AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Washingtonia filifera grove (Palm Springs).jpg
2003 LN6 · CC BY-SA 4.0

West Fork Falls–Palm Canyon, 6 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 2,760 ft · 5 hr 41 min

West Fork Falls–Palm Canyon, 6 sights is a 12.9-mile out-and-back near Cathedral City, CA. The route passes Palm Canyon before reaching West Fork Falls at the turnaround, 6.5 miles in. It climbs 2,760 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade. It scores 68/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi397 – 1,818 ft · steepest grade: 25%14.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Palm Canyon Epic Lower Trailhead 33.78982, -116.49194
Nearest town Cathedral City, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

West Fork Falls–Palm Canyon, 6 sights

12.9 mi · ▲ 2,760 ft · 5 hr 41 min

Elevation 396–1,818 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Palm Canyon Epic Lower Trailhead · 33.78982, -116.49194

Weather Sep 5: Mostly clear, high 101°F / low 70° · precip 2% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 6:23 AM · sunset 7:08 PM

Transit-accessible: Palm Cyn at Gene Autry stop 330 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  3. 150 ftBear right, heading W.
  4. 0.1 miBear right, heading S.
  5. 300 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  6. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  7. 450 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  9. 0.2 miBear right, heading S.
  10. 200 ftTurn right onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading SW.
  11. 150 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  12. 100 ftBear right, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  14. 300 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto GT Grind, heading SW.
  17. 100 ftTurn right onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading W.
  18. 200 ftContinue straight onto GT Grind, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftBear left onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading SW.
  20. 100 ftTurn left onto GT Grind, heading S.
  21. 250 ftBear left, heading W.
  22. 0.4 miTurn left, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  24. 150 ftContinue straight onto Wild Horse Trail, heading SW.
  25. 2.2 miContinue straight onto Wild Horse Trail (Alternate), heading S.
  26. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Wild Horse Trail, heading SW.
  27. 250 ftTurn right, heading SW.
  28. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading SW.
  29. 1.8 miTurn left onto Victor Trail, heading W.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading SW.
  31. 0.2 miPass Palm Canyon.
  32. 0.2 miTurn left, heading W.
  33. 0.1 miReach West Fork Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  34. 0.1 miTurn right, heading W.
  35. 0.4 miTurn left onto Victor Trail, heading W.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Fern Canyon Trail, heading W.
  37. 1.9 miTurn left onto Wild Horse Trail, heading SE.
  38. 250 ftContinue straight onto Wild Horse Trail (Alternate), heading SE.
  39. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Wild Horse Trail, heading N.
  40. 2.3 miTurn left, heading N.
  41. 50 ftTurn right onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading N.
  42. 0.4 miBear left, heading NE.
  43. 50 ftBear right onto GT Grind, heading NE.
  44. 250 ftTurn right onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading NE.
  45. 50 ftBear right onto GT Grind, heading N.
  46. 50 ftContinue straight onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading N.
  47. 200 ftTurn left onto GT Grind, heading NE.
  48. 150 ftBear right, heading NE.
  49. 50 ftTurn left, heading NE.
  50. 250 ftTurn left, heading E.
  51. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  52. 100 ftTurn left onto Goat Trails Outlet, heading NE.
  53. 150 ftTurn left, heading N.
  54. 150 ftBear left, heading E.
  55. 0.2 miTurn left, heading NE.
  56. 50 ftSharp right, heading NE.
  57. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  58. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  59. 300 ftBear left, heading E.
  60. 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
  61. 150 ftBear left, heading N.
  62. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/west-fork-falls-palm-canyon-out-back-6-sights-21-km

Trail surface

46% dirt2% sand52% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 101°F70°
Feels like85°Precip2%Wind5 mphUV8Humidity27%
Hourly temperature
105°70°
Sunrise 6:23 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM9 PMSunset 7:08 PM
Sun 90°79° 21%
Mon 105°77°
Tue 107°89°
Wed 109°94° 17%
Thu 112°96° 20%
Fri 107°91°

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Palm Cyn at Gene Autry stop 330 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Palm Canyon Epic Lower Trailhead Trailhead

Hikes near Cathedral City, California