McCallum Trail Hike Guide

2.5 miles - Easy Effort
Or: 2 Miles Without the Vista Point
1-2 Hours (Total)
220 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 730 feet
No Dogs Allowed

You can't go wrong hiking the McCallum Trail in the Coachella Valley Preserve near Palm Springs. The trail starts in the Thousand Palms Oasis, making its way through the native fan palms over a boardwalk. Then you'll have a sandy stretch before you reach McCallum Pond, a desert oasis that is one of the rare areas where the endangered Desert Pupfish can live. A short hike extension takes you to a vista point where you can see San Andreas Fault below you. This hike packs a lot of scenery into a small package, and is excellent for families and beginning hikers.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for the McCallum Trail
Parking and Visiting the Coachella Valley Preserve
Insider Tips for the McCallum Trail

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

How to Get to the McCallum Trail

The McCallum Trail's start is located at the heart of the Coachella Valley Preserve, the Thousand Palms Oasis. The oasis is worth a visit in itself, so make sure you budget a little time to look around the various interpretive displays and attractions.

To get to the McCallum Trail, use this address:
Coachella Valley Preserve - Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, 29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Rd, Thousand Palms, CA 92276

The Coachella Valley Preserve is only open at certain times, so it's imperative that you check the website before you visit.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 4 — When the parking lot is open, it's pretty massive.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 3 — If the parking lot is closed but the Preserve is open, you can park on the side of the road outside of the parking lot.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 9 — There are bathrooms in the Thousand Palm Oasis area, just down from the parking lot.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 8 — The Thousand Palm Oasis by the visitor's center also has places to chill out.

Gear for the Hike

Although the hike is short, it is an exposed desert hike, so bring at least 1L of water and sun protection. And do it at a time where it's cooler. Summer at mid-day will have deadly high temperatures. The hike is best done in fitness gear or light hiking gear.

Gear That I Love Right Now

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

Garmin InReach Mini 2If you are out of cellphone range the Mini 2 will reliably allow you to hit SOS via satellite. You can see my review here.

HOKA Speedgoat 5These are a great balance of comfort and performance. The high stack height leaves my feet feeling great after a hike.

Check out the complete list here.

McCallum Trail Maps

Overall the trail is well-marked and easy to follow. The majority of the McCallum Trail is soft sand, which is a little more challenging than usual to walk in.

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

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 2 — In addition to trail signs, any potential confusing junctions are generally blocked off.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 1 — This is a sensitive habitat for animals that depend on the water and greens here to survive. Do them a favor and stay on the trail.

3D Map

Hike Brief

Maybe you'll see a Desert Pupfish, an endangered species, when you visit the pond. Photo Paul V. Loiselle

The pond at the end of the hike, known both as McCallum Pond or the Simone Pond, was once home to the Desert Pupfish, a hearty fish found in desert oases.
- Although the pupfish can withstand water temperatures from 40F to 108F, it was no match for invasive species, specifically crayfish and tilapia (yup, the ones you see in the supermarket). In 2009 the last two pupfish were relocated after getting decimated by these new predators.
- Today they are trying to reintroduce the pupfish, but the crayfish, which lay thousands of eggs in the mud and can travel on land, are proving tough to kill off. You might see a platform in the pond that has instruments to detect the crayfish DNA's presence.
- Once the crayfish are gone, the pupfish will be reintroduced.
- The pond is not always open due to these restoration efforts. To ensure the pond is open when you visit, call the Preserve before visiting (number at the top of this guide).
The tall palm trees are home to many birds, and a favorite place for owls to nest. Keep your ears open for them.
As you might imagine, this desert environment is home to snakes, including rattlesnakes. Give them plenty of room and they won't bother you. If you see fallen palm fronds, leave them alone. Snakes often take shelter under them when the temperatures go up.
This area is a park in part because of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.'s efforts, who recommended that it be protected because of its beauty. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was the son of the guy who created Central Park in New York City,
The trees here are native fan palms, not the palm trees you see used for landscaping in developed areas.
John Guthrie McCallum, a Scot, and namesake of the trail, was one of the early gringos to visit the area and is credited with building Palm Springs into a settlement and eventually a city.

McCallum Trail Directions

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 5 — Head to the end of the parking lot where you'll see this welcome center. There's usually a docent here that will answer any questions that you may have.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 6 — Continue into the Thousand Palm Oasis and make the right.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 7 — There's an old settler's cabin that serves as a visitor center.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 10 — Head in between the big palm skirts to start the McCallum Trail.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 11 — Right away you feel like you are in another world as you wind through the massive palms.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 12 — Head down the stairs.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 13 — And then you're walking on a boardwalk above the water.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 14 — Stay right when a trail branches off to the left.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 15 — The trail passes over a dryer area. The white on the soil is alkali and salt from evaporated water.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 16 — And then you have another stretch of boardwalk.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 17 — The boardwalk ends and you head up on the sand trail.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 18 — At this intersection, make the left to continue up the McCallum Trail. When you come back, you can skip the boardwalk and take the shortcut to the right back to the parking lot.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 19 — There's a sign at that last trail junction. We're heading to McCallum Pond.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 20 — For the next 0.5 miles, the trail is going to look a lot like this.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 21 — Wherever there are side trails, there's a trail sign for McCallum pointing you in the right direction.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 22 — At this split, make the right. To the left is a ranch.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 23 — There's a shaded bench along the way, but otherwise no place to stop.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 24 — When you get to the fenced entrance to the pond, head in if it's open. Sometimes the pond is open but the gate is closed. If that's the case, just open (and close) the gate yourself. Again, call ahead to see when the pond area is officially open. When it's "closed closed" the gate will be locked.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 25 — You'll enter the McCallum Grove.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 26 — The Preserve encourages you to go around the pond in a clockwise direction.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 27 — From the start you'll get a nice view of the crystal-clear pond.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 28 — Continue the loop around the pond.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 29 — Toward the top of the pond there's a cool wooden viewing platform.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 30 — When you're done at the pond, head back to the gate and make the right to visit the vista point.

The vista point extension is optional and adds about 0.5 miles total onto the hike. If you don't want to do it, just go back the way you came from the pond.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 31 — Head along the fence surrounding the pond.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 32 — There's a sign for the vista point.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 33 — Make a right at the junction and hike up the small hill.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 34 — At the top of the hill, make the left.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 35 — And enjoy sweeping views of the McCallum Grove, Simone Pond, Thousand Palms Oasis, and the San Andreas Fault in front of you.

Mccallum Trail Hike Directions 36 — If you look behind you, you can see Mt San Gorgonio, the highest point in Southern at 11,503 feet.

From here, just turn around and go back the way you came.

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

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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.