If you’ve ever seen the cross illuminating the Santa Rosa Mountains in Palm Desert and wondered if you could hike to it, there’s a trail you should know about.
The Hopalong Cassidy trail, just off Highway 74, will take you right up to the cross, if you want. It’s one of the most spectacular trails in the Coachella Valley and a perfect one to start with as hiking season unofficially opens in the valley.
Hiking season, to be clear, is not actually year-round despite the region’s constant warmth and sunshine. No, temperatures often get a little too hot from June to September.
But by mid-October, as the temperatures cool, the conditions are ideal to get back on the trails.
The Hopalong Cassidy trail (or The Cross Trail, as it’s often referred) is one
of the favorites in the valley. But it’s still not often crowded, if you go at the right time.
It’s actually the perfect sunrise hike for those who live in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage. It is doable for beginners and offers a moderate climb, sweeping panoramic views and something truly unique at the top — a cross that stands 30-feet tall. After dark, the illuminated cross becomes a striking landmark visible from miles away.
For those who may be curious, Hopalong Cassidy was a fictional cowboy popularized in Western films and television. He was played by actor William Boyd who later lived in Palm Desert.
There are several ways, actually, to reach the cross, and the challenge varies. A popular option starts at Homme-Adams Park, following the Homestead Trail before connecting with Hopalong Cassidy. The route is 2.2 miles round-trip with around 689 feet of elevation gain.
For a longer trek, the Hopalong Cassidy trailhead on Painter’s Path (Bump and Grind Trail) allows hikers to explore more of the extensive hillside trail network.
The origin of the cross
The cross was first put up on the hill on Christmas Day in 1981 by Mark Stembler, a military veteran and art student at College of the Desert. Stembler built the cross out of wood, and he and some friends carried it to the hillside and wired it with lights.
The cross was held in place by a concrete foundation. Months later, a windstorm blew the wooden cross down and the concrete foundation with wood sticking out of it is still on the current site.
At some point, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church just below the trail on Highway 74 adopted the site and began rallying funds for a new one. By Easter of the following year, a new cross was raised. After years of it blowing down, the current aluminum cross was installed in 1996. It’s illuminated by 39 light bulbs that are powered by solar panels and can withstand winds of up to 100 knots.
The land where the cross sits is owned by Stone Eagle Golf Club and it’s adjacent to the club’s pristine course. But according to St. Margaret’s, the club and the church have a joint agreement that allows the cross to remain and for hikers to access it.
In 2014, a group of boy scouts carried a 200-pound “reflecting bench” up the trail as a part of an Eagles Scout project. The effort took five hours.
St. Margaret’s currently collects donations that help provide the cross with regular maintenance.
Today, the cross is a place of peace and reverence. Some meditate as the sun rises over the valley. It’s almost always quiet, even when several hikers are resting near the base of the cross.
Pro tips
The best advice I can offer on this trail is to not go mid-day. The trail is exposed, with no shade along the way, and even during the cooler months it can be grueling with the sun beating down. Also, bring water, even if you don’t think you’ll need it.
If you go while it’s dark, just make sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp for clear trail visibility.
It probably goes without saying that my favorite time to go on this hike is at dawn. Standing next to the cross, with the valley down below, as the sun rises is an ideal way to start the day. There’s an indescribable peace that comes from standing on the quiet mountaintop, looking at the busy valley below. Once up there, you almost don’t want to leave.
Location
The Hopalong Cassidy Trailhead is Homme-Adams Park in Palm Desert. It's located off Thrush Road, near Highway 74 (South Palm Desert), allowing you to connect to the trail via the Homestead Link.
Andrew John is an avid hiker and covers sports and recreation in the Coachella Valley for The Desert Sun. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Trail to the cross a classic Palm Desert hike. History, what to know
