Dos Palmas Preserve | California
This oasis with its hundreds of swaying fan palms offers sanctuary in the midst of the dry Colorado Desert. Pools fed by artesian springs and seepage from the nearby Coachella Canal form a lush wetland area. The exceptional habitat shelters a variety of both threatened or endangered and more common animal species. In thick stands of cattails, the elusive and endangered Yuma clapper rail builds its nest, while in the warm waters of the pools swims the desert pupfish, a relic species from the Pleistocene era.
The preserve is also home to the endangered orocopia sage plant. The 1,400-acre Dos Palmas Preserve is at the heart of the 20,000-acre Salt Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern, created to protect important biological resources. The BLM has worked with partners such as The Nature Conservancy and California Department of Fish and Game to acquire and manage this sensitive habitat, and with Ducks Unlimited to design wetland restoration projects. Dos Palmas Preserve is administered by BLM's Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office.
Accessibility Description (ABA/ADA)
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Public parking outside the gate is in a packed-gravel lot. Although none of the spaces are designated as accessible, the entire parking area should be suitable for people with mobility devices. An accessible single vault toilet sits next to the parking lot. The narrow gap in the wooden fence separating the parking area from the toilet, along with the lip near the toilet's entrance, may be a challenge for some visitors.
There is also a small area with interpretive panels about the history and ecology of the site at a height appropriate for visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. Cell phone reception is spotty.
Note: Descriptions and photos uploaded January 2025. Please note that actual on-the-ground conditions may vary due to natural events (e.g., weather, wildfires, erosion), normal wear and tear, or site improvements.
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