The Long Way
Riverside County
A runner on a mountain trail overlooking a valley.
Plate I. Trail runner, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
An adult and a child walking on a trail with mountains in the background.
Plate II. Hikers on Pacific Crest Trail, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
A landscape view showing rocky hills and palm trees with hikers and cyclists on a trail.
Plate III. Art Smith Trail, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
A bighorn sheep stands on a rocky hillside.
Plate IV. Bighorn sheep, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
A sunset over hills with a curving road in the foreground.
Plate V. Winding road at sunset, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From visitgreaterpalmsprings.com
A dirt path winds through a desert landscape towards mountains with snow.
Plate VI. Mount San Jacinto, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
A walkway leads to the entrance of a building surrounded by desert landscaping and a bighorn sheep sculpture.
Plate VII. Visitor center, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
A rugged desert landscape with mountains in the background.
Plate VIII. San Jacinto Peak, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov
A desert landscape featuring palm trees and cacti at sunset.
Plate IX. Desert landscape, Palms to Pines Scenic Byway. From blm.gov

Palms to Pines Scenic Byway

Palm Desert, Riverside County, California. Scenic drive.

Details

Map. Palm Desert, Riverside County, California. Larger map
Where
51-500 Hwy 74, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Directions
When
Open Friday though Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Getting there
From Palm Springs, take Highway 111 east to Palm Desert, then Highway 74 west climbing into the Santa Rosa Mountain. At Mountain Center, take Highway 243 north to Banning and Interstate 10.
Fees
No Fees.
Access
Potable water is not available at this site.
Phone
(909) 382-2921
Managed by
San Bernardino National Forest.
Established
1996.

This 67-mile route will take you from Palm Desert past snow-peaked mountains to Banning Pass.

Notable Events

  1. 1929Riverside County road crews, assisted by prison labor, finished the Hemet to Idyllwild route. idyllwildtowncrier.com
  2. 1932Riverside County prison labor crews and the Federal Bureau of Public Roads constructed the remainder of SR 74 from Mountain Center to Palm Desert. idyllwildtowncrier.com
  3. 1971The byway was designated as a California State Scenic Highway in two sections and times. idyllwildtowncrier.com
  4. 1993The route was designated a National Forest Scenic Byway. idyllwildtowncrier.com
  5. 2000Congress established the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument by Act of Congress under Public Law 106-351, to preserve the nationally significant biological, cultural, recreational, geological, educational, and scientific values of the mountains the byway climbs. blm.gov
  6. 2012The Palms to Pines Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan was completed as a necessary precondition to submitting a nomination for designation as a National Scenic Byway. idyllwildtowncrier.com

Sources

  1. blm.gov/visit/palms-pines-scenic-byway
  2. fs.usda.gov/r05/sanbernardino/recreation/palms-pines-scenic-byway
  3. visitgreaterpalmsprings.com/california-deserts/regions/central/san-bernardino-national-forest
  4. blm.gov/visit/santa-rosa-and-san-jacinto-mountains-national-monument
  5. blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/california/santa-rosa-and-san-jacinto-mountains-national-monument
  6. idyllwildtowncrier.com/2011/12/20/draft-plan-for-palms-to-pines-scenic-byway-available
  7. idyllwildtowncrier.com/2012/10/31/palms-to-pines-scenic-byway-plan-compete-implementation-faces-hurdles
  8. blm.gov/visit/palms-pines-scenic-byway
  9. nsbfoundation.com/sb/palms-to-pines-scenic-byway-route-74-243