Gosh, my calves hurt - the bird on fire

Looking for places to hike in the valley? Keep reading Nature Editor Hannah Hall’s list of favorite trails–from the most beautiful to the quickest! –Editor Sara Habibipour

By Hannah Hall, Nature Correspondent

In the desert, we are lucky to be surrounded by mountains. Not only do they make for great scenery, but climbing them makes for an excellent workout. There are so many trailheads in the desert, and they all have their unique qualities. Here are some versatile hikes I recommend.

Best Sunrise/Sunset

The Cross Trail in Palm desert is 2.3 miles long. This trail is well known, but you never know whether or not there will be many people on the trail. This is an out-and-back style trail, but right when you start the trail (go to the right, not up the street) there is a nice table with a lookout directly angled to watch the sunrise. Once you keep hiking this trail, if you keep going you will see a pad of cement with yin yang on it. It is always being graffitied with different colors, so it’s super cool to check out. There is a great spot to checkout the sunset. Although the view isn’t direct, it is flat and you can see all of the twinkling city lights.

Yin Yang just below pinnacle of Palm Desert’s Cross Trail

Most Beautiful

Tahquitz Canyon is a part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation located in Palm Springs. The loop is 1.9 miles and is heavily trafficked. What makes this hike so unique is that there is a 60-foot waterfall within the trail! The water is really high and refreshing during the springtime. The Outdoor Club went on this hike when it was super-duper hot, and once we dipped in the water (we actually galloped in) we screamed and splashed with relief and joy. We were so cooled that the hike back was a breeze. I really recommend this hike for the beauty and the waterfall experience.

Quickest Trail

This trail is a 2.7 mile loop. It may seem long by the length of miles, but it only takes me an hour every time I do it. It is the Roadrunner and Chuckwalla trail. This trail is situated right behind Rancho Mirage City Hall. I like this trail because it sort of has a built-in warm-up incline, which I think is what makes this trail seem so easy. All I can say is the trail is super easy to follow, and you can even cut it short by walking back down the street instead of the other mountain. This hike also has a nice sitting area for a sunrise. What makes for a delightful surprise, during the winter time it has a Christmas tree set up, and you also get sick views of the snow-capped mountains from afar.