Lake Cahuilla
6 mi south · Bureau of Reclamation
Surronded by the stark beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Lake Cahuilla (pronounced Kah-wee-ah) is a favorite recreation area in the Coachella Valley.
Outdoors
Hiking near Indian Wells
National forests, parks, lakes and recreation areas with hiking trails near Indian Wells, closest first.
33places to hike
6 mito the closest
22within 30 miles
November–Marchbest months
Good to know: Carry more water than you think you need, check the managing agency’s page for trail closures and fire restrictions, and start early on hot days.
Closest picks
Santa Rosa Wilderness
13 mi southeast · Bureau of Land Management
The terrain within the Santa Rosa Mountains Wilderness is rugged with elevations rising dramatically from just above sea level to 7,000 feet.
Mecca Hills Wilderness
20 mi east · Bureau of Land Management
The Mecca Hills Wilderness now contains a total of 26,242 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office . All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
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Within 30 miles (22)
Lake Cahuilla
Surronded by the stark beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains, Lake Cahuilla (pronounced Kah-wee-ah) is a favorite recreation area in the Coachella Valley.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
- Water sports
Santa Rosa Wilderness
The terrain within the Santa Rosa Mountains Wilderness is rugged with elevations rising dramatically from just above sea level to 7,000 feet.
- Camping
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Mecca Hills Wilderness
The Mecca Hills Wilderness now contains a total of 26,242 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office . All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Ryan Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Ryan Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Rock Climbing
- Scenic Drive
- Wildlife viewing
Sheep Pass Group
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Sheep Pass Group Campground is centrally located within Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California and is easily accessible to hiking trails and rock climbing…
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
Jumbo Rocks Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Jumbo Rocks Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known.
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Black Rock Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Black Rock Campground lies among one of the thickest Joshua tree forests in Joshua Tree National Park.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Black Rock Equestrian Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Black Rock Horse Campground is strictly for campers planning to bring horses or mules .
- Camping
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Fern Basin
The picturesque Fern Basin Campground is a perfect escape from a busy lifestyle. It provides peace and quiet in the mountains of southern California as well as access to countless recreational opportunities.
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Lookout Tower
- Mountain Biking
Marion Mountain
The Marion Mountain Campground offers a beautiful retreat in the San Bernardino National Forest. It provides access to a number of hiking trails that lead to some of the most spectacular views of Southern California.
- Biking
- Camping
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
Orocopia Mountains Wilderness
The western boundary of the Orocopia Mountains Wilderness is contiguous with the Mecca Hills Wilderness with the exception of the Meccacopia Jeep Trail, which bisects the two wilderness areas.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Black Mountain (San Bernardino)
Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. 4 Wheel Drive is recommended. The road is currently a high-priority for maintenance, which should be occuring in June, 2023.
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Picnicking
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve/ACEC is well recognized as an important wildlife corridor that links BLM's San Gorgonio Wilderness with the San Bernardino National Forest and Joshua Tree National Park.
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Boulder Basin
Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended with a minimum ground clearance of 6 inches. Drive at your own risk.
- Backpacking
- Biking
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
- Picnicking
Indian Cove Group
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Indian Cove Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known.
- Amphitheater
- Camping
- Evening Programs
- Hiking
- Ranger Station
- Rock Climbing
Cottonwood Campground (Ca)
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Cottonwood Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Cottonwood Group
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Cottonwood Group Campground is one of the best places in Joshua Tree National Park for stargazing and wildflower viewing.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Indian Cove Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Indian Cove Campground lies amid the huge, steep rock formations for which Joshua Tree National Park is known.
- Backpacking
- Camping
- Evening Programs
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Ranger Station
- Rock Climbing
Beauty Mountain Wilderness
The Beauty Mountain Wilderness encompasses a total of 15,627 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office .
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Photography
- Wilderness
Joshua Tree National Park
Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain.
- Biking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Picnicking
- Wildlife viewing
San Gorgonio Wilderness
This wilderness is part of the eastern slope of the San Bernardino Mountains with topography rapidly changing from low, rolling foothills and canyons to steep, rugged mountains. Elevations range from 2,300 to 5,500 feet.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Sand to Snow National Monument
Remember your OUTDOOR ETHICS when enjoying your public lands. Please RECREATE RESPONSIBLY.
- Accessible Swimming
- Camping
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
- Winter sports
30 to 75 miles (11)
Dos Palmas Preserve
This oasis with its hundreds of swaying fan palms offers sanctuary in the midst of the dry Colorado Desert. Pools fed by artesian springs and seepage from the nearby Coachella Canal form a lush wetland area.
- Hiking
- Photography
- Wildlife viewing
Indian Flats Campground
17 sites. Pacific Crest Trail Access. No Water. The nearest water can be found at the Warner Springs Gas Station.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Picnicking
- Recreational Vehicles
Pinto Mountains Wilderness
The Pinto Mountains Wilderness is located on Bureau of Land Management lands on the Joshua Tree National Park's northern boundary.
- Hiking
- Wilderness
Bighorn Mountain Wilderness
The north-central portion of this Wilderness area holds the rugged Bighorn Mountains and the eastern foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Nature education
- Photography
- Ranger programs
- Wildlife viewing
Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness
The Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness now contains a total of 21,388 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
- Camping
- Hiking
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
The Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail covers over 1200 miles through the homelands of 70+ Tribal communities. It follows the historic route of the 1775-76 Spanish colonizing expedition from Sonora, Mexico to San Francisco, CA.
- Hiking
- History
- Horseback riding
Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge is located in California’s Imperial Valley, 40 miles north of the Mexican border, along the southern end of the Salton Sea.
- Educational Programs
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Hunting
- Ranger programs
Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness
The Chuckwalla Mountains Wilderness now contains a total of 112,326 acres and is managed by the BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office . All of the Wilderness is in the state of California.
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Photography
- Wilderness
- Wildlife viewing
San Bernardino National Forest
- Biking
- Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
Johnson Valley OHV Area
Click here for the latest information concerning upcoming military training and closures of the Shared Use Area. Overview Johnson Valley is a varied landscape for the off-highway vehicle driver.
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Hunting
- Photography
- Recreational Vehicles
- Wildlife viewing
Cleveland National Forest
- Biking
- Camping
- Hiking
- Horse Camping
- Horseback riding
- Off-highway vehicles
- Picnicking
- Ranger programs
Distances are straight-line miles from downtown Indian Wells. Listings come from Recreation.gov’s federal recreation database; check each official page for hours, fees, fire restrictions and closures before you go.
Get outside around Indian Wells
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More outdoors near Indian Wells
Questions
Where is the closest place for hiking near Indian Wells?
Lake Cahuilla (Bureau of Reclamation), about 6 miles south of Indian Wells as the crow flies. Next are Santa Rosa Wilderness (13 mi) and Mecca Hills Wilderness (20 mi).
When is the best time for hiking near Indian Wells?
Based on Indian Wells’s average highs, November–March. Conditions at higher elevations can be much cooler.
Who manages these places?
Federal agencies including Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, USDA Forest Service. Each listing links to its official page for hours, fees, closures and current conditions.