The Coachella Valley is a large valley in Riverside County that extends approximately 45 miles southeast from the San Gorgonio Pass to the northern shore of the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley. It is 15 miles wide on average. The Coachella Valley is sometimes referred to as Greater Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Area because of the prominence and history of the city of Palm Springs.

Cities in the Coachella Valley include Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage.

Unincorporated communities in the Coachella Valley include Bermuda, Thousand Palms, North Palm Springs, Thermal, and Mecca.

In spite of the desert climate, agriculture is a major industry in the Coachella Valley as well as Imperial Valley to the south.

The San Gorgonio Pass, located just to the north of the Coachella Valley, is the location of the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm where thousands of large wind turbines make it one of the largest wind farms in the county.

 

Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge

The Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1985, is a 3,709-acre protected area in the Coachella Valley region of Riverside County. It lies just north of Palm Desert and in the unincorporated community of Thousand Palms. The refuge is mostly closed to the public. However, there is an equestrian trail that runs through a section of the refuge.

 

Palm Springs Historical Society

Palm Springs Historical Society, established in 1955, is a non-profit membership organization that operates two museums and a research center all located in Palm Springs, and all open to the public. Details are on their website including information about walking and biking tours, and special events, and rotating exhibits. Memberships and donations are welcome and help preserve the history of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

 

Coachella Valley History Museum

The Coachella Valley History Museum established in 1965 in Indio, is committed to preserving, sharing, and interpreting the history of the Coachella Valley in Riverside County. The museum, which started as the Coachella Valley Historical Society, is a non-profit, membership organization now operating from a six-acre campus that features numerous exhibits and a beautiful garden.

 

 

Palm Springs Convention Center

The Palm Springs Convention Center, constructed in 1974 and completely upgraded and renovated in 2005, has a capacity of 12,000 and serves the entire Coachella Valley. The 245,000 square foot facility is located in downtown Palm Springs and is owned by the city.

 

 

Palm Springs - Coachella Valley Air Museum

The Palm Springs - Coachella Valley Air Museum is a non-profit educational museum established in Palm Springs in 1996. The museum is located on the northeast side of Palm Springs International Airport and is visited by thousands of people each year. The 70,000 square foot facility is home to 29 vintage aircraft that helped the United States win World War II. In addition to the 29 aircraft and other artifacts, the museum's goal is to educate visitors about the role of pilots and other air crew members during the war.

 

Palm Springs Art Museum

The Palm Springs Art Museum, established in 1938, serves all of the Coachella Valley. It features both visual art and performing art. The museum has several locations. Performing arts takes place at the internationally known Annenberg Theater that seats 437.

 

Palm Springs International Airport

Palm Springs International Airport, formerly Palm Springs Municipal Airport, established in 1961, is a 940-acre airport with two runways. The general aviation airport serves all of the Coachella Valley. Annual aircraft operations currently exceed 60,000.

 

California Wing Civil Air Patrol

The California Wing of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is the highest level of the Civil Air Patrol in California. It is headquartered in Van Nuys which is a community in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. The California Wing includes more than 3,000 cadets and adult members at 77 locations across California, Squadrons of the California Wing include the following locations: Van Nuys, EI Monte, Pacoima, Santa Monica, La Verne, Torrance, Norwalk, Riverside, Palm Springs, Chino, Upland, Norco, Rialto, Hemet, Victorville, Big Bear City, Camarillo, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Simi Valley, Tehachapi, Rosamond , Bakersfield, Lancaster, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo, Chula Vista, San Diego, Escondido, and many others.

The California Wing Civil Air Patrol performs emergency services including search and rescue missions; offers cadet programs for young people, and provides aerospace education for both CAP members and the general public.

 

 

Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport

The Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport, formerly the Desert Resorts Regional Airport and the Thermal Airport, is a public airport located in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County about twenty miles southeast of the central business district of Palm Springs. The 1,850-acre facility has two paved runways and averages 60,000 aircraft operations each year. Nearly 100 aircraft are based at the airport.

 

Bermuda Dunes Airport

Bermuda Dunes Airport is a 105-acre, public use, privately owned airport located in Bermuda Dunes which is a town in the Coachella Valley about 13 miles east of central Palm Springs. The airport has one runway and averages over 40 operations per day. It currently offers no commercial operations. Approximately 140 aircraft are based at Bermuda Dunes Airport.

 

College of the Desert

College of the Desert is an accredited two-year, public community college in Palm Desert which is in the Coachella Valley region of Riverside County. The primary campus covers 160 acres in the Low Desert community and has approximately 13,000 enrolled students. Students can earn an Associate of Arts Degree, an Associate of Science Degree or a Certificate of Achievement in several academic areas. College credits are transferable to the University of California and all California State Universities. The college campus serves all of the Coachella Valley and the surrounding area.

 

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world. Opened in 1963, it provides the fastest and most efficient way of traveling from the floor of the Coachella Valley through Chino Canyon to near the top of San Jacinto Mountain Peak. The tramway's starting point is in Palm Springs. Prior to development of the tramway, the only way to reach San Jacinto Peak was to hike several hours starting at Idyllwild. The 80-passenger tram rotates constantly during the 12.5-minute trip so that passengers can easily view the beautiful, rugged mountains from all angles. The views from the top of San Jacinto Peak are spectacular stretching all the way to the Salton Sea and the mountains in western Nevada.

