Whitewater Preserve Palm Springs

The Whitewater Preserve near Palm Springs is a great side trip and its free. Over the years Whitewater has been a hunting lodge and trout farm and hatchery. The trout are still there but you can no longer fish for them which explains why they are so big. The lakes at the preserve are kept full by the year round Whitewater river that runs adjacent to the visitors center.

Inside the visitors center, the old hunting lodge, there are a few displays and a huge topographic map showing the San Gorgonio Wilderness. The visitor center is staffed by Wildlands Conservancy volunteers who offer information on trails and also can sell you some food for the trout.

There are several shady picnic areas along with miles of trails. Many visitors head over to the nearby Whitewater River and and hike up the canyon. There is a sign in sheet at the trail head and its recommend that you use it. Stick to marked trails its very easy to loose your bearings once you are out in the desert.

Whitewater is an amazing place to visit. You drive up a dusty desert canyon and arrive at a tree lined oases full of beautiful lakes adjacent to a massive rock cliff. Whitewater Preserve is only open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. so get an early start on this trip if you want to do some hiking.

The road is paved although its fairly run down condition. Any type of car should be able to make the trip up the canyon without any problems. This area is subject to flash floods so check the weather report before heading out to the preserve.

Allow about two hours for the trip once you head up the canyon, more if you want to go hiking. During the summer many people pull off the road and wade in the river. The water is freezing year round so you might want to think twice before doing so.