Palm Springs: Modern Oasis Between Mountains

Kate and her dog, Murphy, on a Palm Springs hike

I’ll never forget the first time I saw the mountains of Palm Springs. I remember rounding the bend of the 111 and staring in amazement at their immensity and grandeur. It was 1998 and I was relocating to Southern California after growing up in the rolling green hills of Kentucky.

Palm Springs is surrounded by mountains: the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, the Santa Rosa Mountains to the south, the San Jacinto Mountains to the west and the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the east. These create a magical, sheltered landscape that, even after all these years, still thrills me. There’s nothing like making the drive into Palm Springs, especially after some time away, and feasting your eyes upon on the mountains disappearing into the high blue sky, careening down to verdant lawns, riotous flowers and iconic architecture.

A magical rock formation in the mountains of Palm Springs

Many ancient civilizations believed that mountains are sacred places—deeply spiritual, mystical and magical. And I agree. After all this time, I think the mountains of Palm Springs have pretty much become encoded into my DNA. When I’m in the desert, my day’s not complete without a hike on one of the many wonderful trails studding the Coachella Valley.

Though I’m normally not an early riser, Palm Springs seems to coax me out of bed early, as if I can’t bear to miss a second of a day in the desert. I grab a coffee at Koffi, work the crossword, then hike the trail of the day—the South Lykken Trail at the end of Ramon Road has long been a favorite haunt. I climb up the mountain’s craggy face, looking down on the manicured lawns stretched beneath—lined up like Technicolor kings and queens on the chessboard of the desert floor. Then, higher up, the untamed desert, and then—all around—mountain sage and brittle bush, road runners and jack rabbits, hummingbirds and coyotes. And everywhere beneath, bougainvillea—an adornment atop even the starkest concrete wall.

If you’re not a hiker, but wish to enjoy the native flora of the desert, visit Moorten’s Botanical Garden, or go on a wildflower or birding expedition in Joshua Tree National Park. There are also wonderful Horseback Riding and Hummer tours, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—so many ways to see the wonders of the Coachella Valley. Start your visit at www.PalmSprings.com/active for ideas of fun things to do and see!

Beautiful Palm Springs!

Framing all this nature, the arcs and lines of midcentury architecture for which Palm Springs is famed; the art collections; fashions glowing like draped jewels on the long limbs of its denizens, tanned amber by long afternoons at the tennis club or one of hundreds of preternaturally emerald golf courses. The desert, both cultivated and feral, seems a bit of a dreamscape. Almost anything seems possible. One can easily see why so many artists, writers, and designers have not only chosen to live or retreat here, but also have chosen it as a source of creative inspiration.

I invariably find myself relaxing back into my own skin after a few days of all this broad sky and mountaintops, Jacuzzi soaks under a star-swathed canopy—my own humanity and cosmic insignificance remarked upon, redeemed and swallowed whole by grace beneath the infinite desert sky. It’s as if, in embracing the infinite possibility of this landscape, I remember my own.

About Kate Buckley

Kate Buckley is a brand strategist, premium domain broker and consultant, interviewer, storyteller, visual artist, and award-winning poet & writer. She’s worked in media and marketing since 1997, holds an MFA in Creative Writing, and is the author of A Wild Region (Moon Tide Press) and Follow Me Down (Tebot Bach). A four-time Pushcart Prize nominee, her awards include a Gabeheart Prize and the North American Review’s James Hearst Poetry Prize. She was most recently shortlisted for the Bridport Prize. A ninth-generation Kentuckian, she’s made her home in Southern California since 1998.

Check Also

Women Who Lead Luncheon with Trina Turk at the Ritz-Carlton in Rancho Mirage

Join Palm Springs Life for the Women Who Lead Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton in Rancho …

6 comments

  1. So beautifully put, Kate! It’s TRULY a magical place…

    Let’s plan a girl’s weekend! I could really go for some warm weather, butt-kicking hikes, pool lounging and some serious shopping. xo

  2. That was beautifully said. I live here and I wake up every morning and it is always a wonderful day. thanks for sharing your thoughts of the desert.

  3. Hi Kate,
    Thanks for sharing what many of us echo regarding the peace & spiritual nature of our home. The strong juxtapose between Mt. San Jacinto & the open desert floor allow for a powerful combo.
    Happy Hiking,
    Scott 2