 

Whitewater Preserve and River

The Whitewater Preserve is a 2,867 acre wildlands conservancy in the San Bernardino Mountains and is part of the Sand to Snow National Monument. The perennial Whitewater River originates on San Gorgonio Mountain and then flows through the preserve into the Coachella Valley and beyond into the Mojave Desert where it terminates at the Salton Sea. The preserve has extensive hiking trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds. Whitewater, formerly White Water, is a census - designated place in Riverside County located on the west bank of the river. Whitewater is famous for its trout farm which is open to the public.

 

Santa Rosa Mountains

The Santa Rosa Mountains extend for about 30 miles along the western side of the Coachella Valley within Riverside County, San Diego County, and Imperial County in Southern California. The highest peak is Toro Peak located about 20 miles south of Palm Springs. It rises to 8,716 feet and is located just west of the Salton Sea. From its peak, the Salton Sea, Mountain San Gorgonio, Palomar Mountain, San Jacinto Peak, and Hot Springs Mountain are all clearly visible.

 

Lake Cahuilla

Lake Cahuilla is a beautiful lake surrounded by the Santa Rosa Mountains on the west side of the Coachella Valley in Riverside County. The lake is about eight miles from Indio. It provides individual and group camping sites, fishing, picnic areas, and both equestrian and hiking trails. While swimming is not permitted in the lake, there is a large swimming pool available for visitors. Lake Cahuilla should not be confused with the ancient Lake Cahuilla that no longer exists.

 

Mount San Jacinto State Park

Mount San Jacinto State Park, established in 1933, is a 14,000 acre state park located in the San Jacinto Mountains in Riverside County. Most of the park which is located at 10,834 feet above sea level, is located within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. Mount San Jacinto State Park is accessible by means of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway which is in Palm Springs.

 

Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve

The Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve, established in 2013, is an 880 acre preserve located on the northern edge of the Indio Hills in the Coachella Valley. The preserve is contiguous with other conserved areas that are collectively known as the Coachella Valley Preserve System. The preserve offers excellent views of the southern portion of Joshua Tree National Park and the Little San Bernardino Mountains.

 

Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks is a 932 acre park in northern Los Angeles County in the Sierra Pelona Mountains near Palmdale in the Antelope Valley. The park is famous for its unique rock formations resulting from sedimentary layering and seismic uplift that has taken place over thousands of years. Vasquez Rocks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Picnic areas, equestrian trails, and hiking trails are available and rock climbing is permitted.

 

Chino Canyon

Chino Canyon is a 5.5-mile-long desert canyon in Riverside County and one of the steepest in North America dropping over 8,500 feet. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was developed to travel from the canyon floor in the Coachella Valley to near its high point near the peak of San Jacinto Mountain.

 

Tahquitz Canyon

Tahquitz Canyon is a nature preserve located in Palm Springs within the Coachella Valley and the San Jacinto Mountains. The canyon is located within a section of the Agua California Indian Reservation. The Agua Caliente Band maintains a visitor center and a two mile long trail within the canyon which is open to the public. The trail leads to the Tahquitz Falls.

 

Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, established in 2016, manages the following local chambers: (1) Cathedral City Chamber established in 1981, (2) Coachella Chamber established in 1967, (3) Desert Hot Springs Chamber established in 2016, (4) Indio Chamber established in 1947, and (5) La Quinta Chamber established in 1950. The chamber offers numerous networking events and opportunities to get your business known and publishes a valuable business directory.

 

Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce

The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1937, serves its members with numerous promotional opportunities, an excellent membership directory, information forums, educational events, and much more. Members include businesses and organizations located throughout the Coachella Valley.

 

Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce, established in 2016, manages the following local chambers: (1) Cathedral City Chamber established in 1981, (2) Coachella Chamber established in 1967, (3) Desert Hot Springs Chamber established in 2016, (4) Indio Chamber established in 1947, and (5) La Quinta Chamber established in 1950. The chamber offers numerous networking events and opportunities to get your business known and publishes a valuable business directory.

 

Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce

The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce represents businesses in Rancho Mirage and the surrounding communities in the Coachella Valley. Its goal is to help its members prosper while helping to create prosperity for the community. Members are provided many opportunities to meet and interface with other members of the community. Members also receive valuable community information, educational opportunities, and are listed in a valuable community directory.

 

Colorado Desert

The Colorado Desert is a subregion of the larger Sonoran Desert. It includes Imperial County, parts of the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, parts of San Diego County, and a small section of San Bernardino County. Wildlife includes bobcats, mule deer, quail, desert tortoises, and bighorn sheep.

 

Desert Center - Lake Tamarisk

Desert Center, founded in 1921, is a small unincorporated community in the Colorado Desert located between Indio in the southern Coachella Valley and Blythe which is in eastern Riverside  County within the Palo Verde Valley of the Lower Colorado River Valley region. Lake Tamarisk is a desert resort community adjacent to Desert Center, consisting of a lake and golf course surrounded by 85 homes.

 

Historical Timeline - Coachella Valley

Satellite Map of California