Desert Hot Springs: Mineral Springs and Landscape

If you’re looking for a hotel in Desert Hot Springs, you can plan your stay around the themes you’d like it to focus on: mineral springs, landscape, local history, or a specific hiking route. The city lies in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains and overlooks the entire Coachella Valley. The mountain edge and valley views are thus two distinct geographic reference points for getting your bearings at the destination.

Location between mountains, valley, and desert

Desert Hot Springs is located near two access points to the Sand to Snow National Monument. Mission Creek Preserve in Desert Hot Springs, by contrast, lies in a transition zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Mojave Desert.

Mineral Springs and Local History

Hot and cold mineral springs emerge from the ground side by side in Desert Hot Springs. The coexistence of these two temperatures is part of the area’s distinctive geological character. Another date takes us back to 1914 in the area’s history: that was when a hot spring and a nearby cold spring were discovered in a remote part of Riverside County. Miracle Hill was the first settlement in the community from which Desert Hot Springs emerged. This makes it possible to consider the mineral springs both as a landscape feature and in the context of early settlement.

Cabot's Pueblo Museum

Cabot's Pueblo Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. Guided and self-guided tours take visitors into the rooms of the pueblo; both types of tour last approximately 45 minutes. Their comparable duration makes the type of tour a choice in its own right: you can opt for a guided or self-guided visit. Check the seasonal tour schedule before your trip.

The grounds also offer things to see: you can enjoy views of the Coachella Valley and visit the Water Gallery and the Exhibition Gallery. Check seasonal availability before your visit. The museum’s offerings are therefore distinct: tours take you into the rooms of the pueblo, while the views and galleries offer other ways to experience the grounds.

Long Canyon Trail and Mineral Baths

A 2021 BLM annual report describes the 9.5-mile Long Canyon Trail. The route begins in Desert Hot Springs, follows a wash into the Sand to Snow National Monument, and ends in Joshua Tree National Park. If you’d like to include it in your hiking plans, check current trail conditions and access beforehand.

Mineral baths may also play a role in your travel plans. Miracle Springs Resort & Spa and Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel offered day passes for mineral baths without an overnight stay. If a day visit is an option for you, check availability with the respective resort before your trip. This lets you plan a visit to a mineral bath separately from choosing a hotel.

Discover more destinations: Blythe, Eastvale, San Jacinto, Moreno Valley, Indio, Banning, Corona, Palm Desert.

For the broader travel overview: Riverside.