32.3 miles
Distance
3,739 ft
Climb
-7,647 ft
Descent
4,344 ft
High Point

Section 5 of a series of connecting mountain bike trails from Southern California to Canada. This section is entirely on singletrack, and utilizes some of the Palm Canyon Epic Trail.

Detailed Description
California to Canada Section 5- Palm Springs is a 32 mile popular expert route located near Palm Desert California. This mountain bike only route. This route includes 6 trails. This route climbs 3,739 ft with a max elevation of 4,344 ft then descends -7,647 ft.
Local Trail Association
Local trail association
Inland Valley Mountain Bike Association (www.ivmtb.org)
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64 Reviews & Comments


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Details

  • Riding area
  • Primary Activity
    Mountain Bike
  • Difficulty rating
    Black Diamond
  • Route Type
    Point to Point
  • Bikepacking
    Yes
More Stats for California to Canada Section 5- Palm Springs mountain bike route
  • Avg time
    6 hr 51 min
  • Altitude change
    -3,908 ft
  • Altitude min
    240 ft
  • Altitude start
    4,325 ft
  • Altitude end
    417 ft
  • Grade
    -2.3%
  • Grade max
    -51.5%
  • Grade min
    47.8%
  • Distance climb
    12 miles
  • Distance down
    18 miles
  • Distance flat
    2 miles

Directions

  1. Walk southwest on Pinyon to Palm Connector.
  2. Continue for 4 kilometers.
  3. Walk northeast on Palm Canyon Epic.
  4. Continue for 8 kilometers.
  5. Walk north on Palm Canyon Epic.
  6. Continue for 7 kilometers.
  7. Walk northwest on Palm Canyon Epic.
  8. Continue for 2 kilometers.
  9. Turn right onto Dry Wash Trail.
  10. Continue for 2 kilometers.
  11. Walk east on Dry Wash Trail.
  12. Continue for 3 kilometers.
  13. Turn left onto Dunn Road.
  14. Continue for 1 kilometer.
  15. Turn right onto Art Smith Trail from Dunn Rd..
  16. Continue for 30 meters.
  17. Keep left to stay on Art Smith Trail from Dunn Rd..
  18. Continue for less than 10 meters.
  19. Keep left to stay on Art Smith Trail from Dunn Rd..
  20. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
  21. Walk south on Art Smith Trail from Dunn Rd..
  22. Continue for 5 kilometers.
  23. Walk southeast on Art Smith Trail from Dunn Rd..
  24. Continue for 4 kilometers.
  25. Make a sharp left onto Hopalong Cassidy I.
  26. Continue for 1 kilometer.
  27. Walk northwest on Hopalong Cassidy I.
  28. Continue for 6 kilometers.
  29. Walk northwest on Hopalong Cassidy I.
  30. Continue for 1 kilometer.
  31. Make a sharp left to stay on Hopalong Cassidy I.
  32. Continue for 3 kilometers.
  33. Walk west on Hopalong Cassidy I.
  34. Continue for 600 meters.
  35. Turn left onto Mike Schuler Trail.
  36. Continue for 1.5 kilometers.
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Trail Conditions
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  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
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Radar Time
x Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public ridelogs from the past 6 months.
  • mountain biking recent
  • mountain biking (>6 month)
  • hiking (1 year)
  • moto (1 year)
Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public skilogs from the past 12 months.
  • Downhill Ski
  • Backcountry Ski
  • Nordic Ski
  • Snowmobile
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youtuber Palm Canyon Epic Mountain Bike Trail 2025 PCE
Palm Canyon Epic Mountain Bike Trail 2025 PCE
36:00 | 28 | comments: 0 | favs:
Mar 24, 2025
youtuber Palm Canyon Epic Mega Guide | Part 1: Opening DH
Palm Canyon Epic Mega Guide | Part 1: Opening DH
6:36 | 1459 | comments: 0 | favs:
Feb 5, 2019

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
Art Smith Trail from Dunn Rd.
Mar 28, 2025 @ 2:57pm
Mar 28, 2025
This is a hiking trail used by MTBr's. No flow, jerky, lots of tight twist and turns, pedal strikes, punch up hills. I guess guys ride this because of the lack of other trails to ride in the area. Better off riding Art Johnson to the left. Also, avoid Hopalong. Endless rock slides and hike-a-bikes.
Palm Canyon Epic
Mar 22, 2025 @ 5:08pm
Mar 22, 2025
The Agua Caliente Reservation rangers had two rangers stationed at the trail head warning bikers that the trail was closed approximately 10 miles down when the Palm Canyon Trail travels onto Reservation private property. They now have a sign at the trail head stating that you can't ride on reservation lands. Your only options are to either not ride the trail or go down and walk back up the trail with your bike. So I don't recommend riding this trail until BLM works out some sort of agreement with the reservation or re-routes the trail.
Dry Wash Trail
Mar 1, 2025 @ 8:16am
Mar 1, 2025
It looks like the Dry Wash trail got a little rain but still loose sand which makes this a slog climb.
Mike Schuler Trail
Feb 21, 2025 @ 10:15am
Feb 21, 2025
Dunn Road
Dec 12, 2024 @ 9:51pm
Dec 12, 2024
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians received donations of land from Friends of the Desert Mountains and the California Forest Service. In every case on Tribal land, mountain biking is prohibited on trails. At this date, it is unknown if any bike access to Indian Potrero Trail is allowed. I've requested map information from the ACBCI office that has this information.
more reports »
  • By connorhmeansTF Pro & contributors
  • #44703 - 528 views