Natural Wonders of Southern California

The Trip

Explore the spectacular coastal scenery, epic mountains, and stunning desert landscapes of Southern California. Marvel at the natural beauty, which has lured the entertainment industry and the rich and famous to this area for decades. Our trip will give you an introduction to three distinct zones: the Pacific coast, the mountains, and the desert lands. We will enjoy the beauty of each zone and learn about their history, geology, flora, fauna, and conservation issues.

Transported by our private van along the Pacific Coast, we’ll stop to hike along the coast on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, hike the back areas of El Moro Canyon overlooking the Pacific Ocean and meander in the artsy town of Laguna Beach and Lido Island. Next are the San Bernardino Mountains for two nights at a rustic Sierra Club-owned lodge built by its members in the 1930s. We’ll hike through mountain forests and enjoy grand valley views and evening relaxation in the mountain fresh air.

The last portion of our trip brings us to the desert region of Palm Springs, with exciting hikes that include Palm Canyon and Joshua Tree National Park. We’ll walk Palm Canyon’s scenic trail among its varied plants, wildlife, and cultural sites, to the world’s largest oasis of California Fan Palms. We’ll learn about the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Palm Springs’ reservation lands. And finally we'll head to the mountains of the San Jacinto Range, one of those magical places where hikers enjoy the contrasts of Switzerland-like vistas while gazing down at a Sahara-like landscape. The mountaintop is at the edge of Mount San Jacinto State Wilderness where bighorn sheep can scale several life zones from palms to pines. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, an amazing revolving tramcar, takes you up to about 8,500 feet to the top of San Jacinto Mountain for a panoramic view of the Coachella Valley. We will celebrate our time together with an early dinner at a top restaurant with a stunning view.

To augment our daytime adventures, we’ll have evening presentations by local specialists and other guest speakers. All meals will be provided by local restaurants or by the leader with participants assisting as sous chefs. We will pack our own lunches for day’s activities. This trip will surely whet your appetite to return in the future to explore each region again and again.

Day 1: Participants will be picked up this morning by our van at a hotel near LAX Airport. After a trip orientation we will don our boots to hike the Palos Verdes Peninsula on one of the most popular hikes in the area. Appreciating the scenery and local info about the area while riding along the beach cities on the famous PCH (Pacific Coast Highway), we’ll head down south to Orange County. A ranger will talk about the area’s flora/fauna, history, and conservation issues at the El Moro Canyon ranger station. We’ll explore the famous Crystal Cove tidal pools and the beach house where the movie “Beaches” was filmed, at one of the area’s largest natural seashores. Dinner in Huntington Beach volleyball, surf kingdom and where movies galore have been filmed.

Day 2: A Sunday morning short walk on the coast beach path offers great views and immersion in the typical California beach scene of volleyball, surfers, and the like before we return to El Moro Canyon for a moderate hike and some coastline views. We’ll stop off and learn about the Chinese historical work encampments. We’ll dine and enjoy the sunset in Newport Beach, followed by an evening stroll on Balboa Island, a millionaire’s dream.

Day 3: After packing up our things from our coastal hotel, we’ll make our way to artsy Laguna Beach, known for its scenic beaches, coves, and local art galleries. We then drive to our rustic lodge in the San Gabriel Mountains in the town of Mt. Baldy, the tallest point in Los Angeles County. We’ll tour and learn the history of this wonderful Harwood lodge, get settled in our home for the next 2 nights and if time allows, a short optional hike might prepare our tummies for dinner; we will relax for the evening with board & card games, reading, and a conservation discussion.

Day 4: After morning chores (required of lodge guests), today’s pleasant day hike takes us through the forest along the Mander Flats Trail.  Getting back to the lodge, we’ll enjoy a scrumptious lodge-cooked dinner and our relaxing evening features a local astronomy club member, who’ll guide us in the night-sky observations. 

Day 5: After morning chores, we’ll pack our things and head to the desert lands. The Canyon lands await us as we leave early morning for the day’s hike. We head into Palm Canyon to see the world’s largest oasis of California Fan Palms and the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente band of the Cahuilla Indians, a federally recognized Indian Tribe located on Palm Springs reservation lands. Our ranger will introduce us to their land, culture, and history. After dinner at a popular eatery in Palm Springs, you are free to explore the town and its shops. There’s a reason this town became the pop spot for celebrities. We’ll check into our hotel and appreciate the desert stars before turning in for a good night’s sleep. 

