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Tahquitz Canyon

500 W Mesquite Ave · Palm Springs, CA

Why you should go…

Tahquitz Canyon is a canyon on the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation at the western edge of Palm Springs, run separately from the Indian Canyons five miles south. From the Tahquitz Canyon Visitor Center on West Mesquite Avenue, a 1.8-mile loop trail with about 350 feet of elevation gain leads past rock art and old irrigation ditches to a 60-foot waterfall that flows seasonally, strongest after winter rains. Ranger-led interpretive hikes are included with admission. Open daily 7:30 am to 5 pm from October through early July, and Friday to Sunday only in summer; last hikers on the trail at 3:30 pm.

  • #hiking
  • #waterfall
  • #agua caliente
  • #palm springs
  • #canyon

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Tahquitz Canyon, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Iconic

    Five Star Adventures Tours

    $50+

    Guided sightseeing tours past Palm Springs celebrity homes and midcentury modern architecture.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Palm Springs

    Free

    Official visitor info for Palm Springs, from desert resorts and Palm Canyon shopping to the aerial tramway.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Palm Springs Art Museum

    $25–$50

    A large art museum in downtown Palm Springs with a collection spanning contemporary California, Native American, and modern European art.

    1.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

    Under $25

    The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians tells its own story in a 48,000-square-foot museum on a 5.8-acre downtown Palm Springs plaza with a spa and oasis trail.

    1.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Indian Canyons

    Under $25

    Palm oasis canyons on Agua Caliente tribal land near Palm Springs with hiking trails and a trading post.

    1.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Classic Club

    $50+

    Play an Arnold Palmer designed championship desert golf course near Palm Springs.

    12 mi awayMore like this