Museum Trail

Downtown

A short, brutally steep climb of switchbacks starting behind the Palm Springs Art Museum parking structure and rising about 900 feet in under a mile to the Picnic Tables overlook, where it joins the Skyline Trail. The reward is a straight-down view over downtown and the whole valley floor. There is no shade or water. Locals do it at sunrise; nobody should attempt it after 8am in warm months. Museum Trail is activity in Downtown, Palm Springs. Filed under hiking, outdoors. Notable for steep, city views, free. Hours: Daily sunrise-sunset. Best for a sunrise workout. Summer changes everything here: many independent bars, spas and shops cut hours or close for a few weeks between July and September, while the same places are busiest from January through April and during festival weekends.

Hours

Daily sunrise-sunset

Address

101 N Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Best for

A sunrise workout

• Steep
• City views
• Free

Details checked August 31, 2026.