Special Place in Thousand Palms
Looking for a short hike, one that is easy on the legs and easier on the eyes?
Thousand Palms Oasis is 100 meters above sea level in Riverside County, California. This California fan palm oasis is situated in the Indio Hills of the Coachella Valley. The California fan palm oasis is a relic of the miocene and pilocene periods, and these isolated oases are restricted to permanent springs, seeps, and moist canyons occurring along and near the San Andreas fault zone in the Coachella Valley.
The presence of the fan palm oasis and its associated vegetation in the arid environment of the Colorado desert enhances and concentrates migratory and resident bird inhabitants. The fan palm groves provide foraging, roosting, and nesting sites for many bird species.
Visitors will witness crystal clear springs, sheltered by lush greenery, endless sand dunes that fall away from ochre-colored bluffs and mesas. The Preserve is a 17,000-acre site fed continuously by flowing water seeping along the San Andreas Fault. The oasis supports a remarkable concentration of native California Fan Palms.
Ideal for any person who may not wish to climb strenuous mountain trails, the McCallum Trail begins at the Palm House Visitor Center and winds through the Thousand Palm Oasis, crosses over the San Andreas fault and through a wash before ending at the lovely McCallum Grove. It's only about a mile walk (round trip), and while the path is fairly level, there are areas of soft sand.
There are over 1,500 Desert Fan Palms, found only in areas where water is at or near the surface. Their roots reach down more than eight feet and some of the trees top 60 feet in height and are six feet wide. These are the only palms in the world that keep the dead leaves or fronds on their side. It is estimated that some of the trees are 250 years old.
The hike, which is one of the shortest, easiest and more interesting hikes in the entire area, has it all -- historic trees, the historic San Andreas Fault, meccas, sand dunes, desert mammals, desert reptiles and a pond. The pond is home to the Desert Pupfish, a minnow-like fish that occurs naturally in just two creeks that feed the Salton Sea.
As you walk slowly around the Oasis, you will see the effect fire has played on the palm trees and witness first hand the sand dunes and how fast moving winds have created these striking hills. The sand dune is the home of the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, the creature that the Preserve is ultimately created to protect.
For as long as 600 years, the Cahuilla Nation held the Coachella Valley as their home. Their lifestyle remained tranquil, traditional and productive. It was not uncommon for family clan members to move as a group to a known water point such as the Thousand Palm Oasis, there to live.
The Preserve is open daily, sunrise to sunset, closing in July and August. Individuals and groups are welcome to visit the Preserve. However, there is no camping or hunting allowed. People are asked to not bring pets. This is the last refuge for many of the Coachella Valley's plants and animals.