The Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve

The Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve is an 880-acre habitat of palm trees that makes up a portion of the 20,000-acre Coachella Valley Preserve. Thousand Palms is a unique desert landscape along the Indo Hills on the northern side of the Coachella Valley. The park’s habitats are influenced by historic activity along the San Andreas Fault line.

Thousand Palms Oasis features 30 miles of trails, picnic areas, and the Palm House visitor center. The nature preserve has hikes for all levels, varying in distance from less than a half mile to over 7 miles long. This park is home to one of the largest groves of desert fan palms in California, containing some trees that are an estimated 150 years old.

Things to do in Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve

  • McCallum Trail: The McCallum Trail is a 2-mile round-trip hike rated as easy, and it’s one of the park’s most popular. This trail passes through a palm oasis and desert wash, and across an earthquake fault line. The end of the trail is the McCallum Oasis.
  • Guided walks: Thousand Palms offers guided hikes where guests learn about local birds, wildflowers, native plants, and more. The preserve also offers family-friendly hikes that kids pre-school through elementary school will love. Check the website’s calendar for more details.
  • Picnic: There are picnic areas at the Tamarisk Grove along McCallum/Moon Country Trail, at Pushwalla, and at McCallum Grove. Pack a lunch for everyone or just bring along some snacks, but be sure not to leave any trash or food scraps behind.

Getting to Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve

From Palm Desert, take Monterrey north to Ramon, which will bring you to Thousand Palms Canyon Road. The entrance to Thousand Palms is just about 13 miles from the center of Palm Desert.

If you’re planning a trip to Palm Desert, we have guides for things to do and must-visit attractions. Book your Palm Desert accommodations with us and have access to all the amenities at Shadow Mountain Resort.