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Monday 8am - 4pm Tuesday 8am - 4pm Wednesday 8am - 4pm Thursday 8am - 4pm Friday 8am - 4pm

Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club, 60750 Trilogy Way, La Quinta, CA (2026)

04/19/2026

Yesterday was the last hike of the season and it was a gem.

Twenty members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked the Kanaka Loop Trail at The Santa Ysabel Preserve near Julian located about 80 miles southwest of Trilogy on Highway 78. The hike was about 7.5 miles long with 1047 feet of elevation gain.

The landscape was beautiful rolling hills. We hiked through pastures with cows grazing, Coulter pine and California oak trees, mountain views, lots of wildflowers and a view of Palomar Observatory in the distance. The cattle had quite a variety of breeds including Angus (black), Charolais (white) and Simmental (reddish brown). It was great to see the fresh spring green colors and the weather was perfect with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s.

After the hike, we had lunch at the Julian Beer Company and after lunch some of us bought some apple pie at the Julian Pie Company.

Julian is in the beautiful Cuyamaca mountains. Take a step back in time to the days of Julian’s beginning rooted in the 1870’s gold rush. Get away from the hectic rush of city life… discover the charms of Julian. See where gold was discovered—shop stores housed in historic buildings dating back to the 1870’s—sleep in a romantic B&B or historic hotel—sample Julian’s famous apple pie —hike and picnic amid oaks and pines. Fresh air and beautiful scenery abound in our area. Hiking trails, Parks and old-fashioned buildings. Enjoy a History Hunt through town or simply enjoy a self-guided History Walk.

Enjoy the pictures and have a great summer.

04/12/2026

Yesterday 16 members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked the 4.5-mile long Pushawalla Palms Trail in the Coachella Nature Preserve. We also climbed over 800 feet while doing the hike. The weather was perfect – sunny, clear blue skies, 65 F when we started at 8 AM and 75 F when we finished at 11:00. This is a great hike with lots of variety. We walked on top of the Indio Hills, did some rock scrambling, and visited a very large and lush oasis.

Indio Hills:
We started off by climbing onto a ridge on top of the Indio Hills which are essentially right on top of branches of the San Andreas fault. The hills themselves are young and formed as a result of the collision of the Pacific Tectonic Plate and the North American Tectonic Plate. As we walked on the crest of hills, we could see Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta to the south on the Pacific plate and we could see the Little San Bernardino Mountains which border Joshua Tree National Park on the north side on the North American plate.

The Indio Hills were formed by tectonic plate movements less than 1 million years ago. “Structural History: Uplift in this area began approximately 0.76 million years ago. The landscape is characterized by "tortured" and twisted rock layers, narrow canyons, and sharply folded hills caused by intense tectonic pressure.”

California Fan Palms:
We eventually made it to the Pushawalla Palm Oasis which comprises California Fan Palms. Fan palms are the only palm tree which is native to California.
Mesquite:
We saw several mesquite bushes along the way, some with pods growing on them. The pods of most mesquite species are edible. Once the pod is dry, the whole pod can be ground into flour and made into bread.

Also included below is an article about the San Andreas fault along with information below about its two main subordinate branches here in the Coachella Valley.

Banning Fault:
The Banning fault, a subordinate branch of the San Andreas, first appears east of Riverside, trending almost due east. It defines the north side of San Gorgonio Pass where a section is unique in being a thrust fault. This thrust is responsible for the low, brown-colored hills along the north side of Interstate 10 between Cabazon and Whitewater Canyon. The fault has created a distinctive gash behind these hills. In crossing Whitewater Canyon, it forms a barrier to the passage of groundwater down-canyon, supporting lush riparian growth in the floor of the canyon. The Banning fault enters the Coachella Valley near Whitewater, crossing Route 62 about 1.5 miles north of the interchange with Interstate 10. It intersects Indian Avenue one mile north of the freeway, and crosses Palm Drive at 20th Avenue, then continues to the southwest past Palm Springs. The surface trace of the San Andreas fault is conspicuous on the valley floor by the lineup of vegetation along its north side, a result of fault-dammed groundwater flow. This prominent feature is conspicuous as viewed from the observation post at the top of the aerial tramway. The Banning fault trace defines the southern margin of the Indio Hills, and supports several beautiful palm oases in the canyons where groundwater reaches the surface as seepage along the fault trace. Similarly, the northern margin of the Indio Hills is defined by the Mission Creek fault, and here, too, may be found palm oases, principally Thousand Palms Oasis. While the Banning fault is very well defined by surface features, its relationship to the main San Andreas fault has not been firmly established. The area in question is the complex fault geology of San Gorgonio Pass.

