Goat Trails of Palm Springs
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| Primary access to the Goat Trails, off Highway 111 |
The Goat Trails receive use that varies with the season. As many as 300 users per day can be seen from October to April, from sunrise to sunset. About 50 users per day take to the trail in the morning and late evening from late Spring through October.
Property Ownership
The Goat Trails are on private property. The initial doubletrack ascent and an iron gate are owned by John Wessman, as represented by his acquisition/management firms GRIT Development, Wessman Development Company and Wessman Holdings. A small parcel of 3.92 acres is owned by Desert Water Agency to locate two large water storage tanks. The upper portions of the Goat Trails are owned solely by Palm Hills Land Corporation, a large landowner in undeveloped portions of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument. Less than one quarter mile of trails edge into property owned by U.S. Department of the Interior, which has the parcel (APN) 681-160-018.Controlled Access
The iron gate maintained (perhaps) by Wessman Development Company contains several indications that the property is private, including a painted-over sign that directs inquiries to the Palm Springs Police Department. Calls to the listed number did not reach a person with knowledge of the property and any restrictions to its use.The gate is usually secured with a heavy chain to which several padlocks are attached. At least one padlock is controlled by the Palm Springs Fire Department, another is controlled by Desert Water Agency. Presumably, other padlocks are controlled by the Palm Springs Police Department, Wessman Development Company, and an agent of Palm Hills Land Corporation.
Uncontrolled Access
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| Uncontrolled access points to the Goat Trails |
- Highway 111 crosses the top of the image.
- The iron gate is marked with a green cyclist avatar and the doubletrack is outlined in a magenta curve at the botrom of the image.
- The trail (Path T) to Hermit Crest is outlined as a magenta curve from near the top center of the image to double back on itself as it climbs to Hermit Crest. A secondary trail (Path Y) continues to meet the doubletrack up from the iron gate.
Accesses are also available from official trails nearby: Araby Trail at the northwest corner of the Goat Trails, Garstin Trail to Berns Trail at the northwest corner of the Goat Trails, Wildhorse Trail to the southwest corner of the Goat Trails, Clara Burgess Trail to a couple points on the south side of the Goat Trails, and Eagle Canyon Trail to the east side of the Goat Trails.
Iron Gate
The iron gate is usually padlocked, and near-annual grading activities include placing large rocks and dirt piles outside the gate to thwart access. However, the padlocks are often cut off, and the many hiking and biking users wear a trail that bypasses the dirt piles soon after they have been placed.Hermit Crest
A second access from the area of Highway 111 is via a separated hill, unofficially named "Hermit Crest." A poorly maintained doubletrack climbs the hill, starting from the northwest in a clockwise semicircle. As it reaches six o'clock in its circle, the doubletrack breaks apart and doubles back to the right, still heading up. Shortly thereafter is a trail to the left that will join the ramp up from the iron gate. |
| Araby Trail and its access to the Goat Trails |
Araby Trail
The end and highest point of Araby Trail (orange line) connects to the Goat Trails (magenta). Limited parking is available on Rim Road, near the lower trailhead.The distance on Araby Trail is 1.78 mi. The ascent from 415 feet to 1347 feet is difficult for mountain bikes, but possible. The descent is "black diamond," but enjoyably challenging.
Dogs are not allowed, not even on leash. Several cutoffs exist, and the Desert Riders attempt to keep these from growing—please avoid following cutoffs.
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| Garstin Trail and Berns Trail and the access to the Goat Trails |
The distance on Garstin Trail is 1.19 mi. The distance of Berns Trail is 1.04 mi. The Garstin ascent starts at 543 feet to the turnoff to Berns at 1424 feet, and Berns ascends to 1513 feet (a large cairn), descends to a wash at 1151 feet, and climbs to meet Araby Trail and the Goat Trails at 1322 feet. The ascent is difficult for mountain bikes, but possible. The descent is "black diamond," but enjoyably challenging.
Dogs are not allowed, not even on leash, due to conservation of Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. Several cutoffs exist, and the Desert Riders attempt to keep these from growing—please avoid following cutoffs.
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| Bogert Trail and its access to the Goat Trails |
Bogert Trail is 1.76 mi long. Its lower (west) trailhead is at 772 feet, which rises to 922 feet in the first quarter mile. From this point, the trail descends to 815 feet in the second quarter mile, then rises to 1298 feet over the next half mile, where it meets the junction of Garstin (top orange line) and Wildhorse (center-to-bottom orange line) trails. Heading east from the junction, Bogert rises to 1307 feet where it connects to a minor trail of the Goat Trails (magenta lines). The ascent is moderate for mountain bikes, and the descent is intermediate difficulty, with a few challenging aspects.
Dogs are not allowed, not even on leash, due to conservation of Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. The Desert Riders maintain this trail—please avoid following cutoffs.
Clara Burgess Trail
Clara Burgess Trail (orange line) descends north to its trailhead from Murray hill (mountain symbol). From the trailhead sign, descend into Eagle Canyon, and ascend on the north bank to the Goat Trails.
