We’re just back from a spring visit to Palm Springs, a desert resort situated two hours east of Los Angeles.
Tips for planning a trip to Palm Springs – when to visit, spring weather, staying cool, playgrounds, day hikes, hiking in the desert.
When to visit
Spring in Palm Springs is fun for families, months of March and April are busiest times. Make hotel reservations well in advance.
Do not come to Palm Springs in summer, it’s way too hot.
Fall is great time to visit Palm Springs, weather is temperate, perfect for hiking. Plan a multi-generational Thanksgiving, rent a house.
In December, Palm Springs glows with holiday lights in the desert. Living Desert Zoo and Gardens twinkles with lights, Festival of Lights Parade in downtown Palm Springs is a holiday tradition.
Spring weather
Weather in spring months can be 70ties, warm and sunny.
But when storms come through, temperature drops to the 50ties.
Or a heat wave may arrive, and temperatures soar. It was 100 degrees our first day in Palm Springs this trip. With high temperatures, it’s too hot to go hiking.
Before taking Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to Mt. San Jacinto, check the weather. Weather on top is very different from Palm Springs in the valley. In March, there might be 4 feet of snow and temperatures in the 40s.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway has phone number for local weather on the mountain every morning – 888 515-8726
Palm Springs can be very windy at times. So windy, Aerial Tramway doesn’t run, and roads going north from the city are closed
This trip, Gene Autry Trail and Indian Canyon Road to Highway 62 closed, due to sand blowing across the roads. Hwy 111 to Interstate 10 usually stays open.
Check weather.gov for high winds. Wind advisories for blowing dust, and air quality alert are posted.
Staying cool on hot days
Palm Springs Public Library – 300 S Sunrise Way
Public library has a large Youth Room full of children’s books and play areas for little ones. Story time for toddlers Thursday at 10:30am. Closed on Sunday.
Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert – Rancho Mirage
This museum is fun for kids of all ages, parents too!
Everything is hands-on activities – Pizza Place, Grocery Store, slides and swings, ball roller coaster, watercolor wall, build race cars, mural climbing wall, play with dinosaurs, pinball golf, noodle room, and more. Closed on Sunday.
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway –
Escape the heat in the valley, take the Aerial Tram up to Mt. San Jacinto. Temperature is 20 – 30 degrees cooler. Go for easy hikes on Long Valley Trails.
Hop in the swimming pool –
Be sure to book a hotel with swimming pool.
Palm Springs playgrounds
Palm Springs has excellent parks with large playgrounds, picnic tables, shade trees and grass to run around. Some playgrounds have large awnings for shade, perfect for hot days.
Demuth Park – 4365 Mesquite Avenue
Large shaded playground with climbing structures, picnic tables, restrooms.
Sunrise Park – Sunrise Way
Park is located next to Sunrise Public Library, with large playground, picnic tables, restrooms, water squirting turtles.
Tip: Stop into the library to enjoy large children’s room.
Victoria Park – 2744 N. Via Miraleste
Shaded playground, picnic tables, restrooms.
Ruth Hardy Park – 700 Tamarisk Road
Large playground, picnic tables, restrooms.
Day hikes
Hikes are best in fall, winter, and spring. In spring, creeks are flowing and ponds are full.
Tahquitz Canyon –
Take a 1.8 mile loop trail, to 60ft Tahquitz Falls. Trail follows along the creek (there are stream crossings) to the falls into a deep pool. Four guided hikes are available each day.
Indian Canyons – Palm Canyon Trail –
Hike up the Palm Canyon Trail, with creek in spring months and towering California fan palms. For a longer like, take Victor Trail to make a loop.
Both these hikes are family friendly, but also the most popular.
Tahquitz Canyon has one parking lot, when it’s full (which can be by 9am), trail is closed. The trail will reopen in hour or two, when enough cars have departed. Try to arrive by 7:30am to be sure of a parking spot.
Indian Canyons has more parking lots, but when parking lots are full, trails close, reopen in couple of hours.
Coachella Valley Preserve –
Take McCallum Trail to a desert oasis. McCallum Pond is surrounded by palm trees, picnic tables are available. Trail is two miles round trip, fun for all ages.
Big Marongo Canyon Preserve –
Boardwalks and short trails to explore with little ones (Marsh Trail). With older kids get out and stretch your legs hiking on the Desert Willow Trail, follow the stream up the canyon as far as you like.
Here’s a good trail map.
Whitewater Preserve –
A good hike for wildflowers in February – April, keep a lookout for bighorn sheep. At the parking lot are shaded picnic tables. Follow the trail to Red Dome along the river, hike as far as kids like.
Preserve is open daily, but in spring months, trail can close due to high winds or flash floods. More info and trail description here.
Hiking in the desert –
Get an early start, before 9am.
Wear closed toed shoes (not flip flops).
Use lots of sunscreen, wear hats.
Bring plenty of water, even for a short hike. When half your water is finished, turn back.
Map – Download map to phone or print paper map from hike website. Cell phone service may not be available.
Stay on the trail – This helps preserve natural landscape, and you don’t want kids to run into thorn bushes or cactus.
Don’t leave trash along the trail – Any trash from lunch or snacks, take back with you.
Keep your distance from wildlife – If you’re lucky enough to see bighorn sheep, do not try to get close.
On Travel for Kids, find more fun things to do with kids in Palm Springs.
At the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, discover desert animals of North America, Africa and Australia, ride the Aerial Tramway to Mt. San Jacinto, visit Palm Springs Air Museum with classic aircraft, discover the desert on day hikes, take a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park. And relax in the pool on a sunny day with blue skies above.