The Mission Creek Fault:
About six miles north of the Banning fault, another branch, the Mission Creek fault, enters the Coachella Valley near the mouth of Morongo Valley. The Mission Creek fault passes directly through the town of Desert Hot Springs, and is responsible for the many warm springs in that area. It intersects Dillon Road near Wide Canyon Road, and marks the northern margin of the Indio Hills. Thousand Palms Oasis is on this fault. Locally, the Mission Creek fault is the most active branch in the system. Seismological data relating to recent earthquakes and measures from precise triangulation surveys show current persistent movement. Disrupted alluvial deposits, truncated older alluvial fans, and vegetation lines are evidence of its trace. In particular, low scarps may be seen where Indian Avenue meets Route 62, and again at Miracle Hill, east of Desert Hot Springs. The Banning fault and the Mission Creek fault join at Biskra Palms in the Indio Hills near the north end of Madison Street). The San Andreas fault continues along the northwest shore of Salton Sea. At Salt Creek Wash, the surface trace of the great fault ends, more than 600 miles from its northern end. Current thinking is that the San Andreas fault, buried under alluvium, merges with the Imperial fault. It then continues southeastward to the Gulf of California, defining the western margin of the Gulf, finally merging into the East Pacific Rise.

04/05/2026

Hiking club member and vice-president Bob Runge has been playing with AI and came up with an a theme song for the Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club called “Intrepid Trilogy Hikers”. Bob wrote the lyrics.

Thank you Bob. Great job with both the song and the video.

You will enjoy it. Turn up your speakers.

04/05/2026

Yesterday, 33 members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked in the Cottonwood area in the southeast corner of Joshua Tree National Park.

There was a large variety of plants and bushes along the way with many of them blooming. Amongst others, we saw yucca, creosote bushes, ocotillo, barrel cactus, teddy bear cholla, pencil cholla, brittlebush, beavertail cactus, cottonwood trees, juniper bushes, mesquite, desert mistletoe and California fan palms.

The sky was sunny and we had great views of the Salton Sea as well as Mount San Jacinto in the background.

Sixteen members hiked the ever beautiful 7 mile long Lost Palms Oasis trail. The prize at the end of that trail is a great view from above of the Lost Palm Oasis which has hundreds of California Fan palms (Washingtonia Filifera). Washingtonia Filifera is the only palm native to the Western United States and one of the country's largest native palms.

The other 17 hikers hiked the 2.9 mile long Mastodon Peak Loop Trail along with a 1.5 mile detour for a total of 4.5 miles. The Mastodon Peak Loop Trail allows hikers to visit both the abandoned Mastodon Mine (gold) and the ruins of a mining village called Winona.

“The Mastodon Peak Trail goes by the abandoned Mastodon Mine. Owned by George Hulsey, the Mastodon Mine lies in the shadow of Mastodon Peak and operated from the 1930s to 1971. Two shafts, the first on the rock formation in the middle, the second on the upper left, were sunk, and an assay office and mill (direct middle) were built. Originally the gold vein Hulsey struck was quite rich, assaying at $744 a ton. However the mine quickly struck a fault line and the vein was lost. The mine was therefore unsuccessful, like most in Joshua Tree.”

“A mile down the trail from the mine is Winona, where some concrete foundations remain to mark the former stamp mill and little town. Winona was home to workers at the Mastodon mine and the mill, which processed ore from a number of nearby mines.”

Enjoy the pictures.

03/29/2026

Yesterday, members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked the 6.7 mile long Black Rock Canyon, Burnt Hill, and Canyon View Loop Trail in Joshua Tree National Park and we climbed 965 feet doing so.

It was a pleasant day with a starting temperature of 75 F at 9 AM and noon temperature of 83 F when we finished. The high clouds and breeze kept us very comfortable. It was much better than the 100+F in the desert!

As usual, we saw lots of beautiful Joshua trees in the park. We also saw many wildflowers, especially the desert dandelions which were widespread along our hike.

From a wildlife perspective, we ran across a Desert Horned Desert (aka Horned Toad). The desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos) is a species of phrynosomatid lizard native to western North America. They are often referred to as "h***y toads", although they are not toads, but lizards.

