East Indio Badlands Trail Guide

5.5 miles - Moderate Effort
2:30 - 3:30 Hours (Total)
900 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 540 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Just opened in 2020, the East Indio Badlands Trail hike offers a spectacular loop through a classic badland topography formed by thousands of years of erosion and an active San Andreas Fault. You'll hike through slot canyons, in the shadow of tectonic uptilts, and along a prominent ridge with 360 views from the Salton See to San Gorgonio Mountain. It's an extremely fun hike at a shorter distance that makes it accessible to almost all types of hikers.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the East Indio Badlands Trail
How to Get to the East Indio Badlands Trail
Insider Tips & Recommendations for the Hike

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Dec 2024 Gear

Badlands: a barren area in which soft rock strata are eroded into varied, fantastic forms.Dictionary.com

Where Is the East Indio Badlands Trail?

Because this is a newer trail, the trailhead parking lot isn't found on some mapping services. Use this trailhead address:
42000 Golf Center Pkwy, Indio, CA 92203

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 2 — There's a medium-sized parking lot where Golf Center Drive and Ave 42 connect at the 90-degree turn. If the parking lot is full, you can park along the street in any areas not marked no-parking. The lot fills up with locals and isn't usually indicative of the number of people on the East Indio Badlands Trail.

There are no toilets or water refills at the trailhead or on the hike.

Gear for the Hike

This is a sandy hike in a harsh area, so I'd recommend proper hiking gear if you have it. If not, you can get away with fitness clothing.

Don't attempt this hike when it's hot out. There is no shade and temperatures are extreme.
Bring at least 1L of water with you.
Trekking poles will help on the climbing portions but most people are fine without them.
Low gaiters will help keep the sand and debris out of your shoes.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2Hit SOS or just tell loved ones that you're running late where your cell phone has no service. Review here.

Topo MTN RacerAggressive and fun with a wide toe box (=no blisters). Get them wet, they dry quickly. Lots of cushion and comfort.

Osprey Hikelite 26Lightweight, carries all your gear, and your back doesn't get sweaty. Oh yea, it's also one of the most inexpensive packs you can get.

Check out the complete list here. ( Updated December 2024)

East Indio Badlands Trail Maps

You can break the hike into two rough sections: getting to the badlands and the badlands. The hike to the badlands crosses a flat and sandy area often used by locals that's pretty average. And then you enter the badlands, which is a magical spot that feels like you are in a National Park. The interesting parts of this hike make the ho-hum approach worth the effort.

This trail is also referred to as the Indio Hills Badlands Trail, the East Indio Hills Trail, and the Golf Center Trail.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 1 — The key to staying on the trail are these trail markers. The arrow on the top points you in the direction of the trail. There are markers like this on the entire loop. If you don't see one every 5 minutes or so, you might be in the wrong place.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Elevation Profile

East Indio Badlands Trail Guide Elevation — In general you hike up to the viewpoint toward the middle of the loop, but there are a few of ups downs along the way.

3d Map

Quick Trail History

Before the official East Indio Badlands Trail opened, a mix of use trails crisscrossed this area. Understanding the need to preserve the badlands while sharing it in a responsible way, the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, Friends of the Desert Mountains, City of Indio, Indio Water Authority and the Bureau of Land Management got together and secured funding to create a trail. Local volunteers led by Friends of the Desert Mountains designed the route, built new sections of trail, and cleaned up the area around it. Today we have this awesome hike thanks to their efforts.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 5 — Hike over the bridge and bear left.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 6 — And then make the left onto the trail. Notice the East Indio Badlands Trail marker too. As I mentioned before, follow them, they are your friends on this hike.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 7 — This part of the trail is busy with walkers and mountain bikes. Keep following the signs and don't follow fellow walkers, who often use other trails here.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 8 — The trail turns and you'll see trail markers extend in front of you.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 9 — This turn is easy to miss. As you go straight along the ridge, don't make the sharp turn to the left at the end. Instead, go straight, over the bump, down the hill, and then straight into the flat desert. Again, you'll see East Indio Badlands Trail trail markers here.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 10 — Once you're down the hill, you basically have a long, straight stretch of trail across the desert to reach the badlands. This is the not-so-exciting section I mentioned earlier.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 11 — Avoid any side trails or roads and just hike straight, following the trail markers.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 12 — When you approach the badlands you'll see signs letting you know that this will be a little calmer and nicer. I've never seen anyone shooting on the last stretch, but I have occasionally seen dirt bikes and ATVs.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 13 — Bear left at the split.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 14 — And then another left after that.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 15 — And then a hard left into the badlands and the cool part of the hike. The trail climbs up the rocky hill, following the markers.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 16 — keep your eyes open for the trail makers. Some sections go right up and over the rock.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 17 — Get into the rhythm of spotting the trail markers. Sometimes you can miss it if you space out.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 18 — As you climb you are treated to some beautiful topography.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 19 — After you crest the hill, head downhill and start the slot canyon below.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 20 — The trail narrows as it makes its way through the canyons. Again, the beauty is striking.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 21 — After the slot canyon opens up, look for a hard right turn.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 22 — The trail climbs up the rock to the next little ridgeline.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 23 — At the top are some incredible views of the rock stratum pushed up by San Andreas Fault action. The East Indio Badlands Trail starts to go downhill here.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 24 — The trail winds its way through the canyon.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 25 — When the canyon widens and splits, hike to the right. Again, the trail markers show you the way.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 26 — Now you have a stretch of trail that heads up this canyon. Keep following the canyon.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 27 — Eventually the canyon narrows and you have an uphill stretch with some small switchbacks.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 28 — You gain the ridge and the the trail follows it to the viewpoints.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 29 — The view to the North opens up and you can see the hills toward Joshua Tree National Park.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 30 — Continue hiking up to the high point.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 31 — From this highpoint you'll get panoramic views from Mount San Jacinto, the Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio, and the Salton Sea. It's an incredible spot.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 32 — It's all downhill from here. Follow the trail down and along the ridge.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 33 — The trail descends into a canyon.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 34 — And you follow the canyon back toward the desert area.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 35 — As you hike downhill the canyon widens.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 36 — When the canyon opens up, bear to the right on the wider trail, following the trail marker.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 37 — Follow the trail marker and cross over the crossing trails.

This section can get confusing, there are several trails intersecting. You want to go straight until you cross under the power lines.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 38 — Make the right on the sand road right after the power lines, again following the marker.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 39 — Hike straight on the sand road.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 40 — Look for the trail markers on the cross trail that you came up earlier. When you reach the official trail with the markers, hike left and go back down the way you came.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 41 — You'll wind down the same trail you came up earlier.

East Indio Badlands Trail Directions 42 — And eventually reach the bridge at the end. That's it. Bonus tip: look in the water for fish, they're in there.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide? Join my Patreon and ask me a question.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.
Do you have an update to this guide? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to update the guide.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.