Running Trails in Palm Springs: 6 Routes Worth Waking Up For

Running in Palm Springs sounds like a bad idea until you do it at 6am in October and realize you've just had the best run of your year. The San Jacinto Mountains behind you, the valley floor still cool, the light doing that pink-orange thing it does in the desert before the sun fully arrives. It's one of those experiences that makes you understand why people keep coming back here.

It's also a genuinely bad idea at 10am in July. Timing is everything. Here's what you need to know before you go.

Early morning is the window. Once the sun clears the mountains, the heat comes fast in the desert.

The Desert Running Rule

Run before 8am or after 5pm, and carry more water than you think you need. Electrolytes matter on any run longer than 45 minutes. The dry air makes you sweat without feeling like you're sweating, which is how people end up in trouble.

One more thing: don't wear headphones at full volume on the mountain trails. Rattlesnakes are more common than most visitors expect, and you want to hear the rustling before you step near it. I know this sounds like a disclaimer. It's also just true.

South Lykken Trail: Easy Loop, Valley Views

Distance: 2 miles | Elevation gain: 324 feet | Difficulty: Easy

South Lykken is the most accessible mountain trail near Downtown Palm Springs. The trailhead is at the end of Mesquite Avenue, and from the first quarter mile, you're looking out over the entire valley floor. It's a loop, which means you don't have to retrace your steps.

This is a good warmup trail if you haven't run in desert terrain before. Loose gravel, some exposed sections, but nothing technical. Dogs are not allowed. Kids handle it fine.

The mountain trails near Palm Springs give you valley views within the first few minutes. Worth the early alarm.

Palm Canyon Oasis Trail: Flat, Shaded, Palms

Distance: 2-mile loop | Elevation gain: 210 feet | Difficulty: Easy

The Palm Canyon trail inside Indian Canyons is less a running trail and more a trail you run on. The creek bottom is lined with California fan palms, and the shade is real. The entry fee into Indian Canyons is around $12 per adult, which discourages the crowds that hit South Lykken.

The trail is mostly flat with one short climb out of the canyon. If you want somewhere scenic and cooler than the open desert, this is it. Check our guide to Indian Canyons for the full logistics on fees and timing.

Araby Trail: Best Views, Worth the Effort

Distance: 4.7 miles out-and-back | Elevation gain: 403 meters | Difficulty: Moderate**

Araby Trail starts near the south end of Palm Springs, off South Araby Drive. It climbs the rocky hillside above the city and the views from the top of the ridge are the best you can get without taking the Aerial Tram. You can see the full Coachella Valley on a clear morning.

It's a real climb. Loose rock, steep sections, nothing technical but you'll work. Not suitable for kids and not dog-friendly. The trailhead parking is small and fills up fast, so arrive before 7am if you're going on a weekend.

The Palm Canyon floor stays cooler than the open desert. The palm trees are native, and there are over 3,000 of them.

Murray Canyon: Stream, Waterfalls, Real Desert

Distance: 3.7-mile loop | Elevation gain: 538 feet | Difficulty: Moderate

Murray Canyon is also inside Indian Canyons, south of Palm Canyon. It gets fewer visitors and has a stream running through the lower section most of the year. In wet winters, there are small waterfalls near the top of the loop.

This is a trail where you'll actually feel like you're in a canyon rather than on a hillside. The terrain is varied, with some creek crossings that can be muddy in early spring. Good choice if you've done South Lykken and want something that takes a bit more attention.

CV Link: Flat, Paved, Leash-Friendly

Distance: 4.6 miles (Palm Springs segment) | Elevation gain: 26 meters | Difficulty: Easy

The CV Link is a paved multi-use path running through the Coachella Valley, connecting Palm Springs to other valley cities over time. The Palm Springs segment runs along the eastern edge of the city. It's flat, it's wide, and leashed dogs are welcome.

This is the best option if you're running with a dog, pushing a stroller, or just want a predictable surface after a few days on loose desert rock. It lacks the drama of the mountain trails, but the views are still the Coachella Valley on one side and the San Jacinto Mountains on the other.

Museum Trail: Short, Steep, Not for Everyone

Distance: 1.6-mile loop | Elevation gain: 833 feet | Difficulty: Hard

Museum Trail starts near the Palm Springs Art Museum and goes almost straight up the hillside behind it. At 833 feet of gain in 1.6 miles, it's the steepest trail on this list by a significant margin. Most people run the bottom and hike the upper switchbacks.

The reward is that you earn the view faster than any other trail in Palm Springs proper. From the top, Downtown Palm Springs looks like a very small grid surrounded by a very large desert. Which is, of course, exactly what it is.

The Museum Trail gets you near this kind of elevation in under a mile. The view earns it.

Quick Reference

One Practical Note on Heat

If you're visiting in May through September, run before 7am or after 6pm. In summer, even the easy trails get dangerous by mid-morning. This isn't an overstatement. Bring more water than you think you need, tell someone your route, and turn around if you feel wrong. The desert doesn't negotiate.

If you're based at The Sundune at Palm Springs, the CV Link trailhead near our property is an easy starting point for a flat morning run before the heat arrives. And there's a shower waiting when you get back.