Joshua Tree National Park was established in 1994. Back in 1970, the Black Rock Campground where we started our hike today was a private campground called Jellystone Park Campgrounds. The campground operated from 1970 to 1976 when it was acquired by the National Park Service. There are still Jellystone Parks operating in other parts of the US. See below for a 1970 Desert Sun article about the Jellystone Park.

Joshua Trees: Yucca brevifolia (also known as the Joshua tree, yucca palm, tree yucca, and palm tree yucca) is a plant species belonging to the genus Yucca. It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names. This monocotyledonous tree is native to the arid Southwestern United States, specifically California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada, and northwestern Mexico. It is confined mostly to the Mojave Desert between 400 and 1,800 m (1,300 and 5,900 ft) elevation.

The name "Joshua tree" is commonly said to have been given by a group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century: The tree's role in guiding them through the desert combined with its unique shape reminded them of a biblical story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for an extended period of time to enable the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan.

Jellystone Park Campground: Joshua Tree National Park was established in 1994. Back in 1970, the Black Rock Campground where we started our hike today was a private campground called Jellystone Park Campgrounds. The campground operated from 1970 to 1976 when it was acquired by the National Park Service. The newspaper article below was published in the Desert Sun on September 25, 1970 just prior to the campground’s grand opening.

“YUCCA VALLEY - A new concept in family camping has come to Southern California. It’s the Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Campgrounds at Yucca Valley, the home of that lovable rascal, Yogi Bear, and his friends, Ranger Smith, Cindy, and Boo-Boo. Jellystone Campgrounds Ltd., a Wisconsin-based corporation, are the exclusive owners and franchise agents for Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Campgrounds. Parks are now In operation in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida. The Yucca Valley Park is the first in California. Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks are predicated on the concept that the majority of today’s 40 million campers desire more than just a place to “rough it”. They want convenience deluxe campsites, modern facilities, and recreational activities. Jellystone Parks fit this bill perfectly. They have large campsites, heated swimming pools, and spanking clean laundry and rest room facilities with plenty of hot water. Free recreation equipment includes tennis, shuffleboard, basketball, horseshoe, volleyball, and a host of other activities. Each park has a miniature golf course. For the parent who camps for relaxation, Jellystone Parks are a godsend, providing built-in sitting services for youngsters of all ages. Special Jellystone features include Old Faithful Geyser, Sundae Mountain, Boo-Boo’s Fishing Pond ( for fishermen under 12), and Ribbon Falls. Yogi cartoons and movies are shown at the outdoor theater on scheduled evenings. The real “magic”, however, is Yogi Bear himself, as he makes his daily appearance in costume, begging for a handout or sneaking off with someone’s lunch basket with Ranger Smith in hot pursuit!”

03/22/2026

Yesterday, 35 members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club drove to Idyllwild and hiked the Smokestack, Red Hill Road, Toptimator and Optimator Trail. 31 of us hiked the first loop only with 5.5 miles and an elevation gain of 700 feet. Four hardy souls hiked both loops with 7.6 miles and nearly 1100 feet of elevation gain. The weather was perfect with sunny skies, 65 F when we started at 9 AM and 75 F when we finished at noon.

The four hikers who did the longer hike encountered two Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes along the way! A California kingsnake was also spotted.

After the hike, we all had lunch at the Lumber Mill Bar and Grill in Idyllwild.

From a high point, we could see Diamond Valley Lake to the west near Hemet. Diamond Valley Lake is a man-made off-stream reservoir located near Hemet, California, United States. It is one of the largest reservoirs in Southern California and one of the newest. It has a capacity of 800,000 acre-feet (990,000,000 m3). In terms of surface area, it is the largest lake wholly within Riverside County and the Inland Empire. The lake nearly doubled the area's surface water storage capacity and provides additional water supplies for drought, peak summer, and emergency needs.

Southern Pacific Rattlesnake:
“The San Jacinto Mountains are primarily home to the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, which is venomous and active during warmer weather. These snakes are common in rocky areas, chaparral, and forest habitats. They are generally shy and will likely retreat if given space.

Key Facts & Safety Tips:

Appearance: Adults are usually 24 to 55 inches long, with colors varying from brown to dark green or almost black. They can sometimes have a greenish tint.

Venom: Their venom can be highly neurotoxic, making it medically significant.

Activity: They are active in temperatures above 60 to 70 F, especially in spring and early summer.

Safety: Do not approach, handle, or threaten them. Keep dogs on a leash and watch where you step.

What to do: If you see one, stay calm and keep a safe distance (at least 10 feet is recommended). If bitten, call 911 immediately.”

