16 Best Things To Do in Desert Hot Springs, CA (2026 Guide)

Desert Hot Springs sits on a hillside above the Coachella Valley, known for one thing the rest of Greater Palm Springs cannot claim — natural hot mineral springs rising straight from the ground. 

Boutique inns built around private mineral pools, a hand-built pueblo museum, desert hiking trails, and a growing open-air mural scene all give this small California town real character. Soak Destinations covers it in full — here are the best things to do in Desert Hot Springs for 2026, with practical details for every visit type.

Quick-Reference Overview

Getting to Desert Hot Springs: Google Map

Desert Hot Springs sits just north of Palm Springs in the Coachella Valley, making it an easy add-on to any Greater Palm Springs trip. A vehicle is the most practical way to get around, since many trailheads and attractions sit outside the compact downtown core.

• ✈ Nearest Airport: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), ~15–20 minutes away
• 🚗 From Los Angeles: ~2.5 hours via I-10 E
• 🚗 From San Diego: ~2.5–3 hours via I-15 N and I-10 E
• 🚗 From Palm Springs Downtown: ~10–15 minutes via N Indian Canyon Drive
• 🚗 From Joshua Tree National Park: ~30–40 minutes
• 🛣 Getting Around: A car is recommended; ride-share is available but limited

Best Time to Visit Desert Hot Springs

Winter is the best time to visit Desert Hot Springs, bringing mild temperatures that make soaking, hiking, and golf equally enjoyable. Each season still has its own appeal, so the right time really depends on what kind of trip is planned.

1. Soak in Natural Mineral Hot Springs

• 📍 Location: Multiple boutique inns throughout Desert Hot Springs
• 🕐 Hours: Vary by property; most offer day-use and overnight soaking
• 💲 Cost: Day-use passes typically $25–$60/person (2026 rates)
• ✅ Best For: Wellness travelers, couples, relaxation seekers
• 🗓 Open: Year-round, all seasons

Desert Hot Springs sits on two separate aquifers — one hot, one cold — a rare geological combination that makes the town’s natural healing waters genuinely unique in California. Boutique inns throughout town are built directly around these mineral pools, each offering a different temperature and mineral composition. Many properties allow day-use soaking even for non-guests, making this the most essential activity in town.

2026 Tip: Book day-use spa passes in advance during winter — this is peak season for Desert Hot Springs visitors escaping colder climates.

2. Unwind at Two Bunch Palms

• 📍 Location: Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa, Desert Hot Springs
• 🕐 Hours: Confirm current spa and day-pass hours at twobunchpalms.com
• 💲 Cost: Day spa passes and treatments vary; premium pricing
• ✅ Best For: Couples, wellness retreats, adults-only relaxation
• 🌴 Highlight: Natural grotto pools fed by an artesian hot spring

Two Bunch Palms is the area’s most recognized destination spa, built around a natural hot mineral spring fed by an ancient artesian well. The grotto-style soaking pools, surrounded by palm trees and desert landscaping, create a quiet, adults-focused retreat atmosphere. Holistic spa therapies, including treatments inspired by chakra balancing, are available alongside traditional massage and skincare services.

3. Tour Cabot’s Pueblo Museum

• 📍 Location: 67616 Desert View Avenue, Desert Hot Springs, CA
• 🕐 Hours: Check cabotsmuseum.org for current tour times
• 💲 Cost: Paid admission; discounts for children and seniors
• ✅ Best For: History lovers, families, architecture enthusiasts
• 🏺 Highlight: Artisan market held the second Saturday monthly, November through March

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum tells the story of Cabot Yerxa, a homesteader who discovered Desert Hot Springs’ mineral water while digging a well in 1913. The hand-built, Hopi-style pueblo contains 35 rooms and 150 windows filled with Native American art, historic artifacts, and Yerxa’s own photographs and handiwork collected from his travels. It remains the single most distinctive cultural attraction in town.

4. Hike Mission Creek Preserve

• 📍 Location: 60550 Mission Creek Road, Desert Hot Springs, CA
• 🕐 Best Time: Spring for wildflowers; cooler mornings year-round
• 💲 Cost: Free
• ✅ Best For: Hikers, birdwatchers, photographers, campers
• 🏕 Camping: Tent sites available with reservation 48 hours in advance

Mission Creek Preserve spans 4,760 acres between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, fed by a perennial stream that supports a wide range of desert wildlife. Trails wind through natural wetlands rare for this part of California, and the preserve connects to the Pacific Crest Trail roughly four miles from the parking area. Spring brings desert wildflowers in bloom, making it the most scenic season to visit.

