The Living Desert in Palm Desert Returns to Regular Hours

From The Living Desert:

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens will return to regular hours and reopen its hiking trails starting Saturday, October 1. The zoo will be open daily from 9 a.m. (7 a.m. for members) to 5 p.m. with the last admission at 4 p.m.

In addition to the new seasonal hours, The Living Desert’s nature preserve hiking trails also will reopen to zoo-goers. The Living Desert offers hikers a variety of trails to suit a range of hiking experience levels. Hikers are required to sign in and sign out at the trailhead, and asked to stay on the trails as they are a nature preserve. The trails, accessible with paid admission or with an annual membership, are open every day, except Christmas Day, through May 31, 2017.

The Inner Loop is the shortest and easiest trail at about a quarter-mile long. The path is flat and sandy with desert views. The Middle Loop trail is about a mile long and offers more adventure with a gentle rise and fall through the loop. It also leads hikers through a rocky desert mountain slope with an opportunity to climb to an interpretative exhibit of the San Andreas Fault, where expansive views of the infamous fault can be seen. The third trail, theWilderness Loop, is for more experienced hikers. At three and a half miles long, the trail peaks at a covered picnic area at 1000 feet elevation. All of the trails have signage to inform and guide hikers.

For more information about The Living Desert visit www.livingdesert.org or call 760-346-5694.

Photo Courtesy of The Living Desert