Joshua Tree and Anza Borrego Multisport Tour

Get “up close and personal” with the Joshua Tree’s plants, animals and geology on a relatively easy day hike in the park. Head out from massive Jumbo Rocks past eerie Skull Rock, the Face Rock “mimetolith” and Split Rock. There’s plenty of time for taking photos today as you admire the views, explore desert washes – look for animal tracks! – cacti and other desert flora. There should be ample time in the afternoon to explore 29 Palms or relax around the pool before dinner. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Welcome to Borrego Springs! Artsy, unpretentious, historic, charming, and tiny (pop. 3500), it is the only town in California that is surrounded by a State Park. In 1776, Anza Borrego State Park’s namesake Juan Bautista de Anza led 240 soldiers and colonists (over half were children) along with some 1,000 livestock through this valley on an epic journey northward from Mexico, eventually establishing present-day city of San Francisco. We get acquainted with the area on a couple of relatively short hikes. Play “peek-a-boo” in a relatively small siltstone canyon known as “The Slot.” Explore an oasis in the desert at Borrego Palm Canyon. Listen to the wind rattling the palm leaves while you keep your eyes peeled for the desert bighorn sheep who frequent the area. Stay another night at Borrego Springs Resort and Spa, or the Borrego Valley Inn.

Ride Borrego Springs! To the west, steep desert mountains rise against a foreground of fiery ocotillo blossoms. Colorful but formidable badlands guard the way to the Salton Sea to the east. In between, the desert is dotted with the fascinating sculptures of Ricardo Breceda. Admire gorgeous views as you cruise up into the hills on a more difficult route or keep to the flatter valley roads and spend more time viewing sculptures. Shuttle (~1.5hrs) to Palm Springs and enjoy a date milkshake (or another flavor) while we check-in at the Best Western Plus Las Brisas.

Today we cycle through Palm Springs to commune with another palm canyon. Home to the rich and famous of the “Rat Pack” era, the Palm Springs of today boasts the best that urban life has to offer. The Rat Pack may have moved on, but the city’s style has not. Palm Springs is as cool as it gets in the middle of a desert! Check out the retro architecture, sports cars, window shops, sweet cafés, Elvis’ honeymoon hideaway, and a larger-than-life Marilyn Monroe. After lunch we will return you (albeit reluctantly) to the “real world”.

*Bicycle Adventures operates under special use permits while on Federal Lands managed by the National Forest Service (USDA), National Parks and Bureau of Land Management. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination: write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.