Art Smith Trail
I don't know where the Art Smith Trail actually ends up but I know where it starts and I know that it's a nicely maintained trail that heads up into the mountains south of Palm Desert. The trail head is just across from the visitors' center as you start to go up the grade on Rte 74 from Palm Desert. Once you get up the trail a little, you can see quite a bit of the valley including a bird's eye view of Big Horn Golf Club. When you continue up, you come across several palm tree clusters, the green of which is in stark contrast to the mostly desert scrub and rocky terrain of the area.
Click here to see a topo map with my route and its elevation profile. This is a large (500KB) file so it may take a while to load.
Art Smith Trail Photos
Click on these thumbnails to see larger (640 x 480) versions.
In general they are in order of going up the trail starting with the sign at the trail head across from the Visitors Center and ending with yours truly at the top... well maybe not the top but as far as I got on December 8, 2000.
L to R: Sign at the Art Smith trail head, looking up the wash and looking up the canyon up which the trail meanders.
L to R: The metal Art Smith Trail 1977 sign, looking down the trail and looking down the trail from higher up.
L to R: Looking out over the valley from the trail sign, down the trail again and me at the first oasis.
L to R: The first oasis without me, me at the top as far as I went and finally, three of the upper oases.