Nonprofit Commits To Rehabilitation Of Palm Canyon Trail After Rosa Fire

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — A nonprofit conservation group that serves to protect the desert mountains said Monday it is working in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service to rehabilitate the Palm Canyon Trail so it can reopen as soon as possible following the massive Rosa Fire that sparked in the area earlier this month.

According to Friends of the Desert Mountains, its community science volunteers will document and record species recovery in the charred area.

Some forest lands within the fire perimeter will close for up to a year to allow plants and animals to recover, according to USDA Forestry Technician Lee Beyer.

"The trail itself will be affected by rain and erosion. Limiting hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking allows for the area to recover, so please respect the closures," Beyer said.

The ‎1,671-acre Rosa Fire broke out at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 along state Route near the Mountain Center community. As of Monday afternoon, the fire was 98% contained. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Friends’ Executive Director Tammy Martin said that while the burn damage is devastating to see, "fire is a natural part of the forest ecosystem."

"Several species actually need fire to propagate, but there are others that don’t fare as well, like the Singleleaf Pinyon Pine," Martin said.

While no humans died in the Rosa Fire, two structures were destroyed. Local residents also reported seeing wildlife escaping the fire.

Friends of the Desert Mountains has a long history in the area and actively monitors the land. In partnership with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Friends completed an extensive Palm Canyon species survey in the spring of 2025.

Friends' first conservation acquisition in 1987 was to protect Palm Canyon, according to the organization, and Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy was the original funding partner for it.

On Monday, CVMC Acting Executive Director Diana Rosas stated, "CVMC is committed to not only conserving our precious landscapes but also to identifying areas where environmental restoration will achieve the most significant climate benefits, including protecting buffering human and natural communities from the impacts of climate change.”

Learn more at DesertMountains.org.