5. Hike the Swiss Canyon Trail

• 📍 Location: Trailhead near Verbena and Yucca Drives, Desert Hot Springs
• 🕐 Best Time: Early morning, fall through spring
• 💲 Cost: Free
• ✅ Best For: Day hikers, dog owners, photographers
• 🥾 Distance: 2.4 miles round trip; moderate difficulty

Swiss Canyon Trail is a 2.4-mile out-and-back route within the Sand to Snow National Monument, offering sweeping views of Mount San Jacinto and an unexpected rock scramble partway through. Elevation gain is modest at 544 feet, though open desert wind and limited shade make early starts worthwhile. Leashed dogs are welcome on this moderately challenging trail.

2026 Tip: Bring hiking poles for the steep, sandy descent and pack extra water — there is no shade along most of the route.

6. Trek the Long Canyon Trail to Joshua Tree

• 📍 Location: Trailhead on Long Canyon Road, about 1 mile north of Hacienda Avenue
• 🕐 Best Time: Cooler months, October through April
• 💲 Cost: Free (Joshua Tree National Park entry fee applies if continuing into the park)
• ✅ Best For: Experienced hikers, thru-hikers, adventure seekers
• 🚗 Logistics: Shuttle or second vehicle recommended for one-way hikes

Long Canyon Trail is a 12-mile one-way route connecting Desert Hot Springs directly to Joshua Tree National Park, with roughly 1,200 feet of elevation gain along the way. Most hikers arrange a vehicle shuttle for the return trip rather than hiking back. The views across the high desert make this one of the most rewarding longer hikes in the region for experienced trekkers.

7. Walk the Open-Air Mural District

• 📍 Location: Known Projects, 66435 Pierson Boulevard, and surrounding downtown walls
• 🕐 Hours: Murals viewable anytime; gallery hours vary
• 💲 Cost: Free to view murals
• ✅ Best For: Art lovers, photographers, casual walkers
• 🎨 Highlight: Large-scale works across 12 downtown buildings

Desert Hot Springs has become an unexpected open-air gallery thanks to a 2025 mural project that brought large-scale street art from artists including Shepard Fairey to twelve downtown walls. Known Projects, the gallery behind the initiative, now runs rotating exhibitions and pop-up shows throughout the year. Walking the mural district is a free, photogenic way to spend an hour in town.

8. Play Golf at Mission Lakes Country Club

• 📍 Location: 8484 Clubhouse Boulevard, Desert Hot Springs, CA
• 🕐 Hours: Tee times by reservation; call ahead for 2026 availability
• 💲 Cost: Greens fees vary by season and tee time
• ✅ Best For: Experienced golfers, valley-view seekers
• ⛳ Highlight: Highest-elevation course in Greater Palm Springs

Mission Lakes Country Club sits at the highest elevation of any course in Greater Palm Springs, with panoramic views across the entire Coachella Valley. The hilly Ted Robinson-designed layout challenges low-handicap golfers with some of the toughest finishing holes in the desert, including one approach shot played directly off the mountainside.

9. Explore Sand to Snow National Monument

• 📍 Location: Trail access points near Desert Hot Springs, including Swiss Canyon
• 🕐 Best Time: Cooler months for desert sections; summer for higher elevation trails
• 💲 Cost: Free
• ✅ Best For: Hikers, nature photographers, outdoor adventurers
• 🏔 Highlight: Elevation range from desert floor to alpine forest

Sand to Snow National Monument spans an extraordinary elevation range, connecting low desert terrain near Desert Hot Springs to alpine forest near Mount San Gorgonio. The monument protects a wide range of habitats and trail systems, including portions of the Pacific Crest Trail. It is one of the best regional examples of how dramatically Southern California’s landscape can shift within a short distance.

10. Browse Downtown Shops and Local Dining

• 📍 Location: Pierson Boulevard and surrounding downtown streets
• 🕐 Hours: Most cafés open morning through afternoon; restaurant hours vary
• 💲 Cost: Free to browse; dining prices vary
• ✅ Best For: Casual dining, coffee breaks, local shopping
• 🥤 Local Tradition: Date shakes, a Coachella Valley specialty

Downtown Desert Hot Springs offers a relaxed mix of local cafés, casual restaurants, and small shops that reflect the town’s creative, low-key character. Newer dining spots have followed the mural project and growing boutique inn scene, giving visitors more reason to linger downtown between spa visits. A date shake stop is a regional tradition worth building into any walk through town.