Day 6: Expect an early rise and drive to a scenic morning hike in Joshua Tree National Park that will endear you to the fascinating character of this iconic tree and to this region with a history dating back some 10,000 years. We’ll then sweep you away driving back to Palm Springs for our final adventure – the Palm Springs Tram, the world’s largest rotating tram car. Going up to 8,500 feet on Mount San Jacinto where we’ll enjoy a short hike among the pine forest of the San Jacinto Wilderness. Celebrating our new friends, we’ll enjoy the mountaintop’s fine dining with a spectacular view overlooking the whole Coachella Valley.

Day 7: After breakfast, if time allows after packing up our belongings, we will visit Tahquitz Canyon for a hike before driving back to LAX in time for a late afternoon flight back home. Although this is the trip’s end, you may extend your trip either in Palm Springs or in the LAX area. The van can drop you off in the center of Palm Springs. Many of the hotels in the LAX area have shuttles from the airport to their properties. The leader can help give you suggestions on where to visit or stay if you decide to extend your trip.

The itinerary is subject to change based on the current weather and local conditions.

Getting There

Participants should make travel plans to be at LAX Airport on the morning of the first day, and to transfer from there to an identified hotel nearby for a 9 a.m. trip orientation leaving for our first adventure by 10 a.m. We will rent vans (included in the trip price), which will transport us during the entire trip. Since this trip covers a wide area, expect to be in the van for up to 1.5 to 2 hours at times. 

Accommodations and Food

Our hotels in both Newport Beach and Palm Springs area will require room sharing (two people per room). Rooms have different configurations and may have a king bed (for couples) or two queen beds. Private rooms or room upgrades may be available at additional cost. Our mountain respite is a rustic lodge that is dorm style and requires a sleeping bag and pillow.

All meals are included in the price of the trip, either at local restaurants or prepared by a cook at the lodge. Hotel breakfasts are expanded continental style. At the lodge, meals will be lead by the leaders but participants will serve as sous chefs via a sign up list, except for the sack lunches, which we’ll make ourselves. Lunches will be eaten on the trail. Participants will be expected to help with meal preparations or cleanup after meals at the lodge.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is for the experienced hiker in good physical condition who can hike at altitudes of 5-8,000 feet and distances of four to 8 miles. We will move along at a brisk pace over gravel and rocky terrain -- possibly over boulders. Any questions about your ability to do the trip should be discussed with the leader during the initial interview. Photographers are welcome. This is a group hiking experience.

Equipment and Clothing

At this time of year, the days are generally warm and pleasant, with a wide range of daytime temperatures from upper 60s to low 90s; the nights are cool (mid 40s to high 50s). The desert can be hotter and extra water will be required in the desert areas. Alternately, mountain weather can be unpredictable; rain and snow may occur so rain gear is required. This is part of the outdoor adventure! Bring clothing for all conditions, and prepare to dress in layers. Be sure to bring a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, lip protection, sunscreen, well broken-in hiking boots, water bottles, and a day pack. The leader will send a detailed equipment list to all registered participants.

References

Books:

• Scha, Jerry, 101 Hikes in Southern California. 2005.

• Adkison, Ron, Hiking Southern California: A Guide to Southern California's Greatest Hiking Adventures (Regional Hiking Series). 2003.

Maps:

• USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles

• San Jacinto wilderness map - http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/636/files/MtSanJacintoSPWeb2016.pdf

• http://www.aguacaliente.org/content/History%20&%20Culture/

Conservation

Your volunteer trip leaders are dedicated to the Sierra Club, conservation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. Our wish is that you will become strong believers in the need to protect our wild areas. We'll be practicing Leave No Trace wilderness principles throughout the trip in order to minimize our impact on the environment.

We will learn some conservation issues in each of the three zones by either a ranger talk or discussions during the trip.

Since any traveling leaves a carbon footprint, check out the information that the Sierra Club offers about carbon offsets at: http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/offsets/#neutral

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.