Palm Springs Sports & Outdoors

When I was researching where to go hiking in palm springs, almost everyone suggested hiking trails that are driving distance away. While there, I realized that you don't have to go far, just walk out of your hotel and head toward the nearest mountain you see. We stayed at the Viceroy and all we did was walk about 5 minutes to the base of the mountain where one of multiple trails started. We started hiking up a trail with a goal or walking up for 30 or so minutes and turning around and walking back down. While walking up, we ran into multiple people who pointed us in all different directions(meaning there are multiple hiking trails you can do). You can even hike all the way up to the top of the aerial tramway station. That hike is a bit treacherous, though. Our hike took about 2 hours round trip. We started at one end of downtown and finished at another. It was a great adventure....

Equipment: Wear hiking or running shoes, and be careful.

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The bump and grind hike is great. It's about 1.5 hours round trip and offers some great views of Rancho Mirage and the surronding area. The path is crushed rock, but beaten down enough for dogs, bikes, etc. Some parts get a little steep, but it's definitely not hardcore hiking.

Equipment: good hiking shoes, some water. maybe binoculars for views at the top. The sun can beat down on you so maybe some sun screen or hat. On hot days definitely do the hike early morning.

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There are a lot of golf courses in and around Palm Springs. Many of them are right in the middle of town. They come in all flavours -- from 9 hole all par 3's to championship courses; and many of them are open to public. It is all the more amazing in that Palm Springs is in the middle of a desert. The only way to get grass to grow is to water every day. Other than golf courses, there is not a lot of grass in Palm Springs.

We also found that the prices varied greatly - depending on the season, on the day of the week and on the time of day you are considering playing. For our visit in April, the price to golf from 3pm until dark was $20 for 18 holes at a par 3 golf course and $50 (with mandatory use of golf carts) for 18 holes at a traditional golf course.

Cool little tri- my first ever. Would definitely make the trip to compete there again. Course is 1/2 mile swim in Lake Cahuilla, 14 mile bike on local roads and 3 mile run round the lake. Nice people and really helpful with pre race swim and lecture the day before.

Equipment: Swim wear ( wetsuit allowed)
Bike and run wear

Great little half marathon with plenty of water stops. I ran 2004 and 2005 and the weather was cool (rainy in 04 and cloudy in 05). Make a weekend of it as there is usually one or two festivals going on at the same time.

There are 54 miles of hiking trails and primitive campgrounds available. Although we brought coats we were not prepared for the snow and only hiked about a mile.
Some visitors on later trams were wearing shorts and were definitely not prepared for the change in temperatures.