11. Stargaze in the Desert Sky

• 📍 Location: Hillside areas and resort properties above downtown
• 🕐 Best Time: New moon nights, year-round
• 💲 Cost: Free
• ✅ Best For: Couples, photographers, astronomy enthusiasts
• ✨ Highlight: Minimal light pollution compared to nearby Palm Springs

Desert Hot Springs sits far enough from dense urban light pollution to offer genuinely strong stargazing conditions, especially on the hillside areas above town. Clear desert air and minimal cloud cover through most of the year make for reliable night sky viewing. Pairing an evening soak in a mineral pool with stargazing afterward is one of the more memorable combinations available in the area.

12. Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

• 📍 Location: Joshua Tree National Park, ~30–40 minutes from Desert Hot Springs
• 🕐 Best Time: Cooler months, October through April
• 💲 Cost: National Park entry fee applies (~$30/vehicle; 2026 rate via nps.gov)
• ✅ Best For: Hikers, climbers, photographers, families
• 🌵 Highlight: Iconic Joshua trees and granite rock formations

Joshua Tree National Park sits within easy driving distance of Desert Hot Springs and offers a dramatically different desert landscape filled with its namesake trees, granite boulder formations, and extensive hiking and climbing terrain. A day trip here pairs naturally with a Desert Hot Springs base, since visitors can return for an evening soak after a full day exploring the park.

13. Cycle the CV Link and Local Bike Trails

• 📍 Location: CV Link path access points throughout the Coachella Valley
• 🕐 Best Time: Early morning or evening, especially in warmer months
• 💲 Cost: Free
• ✅ Best For: Cyclists, families, fitness-focused visitors
• 🚲 Highlight: Paved, car-free path connecting valley communities

The Coachella Valley’s CV Link multi-use path extends through the region, giving cyclists a paved, car-free route to explore desert scenery at a comfortable pace. Combined with quieter local roads around Desert Hot Springs, the area offers solid riding options for casual cyclists and more serious riders looking for desert mileage without highway traffic.

14. Go Horseback Riding in the Desert

• 📍 Location: Various outfitters near Desert Hot Springs and Coachella Valley
• 🕐 Season: Cooler months recommended, October through April
• 💲 Cost: Guided rides typically $50–$120/person
• ✅ Best For: Families, couples, first-time riders
• 🐴 Ride Types: Scenic desert rides, sunset rides

Several outfitters near Desert Hot Springs and the wider Coachella Valley offer guided horseback rides through open desert terrain and foothill trails. Rides typically range from short scenic outings to longer guided excursions with valley views. It is a practical and relaxed way to experience the desert landscape without the physical demands of a longer hike.

15. Attend Local Events and Artisan Markets

• 📍 Location: Cabot’s Pueblo Museum and downtown gallery spaces
• 🗓 Schedule: Artisan market — second Saturday, November–March
• 💲 Cost: Free to attend; items for purchase vary
• ✅ Best For: Culture seekers, repeat visitors, gift shoppers
• 🎨 Highlight: Local makers and rotating art exhibitions

Desert Hot Springs runs a steady calendar of community events, including the monthly artisan market at Cabot’s Pueblo Museum held the second Saturday from November through March. Seasonal gallery pop-ups from Known Projects add to the calendar throughout the year. These events give visitors a closer look at the town’s growing creative community beyond its spa reputation.

16. Explore Greater Palm Springs Day Trips

• 📍 Nearby Highlights: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Indian Canyons, Living Desert Zoo
• 🚗 Drive Time: 15–30 minutes to most Greater Palm Springs attractions
• 💲 Cost: Varies by attraction
• ✅ Best For: Day trippers, repeat visitors, multi-stop itineraries
• 🗺 Best Paired With: A relaxed second or third day of a longer trip

Desert Hot Springs makes a convenient base for exploring the wider Greater Palm Springs region, including the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, Indian Canyons hiking trails, and the Coachella Valley’s many golf and dining destinations. Most of these attractions sit within a 20–30 minute drive, making half-day excursions easy to fit around spa time back in Desert Hot Springs.

