Palm Springs Waterfall Hike (Tahquitz Canyon)

You might not expect to find a  Palm Springs waterfall hike considering that this is the desert. Nonetheless, it exists, and it’s pretty amazing!

Close to downtown Palm Springs, you will find this unexpected hike owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The hike at Tahquitz Canyon is a short trail that follows Tahquitz creek all the way to a beautiful 60 foot waterfall. I love this hike as a way to get my nature fix without having to drive out of the city, and the waterfall feels like a little oasis in the middle of all the desert heat. 

Keep reading below for quick facts you need to know for this hike as well as what to expect when you go. 

Quick Facts

• Costs:
  • $15 per adult
  • $7 per child age 6-12
  • U.S. military and first responders free with ID
• Hours:
  • 7:30am-5:00pm daily (October through June)
  • Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday only during July through September
  • No entry after 3:30pm
  • Must be off the trail by 5pm
• Parking:
  • There is a large parking lot just past the visitor center just for this hike. Parking is included with the price of admission. 
• Distance: 1.8 miles round trip
• Difficulty: moderate- this is a fairly short hike, but the first half of the hike to the waterfall is all uphill. 

What to Expect When You Arrive

When you arrive at the parking lot, walk uphill to the Tahquitz Canyon visitor center. Here you will pay and get your wristband.

The attendants will also likely ask if you have enough water for the hike. They require 32oz of water per person. If you don’t have enough water with you, you do have the option to purchase water there.

Restrooms, a small gift shop, and an informational video are all located inside the visitors center as well. There are also free ranger-led interpreter hikes that usually occur three times per day (the timing is subject to change, so call ahead if you are interested in the ranger-led hikes). 

Must know before you go:

• 32oz of water required per person
• There is no shade on this hike. Wear sunscreen. 

What to Expect During the Hike

After your stop in the visitor center, you can go immediately to the trail. 

The trail is well marked and easy to follow. I went on a Thursday afternoon in October, and there were several other people on the trail. I imagine it gets fairly crowded on weekends.

 The trail winds along Tahquitz creek mostly going up hill for a little under a mile before you arrive at the waterfall. While the waterfall is undoubtedly the main event, the views of both the canyon and of Palm Springs below are pretty cool as well.

Enjoy some time at the waterfall wading in the water. The water is ice cold, but I found it pretty refreshing compared to the Palm Springs heat. 

After crossing the waterfall, continue along the trail. It will loop back into the original trail that will bring you back to the visitor center.

Comment below with your experience of this Palm Springs waterfall hike, or one of the other Indian Canyons hikes in Palm Springs. 

If you want to check out other hikes in the area, take a look at this post about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Alternatively, if you are up for a little drive outside of Palm Springs, check out this one with can’t miss sights in Joshua Tree National Park.