart GPS watch (REI | Amazon | My Review) with maps (or the more affordable Garmin Instinct). The GPS smartwatch is nice because it’s rugged, works if your phone dies, and also has a billion other features like sleep tracking, workout recording, etc.
Elevation Profile
The start of the hike is relatively flat as it makes its way up the wash. After that you climb. The last section to the oasis has a downhill dip.
3d Map
You’ll hike up the wash, and then hit the hills as you make your way up to the oasis, nestled in a secluded canyon.
Bear Creek Oasis Hike Directions
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Start the hike by heading through the Cove Oasis Trails gate.Make the right at the split.And then a quick left.And then hike past Cove Oasis Picnic Area on your left. It’s a nice spot and has water if you need it.After passing the Oasis and hiking for a few minutes, you’ll see this trail off to the right. This is the official start of the Bear Creek Oasis Trail.Once you go past the point in the last photo, there’s a downhill. At the bottom, make the left. Lots of folks miss this turn, so stay aware.If you look ahead from that left, you’ll see these Bear Creek Oasis Trail markers in front of you. Follow them. They’ll be your friend as you make your way up the wash.Here’s what the Bear Creek Oasis Trail markers look like up close. Keep following them.If you see a split, keep your eyes open for a trail marker in the distance. Locals and mountain bikers often use the side trails and cutoffs, and it can be confusing if you see footprints leading away from the trail. Always look for the marker.Some sections are clearly marked with stones.You’ll enter the sandy wash toward the end of this stretch. Hike up the wash.The trail splits off to the right as you go up the wash.Once you leave the wash, the trail slowly starts to notch up the incline and climb. Look for switchbacks as you hike. You’ll start winding uphill now.When you do wind around, you’re treated to nice views of the wash you hiked up and the Coachella Valley.Not long after the start of the climbing, it starts to get steep.There are more gradual sections like this one where the trail sweeps around the hillside. Look for the trail in the distance as you climb.There are some pretty dramatic viewpoints into the canyon. When you come to an edge, always look back for a switchback. There are no sections inside the canyon wall. If you’re there, you’re in the wrong place.The trail changes direction and starts to head west. The gradient eases up.As some point you’ll crest a rise and be greeted with stunning views of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. Expect a jaw drop.And if you look behind you, you can see the Salton Sea.As you wind around to the west, you’ll get short flat section, but you’re not there yet.One last steep and rocky section of climbing.And then you’re at the high point of the hike. There’s a great rock viewpoint here that’s worth a stop.As the trail winds around the hill to the left, you’ll see the Bear Creek Oasis in the distance. The trail goes downhill and dips through the canyon.After dipping through the canyon, you’ll come to the oasis. These dead trees stand guard at the front.And then you’ll reach the full fan palm oasis.That’s it! From here, head back downhill to the start. All that hard work on the climb pays off as you descend. The views are non-stop and incredible.
This guide last updated on February 5, 2021. Did something change on this hike? If so, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.