From the west, Clara Burgess separates from Wildhorse Trail at 1780 feet and ascends to 2192 feet over 0.73 mi to the tops of Murray Hill. From Murray hill, Clara Burgess descends to 876 feet over 1.56 mi. For bikes, the west ascent is moderate; the north ascent is difficult but doable. The descents are "black diamond."
Dogs are not allowed, not even on leash, due to conservation of Peninsular Bighorn Sheep. The Desert Riders maintain this trail—please avoid following cutoffs.
Eagle Canyon Trail
Section to be added... |
| Goat Trails overview of doubletrack and points of interest |
Goat Trails Guide
The Goat Trails consist of doubletrack trails (shown in matenta) and singletrack trails (not shown here). Several points of interest can help orient the hiker or biker:- Hermitage—an abandoned former encampment of homeless to the west of Wessman Ramp
- Hermit Crest—a sometimes active encampment of homeless on a low hill northeast of Wessman Ramp
- Wessman Ramp—a long, wide rock and gravel roadway that rises from an iron gate to a set of iron posts
- Corral Cut-Off Trail—a steep singletrack that occurs within 100 yards of the iron gate, passes the Hermitage, and reaches So-So Corral Road after about 0.58 mile of climbing
- Double Tanks—a pair of water reservoirs maintained by Desert Water Agency that are near the top of Wessman Ramp
- Palm Hills Quarry—an inactive quarry for sand, gravel, and rock that is reached by the Wessman Ramp
- Momtakwit Wall—a small cliff that rises above the doubletrack as it leaves Palm Hills Quarry at its south end; Momtakwit is the first leader of the Cahuilla
- Merry-Go-Round—a curved rectangular mound surrounded by doubletrack
- Eagle Canyon—a major geologic feature of the Goat Trails that forms the south boundary of the trail network
- Gene Autry Hook—a hillside curve of doubletrack that, when seen from Lonely Heart Overlook, seems to be a continuation of Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs
- Lonely Heart Overlook—a promontory and corner of the doubletrack that is the site of a heart-shaped cairn, which is gradually rebuilt after near-annual road grading destroys the past year's work
- Caliente Basin—a broad drainage shelf that spreads west of the Merry-Go-Round and northwest of Lonely Heart Overlook and that includes several criss-crossing singletrack
- So-So Corral—an abandoned corral that is adjacent to a long-unmaintained half circle of doubletrack
- So-So Corral Road—the long-unmaintained half circle of doubletrack that circles north side of Caliente Basin
- Mad Dog Canyon—the canyon to the west of So-So Corral Road, named for the aggressive dogs kept by the owner of land at the canyon mouth
- Istam Way—a section of doubletrack from Lonely Heart Overlook to the Stone Man Monument; Istam is the coyote clan of the Cahuilla
- Stone Man Monument—a human-shaped cairn at the tee-intersection of Istam Way and Tuktum Way
- Tuktum Way—a section of doubletrack from Bob Hope Overlook that passes Patencio Promontory and continues into middle Eagle Canyon; Tuktum is the wildcat clan of the Cahuilla
- Patencio Promontory—the highest point of the Goat Trails; Alejo Patencio was the leader of the Cahuilla Kauisiktum clan ~1890 to 1930
- Bob Hope Overlook—the northwestern corner of the Goat Trails, where the Berns Trail and Araby Trail access the Goat Trails.
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| Entrance trails and points of interest, Goat Trails |
Entrance Trails
Most hikers experience only this first third of the Goat Trails, which constiutes the entrance trails. The aggressive climbs on the entrance trails are, arguably, the more difficult part of the Goat Trails.Wessman Ramp
This .28-mile doubletrack trail rises from the parking area to beyond the access to the water tanks. This private property is owned by Wessman Development Company, and Desert Water Agency has an easement for its use to maintain the Double Tanks. |
| Corral Cut-Off Trail |
Double Tanks
Desert Water Agency owns and maintains this pair of water reservoirs. Trespassing is absolutely forbidden, and its property is video monitored and secured by a padlocked gate. Dr. Grottis Path affords an overlook of the tanks. |
| Dr, Grottis Path and Water Tanks Trail |
Dr. Grottis Path and Water Tanks Trail
The lower trailhead of Dr. Grottis Path is on the right, just beyond the Double Tanks road. The ascent is challenging for mountain bikes, and it is a popular alternative to the longer doubletrack through Palm Hills Quarry. The upper trailhead of Dr. Grottis Path is at the north side of the Merry-Go-Round.An alternative path, Water Tanks Trail, separates from Dr. Grottis Path above the water tanks. The Water Tanks Trail has an upper trailhead near the northeast corner of the Merry-Go-Round.
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| Palm Hills Quarry |
Several short trails head off to the north and east from Palm Hills Quarry. Only two of these are of note: Path E leads down to Canyon Plaza, and Reservoir Lane leads to the dam at the mouth of Eagle Canyon (0.22 mi).