03/15/2026

Yesterday 34 members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked 4.5 to 6.5 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail near Garner Valley.

We hiked at an altitude of around 5000 feet above sea level (ASL). The weather was perfect with sunny skies, slight breeze, starting temperature of 60 F and lunch time temperature of 72 F. It was a great way to escape the desert heat.

This was a desert mountain hike where we saw several plant species not found in the lower desert. We saw coulter pines, pinyon pine, manzanitas, ribbon bush, yucca, and several wildflowers.

We hiked on part of the Pacific Coast Trail which spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada.

As we drove to the trailhead on Saturday morning, we drove through an area that was ravaged by brush fire last summer. The Rosa fire started on August 4, 2025, burned 1671 acres, and was largely contained by August 13. The PCT trail in the area was not affected.

Enjoy the pictures.

03/08/2026

Earlier today, 29 members of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club drove to Borrego Springs and hiked the Hellhole Canyon Trail in the Anza Borrego State Park. The hike was around 5 miles long and was lush with green desert vegetation and many wildflowers. Most of us turned around when we made it to the oasis. A few brave souls went a bit further, did a lot of rock and boulder scrambling and made it to Maidenhair Falls which had water flowing this year. As usual the weather was perfect with sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s and 70s.

We saw many red chuparosa bushes, yellow brittlebush, creosote bushes with yellow flowers, ocotillo, desert dandelion, white Fremont’s pincushion, purple phacelia gentry, yellow American threefold and orange apricot mallow flowers. The various cacti also looked very robust after the rains and included various cholla including teddy bear cholla, agave, barrel cactus and beavertail.

And, of course, we saw many California fan palms in the oasis at the end of the trail. California fan palms are the only palm tree native to California.

After the hike, the group went for lunch at Pablito’s Mexican Bar and Grill in Borrego Springs.

After lunch, some of us made a small detour on Borrego Springs Road and Henderson Canyon to see the many metal sculptures in the desert and the remainder of this season’s wildflowers along Henderson Canyon Road.

03/01/2026

Earlier today, 35 members and guests of our Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club hiked 5 miles in the Mission Creek Preserve west of Desert Hot Springs. With the recent rains, there was an abundance of wildflowers in the area. It was a warm day with temperatures in the mid to high 80s when we finished.

Mission Creek Preserve:

1. Located in a transition zone between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, the 4,760-acre Mission Creek Preserve has a rich species composition with flora and fauna representing both deserts. Visitors are surprised to discover the center of the Preserve is a lush wetland with a backdrop of eroded painted hills and Mount San Gorgonio looming in the background. The wetlands are important habitat for the endangered least Bell’s vireo and southwest willow flycatcher. It is a great place to spot colorful summer tanagers and vermilion flycatchers. The Preserve hosts deer, bear, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions, and has spectacular displays of spring wildflowers in wet years. The trail system leads onto the Pacific Crest Trail, which is two miles from the Stone House Group Campground.

2. Mission Creek Preserve is part of the Sands to Snow National Monument which was established by President Obama in 2016.

3. We hiked from the Stone House to the Pacific Crest Trail which is about 2 miles away and then continued for another half mile to a ridge overlooking Whitewater Preserve.

4. In the early 20th century, the Stone House site hosted a guest ranch, with stone cabins and a small swimming pool; remnants are still visible near the entrance.

5. We hiked on part of the Pacific Crest Trail which spans 2,650 miles (4,265 kilometers) from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon, and Washington.

02/23/2026

This weekend, fourteen members of our
Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club went to Death Valley National Park for three days of hiking, sight seeing and golfing. The geology, history and beauty of the place is amazing and the pictures don’t do it justice.

We drove out to Death Valley on Friday morning and stayed at Stovepipe Wells. We did a short hike at Mosaic Canyon on Friday afternoon. On Saturday we hiked at Golden Canyon, the Gulch and Zabriskie Point. The views were incredible.

Due to recent rains in the area, we were blessed to see many purple and yellow flowers.

On Sunday, some of us golfed at Furnace Creek Golf Course which at 214 feet below sea level is the lowest golf course in the world. The golf course is not in great shape, but it was fun to play.

While in the park, we also visited Badwater Lake, the Artist Palette, the natural land bridge, Harmony Borax museum and several other sites.

Enjoy the pictures.

Trilogy La Quinta Hiking Club

04/19/2026

04/12/2026

04/05/2026

04/05/2026

03/29/2026

03/22/2026

03/15/2026

03/08/2026

03/01/2026

02/23/2026

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