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| Bighorn sheep along Art Smith Trail. |
Andreas Canyon Trail
Palm Springs
A lush desert oasis awaits day hikers on the Andreas Canyon Trail in Palm Springs’ Indian Canyons. The 2-mile round trip hike sits on the historic Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians tribal grounds. It’s a fairly flat trail, boasting a mere 50 foot elevation gain, that children can handle and will enjoy.
Art Smith Trail
San Jacinto National Monument
Hikers can enjoy panoramic views of the Coachella Valley with the opportunity to spot rare bighorn sheep on the Art Smith Trail.The out-and-back trail runs 8.3 miles one way but can be shortened depending on your level of physical fitness.
Ladder Canyon-Big Painted Canyon Loop
Mecca Hills Wilderness
Day hikers can explore a beautiful slot canyon while traversing a series of ladders at steep spots in the Mecca Hills Wilderness. The Ladder Canyon-Big Painted Canyon Loop is a 6-mile lollipop trail with an elevation gain of 450 feet. Located on BLM land, a local hiking club provides the ladders and large arrows of collected rocks to keep you going the right way.
Obsidian Butte, Red Island, Mudpot field
Salton Sea Volcanic Area
You don’t have to leave Southern California to see volcanic activity – it’s not in the form of an erupting cinder cone, of course, but it’s still prevalent. Ancient volcano flows and still active geothermal area sit at the south end of the Salton Sea, the largest lake in California, in a trio of short day hikes that kids will love.
Skull Rock Trail
Joshua Tree National Park
Families can day hike with their children to Skull Rock – not the one in Neverland of “Peter Pan” fame but one bearing an uncanny resemblance – in the Mojave Desert. The Skull Rock Trail runs 1.75-miles round trip in Joshua Tree National Park. For those staying at the nearby Jumbo Rocks Campground, it’s a must-see.
Joshua Tree National Park's Best Sights
Among the best ways to see Joshua Tree National Park’s top sights is via a day hike. Just six short trails will allow you to enjoy each of the park’s highlights – a Joshua tree forest, granite monoliths, desert oases, Old West ranches, rugged mountains, and dune-like formations.
Learn more about national park day hiking trails in my Best Sights to See at America’s National Parks series.
