Mission Creek Preserve - Desert Hot Springs, California

Jorge Lopez

The Mission Creek preserve is an easy and good hike to go for the day. Parking is limited but this is not as popular so most of the time you will be fine. Getting here is a dirt road from the 62. The road is in good condition and any car will make it. There are a few points of interest like the cabins in the entrance or the stone house at the end. But the creek is the most fun. This is the desert and it is exposed so take a hat and water. It will not be enjoyable in the summer as temps are way too hot. There are restrooms by the stone house and you can cross the creek if you want to just keep going past that. The trail will even connect you with white water preserve if you want to extend the hike even further. Take snacks as there are tables inside the stone house for you to rest. Protect this area and keep it beautiful. Dog and kid friendly.

Steve Griffin

No admission fee. About two miles of dirt road to the parking area but drivable by car. Easy hike to the mission creek shelter. Park service maintained buildings are clean with picnic tables. Very nice. Carry in / carry out. Bring water. Longer trails accessible from this location.

Atul Pande

An easy and beautiful trail that can be enjoyed with children and dogs. There is a gradual elevation gain to about 300ft, but you hardly notice it as you’re busy admiring the mountain vistas.

Today there are still snow capped peaks in the San Jacinto range which can be seen from the trail. There is an abundance of yellow, white, blue and purple flowers, fully carpeting the ground in places. The normally dry, scrubby vegetable on the hillsides is brilliant green and mixed with patches of flowers.

Definitely a must do in the Palm Springs area.

James Knauss

Great place to visit. Hiking or dirt road walking both available. With permission you can have additional access. Very near the gate there is an easy walk with some shady stone houses with picnic tables, perfect for an easy lunch destination. Walk the road the 1.6 miles to the Stone House. Nice yard with many picnic tables and larger dining hall I assume would be great for group camp meal times. Thinking Boy Scouts or church type groups. We then decided to hike the trail an additional two miles to stand on the Pacific Crest Trail. We went after the heavy Feb 14 rains of 2019, many areas of the trail were washed out but by following the boot prints we had little trouble staying on course. As always while hiking be alert to your surroundings so you can find your way back home. We clicked in at 7.7 miles of walking round trip. One of the better hikes in the area. Dogs welcome on these trails.

Sara M

Went on an Interpretative hike hosted by Friends of the Desert and Mountains and LOVED it. My grandson and I learned ALOT about the plants we observed. Super grateful to the naturalist that took their time to shate the names of all of the beautiful plants, history and topography of the Mission Creek Preserve.

Zachary Abelardo

Great easy hike over slight gradient. The only caveat is the Sun exposure. Layer clothes and bring 1-liter of water. Bathrooms at Stone House are Hotel-clean - I was impressed. Great place to chill, before the return hike. The only complaint is the bumpy road to the Main Gate parking lot.

HaRi Kim

Mission Creek Preserve was a result of a failed attempt to hike the more popular Whitewater Canyon Loop Trail during the Memorial Day weekend. the ranger advised we should come here to hike up to the Stone House, which you can have access to with a car if you call beforehand and get the code to the locked gate. From there, if you choose to, you can hike up to the PCT. it's not a shady hike for sure, and the land is also shared with some bears and coyotes, but overall the hike to the Stone House was fairly flat and easy.

Bernard Petit

MISSION CREEK PRESERVE

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 vermillion flycatchers. The Preserve hosts deer, bear, big horn 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.