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| Quarry-Wall Way, trails, and points of interest |
Quarry-Wall Way
This 0.59-mile doubletrack trail continues from Wessman Ramp into Palm Hills Quarry (473 feet above sea level) and then up three distinct, steep sections separated by small reliefs. It finishes at the northeast corner of the Merry-Go-Round, at 797 feet. Several small trails depart from the third climb.Momtakwit Wall
Momtakwit Wall is a small cliff that rises above Quarry-Wall Way as it leaves Palm Hills Quarry at its south end. Momtakwit was the first leader of the Cahuilla.Quarry Fall Line
Opposite Momtakwit Wall is a primary fall line (the shortest line downhill, which is often the location for most water erosion) that threatens Quarry-Wall Way seasonally. The landowner has never successfully built a bypass of this fall line, and winter storms often take out the doubletrack to become as small as a singletrack trail. Cue the training in building sustainable trails!Brakeman's Lane
The lower trailhead for the short Brakeman's Lane has been obscured by recent heavy equipment work on Quarry-Wall Way. The trailhead will be reinstalled once the grading work is complete. Wooden stakes at the top of Momtakwit Wall locate the trailhead in the meantime. Brakeman's Lane has relatively few users, and its upper trailhead is at the southeast corner of the Merry-Go-Round. |
| Merry-Go-Round and trails |
- Its north side to Dr. Grottis Path
- Its northeast corner to Quarry-Wall Way
- Its southeast corner to Brakeman's Lane
- Its southwest corner to Gene Autry Hook and Lonely Heart Trail
- Its northwest corner to Caliente Crossing and So-So Corral Road.
Eagle Canyon
a major geologic feature of the Goat Trails that forms the south boundary of the trail networkGene Autry Hook
This quarter-mile doubletrack continues from the southwest corner of the Merry-Go-Round up to the Lonely Heart Overlook. When seen from Lonely Heart Outlook, the hook seems to be a continuation of Gene Autry Trail in Palm Springs.Lonely Heart Overlook
a promontory and corner of the doubletrack that is the site of a heart-shaped cairn, which is gradually rebuilt after near-annual road grading destroys the past year's workCaliente Basin
a broad drainage shelf that spreads west of the Merry-Go-Round and northwest of Lonely Heart Overlook and that includes several criss-crossing singletrackSo-So Corral
an abandoned corral that is adjacent to a long-unmaintained half circle of doubletrackSo-So Corral Road
This .83-mile, long-unmaintained half circle of doubletrack circles the Caliente Basin. The trail offers superb downhill clockwise and some extreme climbing counter-clockwise.Mad Dog Canyon
the canyon to the west of So-So Corral Road, named for the aggressive dogs kept by the owner of land at the canyon mouthIstam Way
This .85-mile doubletrack leaves Lonely Heart Overlook and heads to the Stone Man Monument. Several singletrack trails head off along its length.Back Trails
Owners of Record
Palm Hills Land Corporation
141 W Jackson Blvd, Fl 39Chicago IL 60604
Reference: California Business Directory
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Reference
Palm Hills Corporation
135 S LaSalle St, Suite 3250Chicago IL 60603
Reference
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Schlecht Shevlin & Schoenberger
600 E Tahquitz McCallumPalm Springs CA 92264
Reference: company website
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US Dept Of Interior
Washington DC 21401Reference
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Wessman Development Company
555 S Sunrise Wy, Ste 200Palm Springs CA 92264
760-325-3050 (Jeanette Sanborn)
Reference: California Business Directory
Reference: Personal profile of John Wessman
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Reference: lawsuit
Reference: 14th story
Reference: Palm Springs council mention "Palm Hills"
Online sources
Text
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/03/travel/la-tr-0430-palm-springs-biking-20110403http://www.mapmyride.com/us/cathedral-city-ca/goat-trails-palm-desert-route-168637262
http://www.mountainbikebill.com/PalmSpringsGoatTrails.htm
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/the-goat-trails-private-property
https://www.singletracks.com/bike-trails/the-goat-trails.html
http://hikeyhikey.blogspot.com/2012/10/hiking-palm-springs-goat-trails-to.html
https://pscyclery.com/about/goat-trails-to-cat-trails-route-pg412.htm (content removed due to lawsuits against several local businesses)
http://www.mtbr.com/trails/united-states/california/Palm-Springs/goat-trails-and-indian-trails.html
https://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail.aspx?trailid=BGS048-025
https://www.trailforks.com/trails/goat-trails-outlet/
https://www.bikepirate.com/tag/goat-trails/
http://www.distancetobetraveled.com/goat-trail-page-information.html
https://www.triabike.com/local-rides-and-trails/
http://dirttreaders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3629&view=previous
http://dirttreaders.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=3629&view=previous
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxMKlxruVsw (3:27)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0qT998vsC0 (6:33, May 2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Cfa8LQ9kM (2:15, March 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SO2PFAXzTA (2:11, March 2015)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXV50PRMsvs (9:55, March 2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h5LGjBMqZw (4:56, May 2010)
