Horses at the stable rail in late afternoon light
Beyond the Estates · Camena Collective

The valley, when you want it.

Nothing out here is required. When you do want to leave the gate, this is what we send people to.

Beyond the estates

Only if you want to.

The estates are built to be enough on their own. The valley is right there, though, and some groups want a morning on the trail, an afternoon in the mineral water, or an hour with the horses.

These are the places we actually send guests. Several of them book out months ahead. Tell us what you want and we will arrange it before you arrive.

Ask us to arrange something
The list

Start here.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway car above the valley at sunset
01

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The world's largest rotating tram car, climbing nearly 6,000 feet in under ten minutes to Mountain Station at 8,516 feet. Alpine forest and hiking trails at the top, desert floor at the bottom.

pstramway.com
The waterfall and pool at the head of Tahquitz Canyon
02

Tahquitz Canyon

Guided or self-guided hike to a real 60-foot waterfall. One of the most recognizable hikes in Palm Springs itself.

tahquitzcanyon.com
Boulders and desert wildflowers along the Art Smith Trail, the valley beyond
03

Art Smith Trail

The signature trail of the Cahuilla Hills network the property itself sits in. Palm oases along the route, and a long, genuinely scenic desert trail.

Public trail, Cahuilla Hills
The Milky Way over Joshua trees and boulders after sundown
04

Stargazing Joshua Tree

Professional astronomers, state-of-the-art telescopes, and a two-hour dark-sky experience.

stargazingjtree.com
Leading a saddled horse past the stalls at Smoke Tree Stables
05

Smoke Tree Stables

Horseback riding, with an equine therapy option. A rare pairing that makes this genuinely retreat-specific rather than just an adventure activity.

smoketreestables.com
Inside the all-wood acoustic dome, mats laid in a circle beside the singing bowls
06

The Integratron

A private sound bath inside an all-wood acoustic dome built on a geomagnetic vortex site. Unlike anything else on this list. Books out months in advance.

integratron.com
A surfer on the lagoon wave, palms and the mountain behind
07

DSRT Surf

The largest Wavegarden Cove in North America, a surf lagoon in Palm Desert with sessions for every level, from a first wave to high performance.

dsrtsurf.com
Three mini donkeys in packs and baskets on a canyon trail
08

Mojave Mini Donkeys

Ranch visits, a canyon hike alongside the donkeys, or a donkey hangout brought directly to the property. Playful, and highly photogenic.

mojaveminidonkeys.com
Giraffes on the hillside with the mountains behind
09

The Living Desert

Giraffe feeding, camel and carousel rides, and the zoo's broader desert conservation grounds. Five minutes from Palm Desert.

livingdesert.org
Fan palms along the canyon stream at golden hour
10

Indian Canyons

Palm, Andreas, and Murray Canyons. Hiking trails through the world's largest California fan palm oasis, with streams and shade in the middle of the desert.

indian-canyons.com
The entrance to the spa, the curved trellis over the spring-fed pool
11

The Spa at Séc-he

A private mineral soak, tribally owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and built over a spring they have stewarded for more than 130 years. Private soaking rooms, with soaking time reserved as part of the day spa pass.

thespaatseche.com
An adobe ceremony space in the desert, the mountains beyond
12

Wind Walkers Medicine Wheel

Offsite ceremonies and workshops, or onsite moon ceremonies and smudge-fan making, brought to the estate.

windwalkersmedicinewheel.com
The rest of the list

Everything else worth the drive.

On foot

The Mirage Trailalso known as Bump and Grind

The valley's most-hiked trail. Steep and exposed, best at dawn.

Public trail, Palm Desert

The Homestead Trailthe Cross hike

Roughly one hour, moderate, there and back, with sweeping views of the valley.

Public trail, Palm Desert

Ladder & Painted CanyonMecca Hills

A slot canyon hike with fixed ladders bolted into the cliff walls, and colorful San Andreas Fault rock formations.

Public BLM land · alltrails.com

Canyon View Loop TrailWhitewater Preserve

Starts right at the visitor center and crosses the year-round Whitewater River on a footbridge about half a mile in. Well-groomed and sandy rather than technical, dog-friendly, no fee or permit required. It genuinely delivers running water year round.

9160 Whitewater Canyon Road, Whitewater · wildlandsconservancy.org
Water & soaking

Azure Palm Hot Springs

The largest mineral pool in Southern California, a Himalayan salt room, and an actual dedicated group booking program.

azurepalmhotsprings.com

Two Bunch Palms

A wellness-native hot springs resort with a yoga and sound healing dome on site, and various offerings between soaks.

twobunchpalms.com

Wonder Valley Hot Springs

Private granite soaking tubs at each individual rental house. Remote and strikingly photogenic, but day passes are no longer offered. This is an overnight booking, not a drop-in.

wondervalleyhotsprings.com
Horses & animals

Knob Hill Ranch

Horseback riding and ranch hangouts. Books far in advance.

knobhillranch.com

Cascade Trails Mustang Sanctuary

Horseback riding, and meet-and-greets with mustangs and other animals.

@cascadetrails_jt

The Golden Getaway

A 90-minute dog therapy excursion, purpose-built as a wellness add-on.

thegoldengetaway.com · @goldengetawayfarm
Ceremony, sky & garden

29 Palms Astronomy Club

Community stargazing and astrophotography sessions.

29palmsastronomy.org

Moorten Botanical Garden

Arranged before you arrive

Tell us what you want to do.

Sound baths, trail guides, horses, dark skies. Several of these book months out, so send us the shape of the week early and we will handle the rest.

EnquireHow to book