The Bump And Grind — Attraction in Palm Desert

Rare to find a site with a slightly covered (shaded) sitting-picnic area next to the street parking location where the trail begins.

You can choose shorter or longer routes yet in any case wear good walking shoes or hiking boots.

Paths can be narrow, rocky, and long stretches of upward climbs. I have acrophobia and did not realize some paths were narrow and scary personally for me.

Had to coax myself throughout the ordeal with each new twist and turn. I am glad my husband was patient! Amazingly some hikers, even wearing walking-running shoes, were confident and moving steadily.

No shade, which is typical in "desert" region vs. Northern California offers tree forrest hiking with plenty of trees and plant growth to get some respite-relief.

As advised bring water, yet we did not for our over two hours.

One drawback was how the directional signs were confusing. Glad we were not the only ones that found them unclear. Once back to the starting points few of us chatted to learn they too found sign(s) unclear because names of different trails run together. Similar to street signs or freeway numbers, one is the same as the other yet with different numbers-names.

Happy when we made it back! Sun was going down...(with cataracts, I have little depth perception.)

Overall challenging for me yet invigorating hike!

Would I do it again? Most likely no due to...

This is a popular local spot for a reason. The bump and grind trail is a great loop to get your daily exercise. Depending on which direction you start out, you will either have a very strenuous, steep, uphill climb right away, and then plenty of cool down later -OR- you will have a much easier start, with a much more gradual incline, but it doesn't level out for much longer and you start to feel the burn as the trek up keeps going and going. Either way, it is a great workout with nice views of Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage. If you are in decent shape, expect to complete the loop in just under an hour and a half. You can also use this as a starting point to get to other trails, but there are better trailheads for that nearby. Parking is on the street, behind the Target plaza.

I should also note that because this is such a popular place, you will see all types of people here reflective of the society we live in. Specifically, you will see people who litter, play their music really loud on speaker, bring dogs on the trail, bring dogs on the trail and let them go off leash, or bring dogs on the trail and let them go off leash and don't clean up their poop. My advice is do your best to ignore them and try to enjoy the views and...

Let Me Start By Giving A Shout Out to The "Neon Construction Workers" 'for All the Love You Put into Making this Hiking Trail. The City & Your Efforts Changed My Life Forever! ✝️ It Was Exactly What I Needed. With All the Tension in This Lifetime Right Now, it was a Blessing. This is a God's Gift to All. I feel Privileged to be a Part of Such Effort & Beauty put into this Trail. I hope they got a Huge Bonu$ for Risking their Safety for the Happiness of Others. I Give All the People that Made this Trail Happen a 👍. Everyone Should Get Out There & Breathe Life In!!! Bring a Flashlight & Water DO NOT BRING UNCUALIFIED DOGS ON THIS TRAIL.......!!!!!!!! IF you bring certain Animals on this Trail , You Should Stay Up on of this Mountain & Not Come Down! This is called Animal Cruelty!! Only TRAINED Hiking Dogs! Not LAP Dogs!!!! Just...