The California desert town of Palm Springs is one part resort community, one part gathering space for the Coachella Arts and Music Festival. The vibe is a mix of opulence and excitement — a blend of golf courses, mid-century modern homes, and movie star hideaways infused with a funky festival vibe. Our guide to running in Palm Springs features something for everyone — from gentle trails in the oasis surrounded by desert mountains to some more challenging trail runs.
The warm dry weather and gorgeous desert scenery make Palm Springs a wonderful center for running. There are also some lovely parks, bike paths, and residential neighborhoods that make for great, scenic workouts. The run along Palm Canyon Drive is the signature road run in Palm Springs. For a flat, easy run, enjoy our ‘runseeing’ tours of downtown and the movie star neighborhoods or the lovely Joe Butler Trail along a golf course. For trails, the South Lykken sprouts from the foothills. A true challenge is the run up Tramway Hill, the road that parallels the Tram and site of a well-known uphill race. In Palm Desert, there are about 2 miles of trails in Palm Desert Civic Center Park. See the Palm Springs Bike Route and Trail Map for additional info or to design your own route!
The Sunline Transit Agency is the primary form of public transport in Palm Springs, with routes throughout the Coachella Valley. With a little help on wheels, you can explore the city to its limits, but there is plenty of great running right downtown.
Palm Springs has a desert climate, with near constant sunshine. Winters are delightfully warm and dry, with average high temperatures in the 70s & 80s from November-March. Nights can be cool in winter, dipping into the 40s, so bring a layer for those crisp mornings! Beware of running at the height of summer. From June-September, average daily high temperatures are 100-110F (38-43C).