Touring * Beginner *

Approaching Palm Springs from the north on Interstate 10, take the Gene Autry Trail exit heading south to Palm Springs. After seven miles, turn right onto Ramon Road and watch for the sign for Demuth Park. Turn left (south) and park at the mouth of the westernmost parking lot off of Mesquite Avenue. Approaching from the south on Interstate 10, exit at Ramon Road in Thousand Palms and drive west for approximately five miles. Turn left at the sign for Demuth Park and follow the directions above. Map: Palm Springs Bicycle Touring Guide, available from the Community Recreational Services, 401 South Pavilion Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262; or by calling (619) 323-8272.

The Golf Course Bikeway allows visitors to get a glimpse of the fountains and ponds and gorgeous greens that make Palm Springs appealing to so many golfers. From this central point in the Coachella Valley, the distant views in all directions are fantastic, too. To the west you can easily spot Mount San Jacinto. At 10,804 feet, it is the second highest point around, rivaled only by San Gorgonio Mountain, which rises 11,499 feet on the north horizon. In the clear desert air, these snow-covered peaks stand in brilliant contrast against the blue sky. Starting from the baseball fields of Demuth Park, leave the gritty park sidewalk behind by skating west toward the lawns of Fairchild's Bel-Air Greens and Mesquite Golf and Country Club, both just across El Cielo Road. The bikeway passes through the Mesquite Golf Course, following along its north border. Here's a compelling reason to wear a helmet: one bad slice, and POW! The bikeway is well marked with signs at all entrances and intersections. As usual, you need to watch for wet patches caused by the constant watering necessary to ensure that the vast lawns will stay green in the hot climate of the Coachella Valley. Farrell Road bisects the Mesquite Golf Course, and at Farrell, you have to roll down a short slope to the left before reaching the street-level sidewalk. Traffic here is usually light enough that you can "jay-roll" across to the bikeway entrance on the other side. Otherwise, go north to the stoplight intersection at Ramon Road to cross and then come back down. More landscaped terrain follows on the west section of the golf course as you pass by a series of two-story condominiums. Just before exiting the golf course, you must cross a narrow old wooden bridge with big gaps and loose boards. Take it with some speed, keep your wheels lined up perpendicular to the gaps, and try to ignore the unsettling noise and vibration of the rattling wooden slats. You exit the golf course onto a street that takes you one block west to Sunrise Way. Turn left on Sunrise and proceed one block south to a bridge. You will see the trail between the river (or riverbed, depending on the time of year) and North Riverside Drive. Cross Sunrise Way (there is no pedestrian crosswalk or stoplight) to continue skating on a landscaped sidewalk path toward the west. The view of the San Jacinto range from North Riverside Drive is quite nice, and the street is quiet. The trail ends just short of Palm Canyon Drive and immediately beyond the pedestrian/bikeway bridge that crosses to Camino Real. After returning to Demuth Park, intrepid explorers may want to climb the short sidewalk path on its south border to get to the ridge-top bike path that continues east toward Rancho Mirage. Along here, stunning views of the mountain ranges across the green valley are sometimes marred by the presence of chain-link fences. The quality of the pavement on this trail varies, from poor to fair asphalt road for the most part, to a nasty section of concrete on the underpass for the Gene Autry Trail, which is textured with ridges to aid in golf cart traction. The trail begins alongside the golf courses occupying the Tahquitz Creek and Palm Canyon Channel and eventually brings you to the local water slides. Turn right at the water slide trail junction to continue on your way to Rancho Mirage and the Tahquitz Creek Golf Course.