Day Trip Itinerary from Palm Springs

• Morning (7-10 AM):
  Start with early hike at Mission Creek Preserve while temperatures remain cool. Pack water and sunscreen.
• Mid-Morning (10-11:30 AM):
  Tour Cabot’s Pueblo Museum to learn Desert Hot Springs history.
• Afternoon (11:30 AM-2 PM):
  Lunch at Don Tacorriendo or Azure Palm Café.
• Afternoon (2-5 PM):
  Browse street art downtown or visit Pil-O-Rox Rock House.
• Evening (5-7 PM):
  Wind down with sunset soak at Azure Palm or Two Bunch Palms.
• Return to Palm Springs: Depart 7-8 PM

Multi-Day Itinerary (2-3 Days)

Day 1:

• Arrive mid-afternoon
• Check into spa resort with mineral pool access
• Evening soak and dinner
• Stargazing at resort

Day 2:

• Early morning hike (Mission Creek or Swiss Canyon)
• Mid-morning spa treatment
• Lunch at resort or local restaurant
• Afternoon: Cabot’s Pueblo Museum + Pil-O-Rox Rock House
• Evening soak and dinner

Day 3:

• Leisurely morning soak and breakfast
• Browse Known Projects gallery or downtown art
• Late morning checkout
• Optional: Extended hike or Joshua Tree side trip

Where to Stay in Desert Hot Springs?

Boutique mineral spring inns are the signature lodging option in Desert Hot Springs, with many built directly around private soaking pools fed by the town’s natural hot water. Staying at one of these properties means access to mineral pools any time of day, not just during scheduled day-use hours.

• 🏨 Boutique Spa Inns: Private mineral pools, on-site soaking, smaller room counts
• 🏨 Two Bunch Palms: Premium destination spa, adults-focused, artesian grotto pools
• 🏨 Standard Hotels: Budget-friendly options near downtown, no on-site mineral pools
• 🏕 Camping: Tent sites available at Mission Creek Preserve with advance reservation
• ✅ Booking Tip: Reserve mineral spring inns early during winter peak season

What to Pack for a Desert Hot Springs Trip

Desert conditions can shift quickly between daytime heat and cool evenings, so packing in layers makes the most sense for a Desert Hot Springs visit, especially when combining spa time with outdoor activities.

• 🧴 Sun Protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brim hat for daytime activities
• 💧 Water Bottle: Reusable bottle for hiking trails with little to no shade
• 🥾 Footwear: Sturdy hiking shoes for trails; sandals for spa days
• 🧥 Layers: Light jacket for cool desert evenings, even in summer
• 👙 Swimwear: Required for mineral pool soaking at most properties

Practical Planning for 2026

Budgeting for a Desert Hot Springs trip is straightforward once admission and activity costs are laid out clearly. The list below covers the estimated 2026 cost for every major attraction in this guide.

• Mineral Spring Day Pass: ~$25–$60/person
• Two Bunch Palms Day Spa: Premium pricing; varies by package
• Cabot’s Pueblo Museum: Paid admission; discounts available for children and seniors
• Mission Creek Preserve: Free (camping fee applies for tent sites)
• Swiss Canyon / Long Canyon Trails: Free
• Joshua Tree National Park: ~$30/vehicle (NPS rate)
• Mission Lakes Golf: Varies by season and tee time
• Horseback Riding: ~$50–$120/person
• CV Link Cycling: Free
• 💲 Local Events & Artisan Markets: Free to attend; items vary

All prices are 2026 estimates. Confirm current rates directly with each business before visiting.

Final Word

Desert Hot Springs offers a different side of the Coachella Valley than its better-known neighbors — natural mineral pools, a hand-built pueblo museum, an expanding open-air gallery, and direct access to Sand to Snow National Monument and Joshua Tree. The mix of wellness, history, art, and outdoor adventure makes this small California town a complete destination for 2026, whether the goal is a quiet spa weekend or an active desert exploration trip.

Soak Destinations features the country’s best hot springs towns, and Desert Hot Springs ranks among the most distinctive in California.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there hot springs in Desert Hot Springs? 

Yes. Desert Hot Springs sits on rare dual aquifers, giving the town access to both hot mineral water and cold water sources. Numerous boutique inns and spa resorts are built directly around these natural mineral pools, many offering day-use soaking passes.

What are the free things to do in Desert Hot Springs? 

Mission Creek Preserve, Swiss Canyon Trail, Long Canyon Trail, the open-air mural district, stargazing, and Sand to Snow National Monument trails are all free to enjoy.

What is there to do in Desert Hot Springs with kids? 

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, Mission Creek Preserve, easier hiking trails, and the mural district all work well for families. Many spa properties also welcome families during day-use hours, though some boutique inns are adults-focused.

What is the best time of year to visit Desert Hot Springs? 

Winter and early spring offer the most comfortable temperatures for hiking and outdoor activity, along with peak spa season. Summer and fall bring quieter crowds and often lower rates at area inns.

How far is Desert Hot Springs from Palm Springs? 

Desert Hot Springs sits about 10–15 minutes north of downtown Palm Springs, making it an easy base for exploring the wider Greater Palm Springs area while staying close to its own mineral spring attractions.