Art Smith trail hike

[Florian]

Hiked the first 4.5 miles or so of the Art Smith trail from hwy 74 this morning. Went up via the original trailhead. There was a fence that was easy to walk around and no closure signs. I turned around a bit before reaching Cat Creek. In retrospect i wish i'd gone down to the creek to see if there was any water. This is another of those local trails that i haven't hiked for a long time. There were no fences the last time i hiked here. I came down via the new trailhead with views into Bighorn CC. Anyone know where the Hopalong Cassidy trail goes?

A few pictures here .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fboyd/sets ... 48/detail/

I'll probably do a through hike from 74 to PS in the fall.

-Florian

[Perry]

It goes all the way downtown, just behind Target and the trailhead is behind Old Navy:
http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org/Modules ... mentid=616

I've done the Mike Shuler trail. Really nice!

[magikwalt]

The Art Smith Trail is great in early spring when the catcus blooms are are killer. Very few people go in past the 3 mile mark and the trails side flowers will fill a camera. From Palm Desert it is about 8 miles to where the trail meets Dunn Rd. There are a few picnic tables and an old bulldozer there. Its another 6.5 miles down Dunn Rd, cutting over to the north slope of Murray Peak Trail and into Rimrock Shopping Center. Or you could take the Hahn Buene Vista Trail from Dunn Rd over to the other side of Murray Peak and come down the Garstin Trail in South Palm Canyon.

Quick questions for your GeoCacheing side. Is the cache able the Lykken Trail (Mesquite Ave picnic tables) still there? I believe I have visited all the others but that one still elludes me.

[Florian]

I've hiked the Art Smith through a couple of times. I ususally come down the Shannon trail as it's near my house.

Is the cache above the Lykken Trail (Mesquite Ave picnic tables) still there?

Yes, it's still there. Tahquitz Overlook cache GC2569. I just visited it last Wednesday.

Perry, thanks for the info re Hopalong trail.

-Florian

[halhiker]

I really like the Art Smith and think it's a shame that so many people stick to the inferior Bump and Grind. Their loss.

This spring I thought the Art Smith had some of the best floral displays in the desert. I posted some pics on my blog on March 15.

http://hikeeveryday.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... t-art.html

A terrific loop using the Art Smith and the Hopalong Cassidy is to go up the Schey Trail from Cat Canyon and then go down the Art Smith, hang a left on the Hopalong and then go down the Schey Trail again. I did this March 24.

http://hikeeveryday.blogspot.com/2009/0 ... lazer.html

[Florian]

A terrific loop using the Art Smith and the Hopalong Cassidy is to go up the Schey Trail from Cat Canyon and then go down the Art Smith, hang a left on the Hopalong and then go down the Schey Trail again.

That does sound like a great loop. If i had known about the Hopalong trail i think i'd have done that on Monday instead of just up and down the Art Smith.

-Florian