Mesquite Trail

Enjoy an enchanting streamside walk under the canopy of Fremont cottonwoods and red willows. Boardwalks and bridges lead you along the stream that forms the marsh habitat which supports cattails, bulrushes, wire rushes, water cress and yerba mansa. Travel along the base of the Yucca Ridge and relax on the benches of the large octagon-shaped George Helmkamp Deck. Skirt the foot of a desert mountain where scrub oak, Mojave yucca, cacti, Indian paintbrush and boulders painted with lichen hug the drier slopes above. From the comfort of the deck, observe a large outcropping of ancient gneiss that marks the face of the Morongo Valley Fault.

Length: .51 miles/821 meters

Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

  • The Mesquite Trail branches from the Marsh Trail south of the Education Center at markers 5 and 6 on the Trail Map. Our virtual tour will head south from marker 5 where the trail passes through arrow-weed.
  • The gentle sound of the stream trickling over a weir can be heard from the landing at the top of the steps.
  • This area around the trail was totally destroyed by the 2005 fire. The charred remains of the mesquite "tunnel" can be seen here.
  • The trail branches at Location Marker 8. Head west (right in the photo) to continue on the Mesquite Trail or straight to start the Canyon Trail.
  • At Location Marker 9, the snowy peak of Mt. San Gorgonio can be seen in the distance.
  • Here the trail passes the foundation of the barn which was destroyed in the 2005 fire. After crossing an open area, the trail rejoins the Marsh Trail at Location Marker 6 near the Education Center.