Coachella Valley Vista Point — Attraction in Palm Desert

The TORTUROUSLY WINDING road below this Vista Point is the exact one featured for over 30 minutes at the beginning of the 1963 film: "It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World".

It was probably very easy to get so many well-known stars of that era to film here. As Palm Springs was still in its original "hay day". Many Hollywood stars found it convenient to escape the bustle of Los Angeles for mid-20th century Palm Springs. Even if only for a long weekend or "working vacation".

Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, and Jerry Lewis (cameo) are all in the "Mad World" movie; Ethel Merman, Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, Sid Caesar, and Jimmy Durante (who literally "kicks the bucket" after running off THIS ROAD sets up the entire plot of the 1963 comedic movie). Along with many other star cameo appearances.

Much of that movie was also shot in the then empty, undeveloped desert below within your view. And by that release date all in, "Full Color"!

Views of, or from this road have also been featured in several more recent films, and a great many car commercials.

Highway 74 is known as, "The Palms To Pines Highway" for obvious reasons.

Don't just "look out" from this Vista Point, look immediately down below it. Take a good picture too. Because many say it's also the most circuitous (and thereby most dangerous) road in all of Southern California.

It's well worth a "quick stop" if driving by. Remember it visually also. Because you just may recognize it again in a theater or on your own TV.

And yes, the Vista Point is exceptionally beautiful at night, fully accessible year-round, and...

A deep sandbox is before you. The Coachella Valley with Palm Desert, Indian Wells (to the right) and Rancho Mirage ( to the left) directly below you. Across the valley lies Joshua Tree National Park and Keys Viewpoint. The experience of being in a desert and then in only 6 miles get roughly 3200 feet up and into the Santa Rosa range and the San Jacinto & Santa Rosa Mountains National Monument. You can see the Salton Sea, Deep Canyon, the San Jacinto range stretches north to the peak. The "Desert Divide" is a part of this range where the Pacific Oceans marine layer pushes up against the western facing slopes and the much dryer air from the Sonoran Desert pushes in on the eastern facing slopes. The effects on the clouds are very unique. Time lapse photographers will love what they capture as a conveyer of clouds crosses the range and then evaporates as the desert air eats...

Really nice vista point with a panoramic view of the desert. It's well maintained, there aren't any places to dump trash or use the restroom, so don't plan on doing that.

It's really not out of your way, there's a fair amount of spots for parking or relaxing for a bit, and the view is amazing. I'm sure it's great at night, but I was just there during the afternoon taking a few photos and cleaning up the seat next to me because my ice spilled.

If you're driving down to Palm Desert, or up to Idyllwild, definitely stop here for a few minutes and take in the view. It's actually quite nice. There's a fair bit of vandalism, but I reckon that's a problem everywhere. Doesn't take away from the...