Fall 2024
Joshua Tree & Anza-Borrego Ride
Spend six days cycling through Southern California’s beautiful desert landscapes
About the Ride
We begin our experience with sweeping desert views, diverse ecosystems, and the fascinating history of Joshua Tree National Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
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Palm Springs, CA
Known for its towering boulder piles and the twisty, spiky trees that speckle its landscape, Joshua Tree sits where the high Mojave Desert meets the lower Colorado Desert. Then on to Anza-Borrego, where jagged spires, desert flora, and endangered bighorn sheep await.
Expect majestic views, heart-pumping ascents and time out of the saddle to immerse ourselves in the landscape. This is an ideal winter ride for intermediate to experienced cyclists, and with an e-bike rental, we can make the climbs achievable for newer riders too. This is full six days of cycling with hotels at night.
Event Details
Positive Planet Impact
Full Event Story
This philanthropic adventure will challenge you and deepen your connection to our public lands. We have daily cycling mileages to suit all types of cyclists. This is a fully supported ride which means that intermediate to advanced riders can choose options that meet your cycling goals. You can focus on pedaling and making connections with your new friends while we take care of everything from overnight details, to meals, snacks, luggage transport, and much more to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Bike rental (drop, flat bar, or e-bike)l is available through our local outfitter. In registration, you can select from Climate Ride’s full list of beneficiaries. Please learn more in the FAQ below.
Climate Ride Joshua Tree operates through REI Adventures, a permitted tour operator within these national parks and state parks.
Photo Gallery
Itinerary Overview
Itinerary subject to change, your Ride Guide will include full details.
Each days routes can be lengthened or shortened depending on your ride goals!
Day 1
Cycling: 48.3 miles (5–7 hours, paved road)
Elevation gain/loss: +3,142’/-3,844′
Van transfer: 1 hour
Today is all about Joshua Tree National Park. We meet this morning in the lobby of our host hotel in Palm Springs, California. We travel to the north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park for our bike fitting, then hop into the saddle. We ride through the most stunning areas of Joshua Tree before descending to Keys View and being rewarded with sweeping vistas of Coachella Valley.
Joshua Tree is a mecca for rock climbers, we’ll most likely see a few as we roll through the park. After the invigorating climb back from Key’s View, we will descend into the town of Twentynine Palms to visit the Oasis of Mara and spend the night indoors. Lunch and dinner included.
Day 2
Cycling: 46.3 miles (4–7 hours, paved road)
Elevation gain/loss: +3,418’/-3,587′
Van transfer: 30 mins
Bonus Miles: You can add 30 miles to this day
After a quick breakfast, we”ll cycle back into Joshua Tree National Park. Today, we’ll ascend through the park before an exhilarating descent through the various “life zones” of this desert landscape—areas of similar plant and animal communities. We leave behind the majestic Joshua Trees and soon find ourselves surrounded by beautiful valleys of ocotillo and cholla cacti.
If the timing’s right, blooming red ocotillo flowers will dot the landscape, looking like small flames in the desert. Combining the surreal and majestic vistas with 3,600 feet of descent as we glide into the Coachella Valley will brighten your eyes and make that smile hard to lose! A well-deserved rest awaits as we head to our hotel in the Coachella Valley to recover from our two days of riding through Joshua Tree. All meals included.
Day 3
Cycling: 49.4 miles (5–7 hours, paved road)
Elevation gain/loss: +1,447 ‘/-2,754’
Van transfer: 1 hour
Coachella Valley to Borrego Springs
Today we transfer to a classic ride, Box Canyon Rd. through Mecca Hills Wilderness. 20 miles of inspiring nature and gentle descents make for a wonderful trip through solitude, eventually bringing us to one of the strangest anomalies of the southwest, the Salton Sea.
After digesting the local lore and a satisfying lunch, we transfer down along the Salton Sea to begin our next cycling adventure through the epic Badlands and Wildflower springs of Anza-Borrego till we roll into Borrego Springs, our home for the next two nights. At dinner, we’ll review options for the next day which could be a rest day or two cycling options on bikes. All meals included.
Day 4
Cycling: 21.8 miles, self-guided (2–3 hours, paved road), Elevation gain/loss: +1,423’/-1,421
Cycling: 19.6 miles, guided (3–4 hours, paved road), Elevation gain/loss: +376’/-376′
Borrego Springs Loop Rides (longer options available)
Bonus Miles: You can add 40+ miles to this day
After breakfast, we will embark on a guided 22-mile challenge loop ride in the desert that ends with a strenuous climb and exhilarating descent. The town of Borrego Springs boasts unique sculptures. On both rides, we’ll return to our hotel in the afternoon for some well-deserved rest before dinner. If you need a rest day, this is the day to take it. Participants wishing to take the entire day off from cycling, or just do one of the rides, can do so as well. In the evening, our guides will meet the group for dinner and discuss tomorrow’s challenges. Breakfast, dinner included.
Day 5
Cycling: 25.6 miles (4–6 hours, paved road), Elevation gain/loss: +4,211’/ -514′
After breakfast, we start the slow and steady ascent up the Cuyamaca Mountains into Julian, California with more than 4,000′ of elevation gain over the course of 25.6 miles. Captivating vistas accompany our climb as we transition from sprawling desert to crisp pine forests.
We arrive in the small gold mining town of Julian. Here we take some time to explore the kitschy and charming old-west town before settling into our lodge for the night. Feeling like you want more saddle time? We have options for additional mileage to really put an exclamation point on the day. All meals included.
Day 6
Cycling: 34.8 miles (5–7 hours, paved road), Elevation gain/loss: +1,609’/-3,541′; Van transfer: 2 hours
Today’s route takes us around the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve and close to a desert section of the PCT. After six days of riding, the last ten miles of descent will be a well-deserved treat and a wonderful chance to soak in the majesty around us. If we’re lucky, the area will be covered in a smattering of wildflowers that usher us down into the San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area where we will end our ride, maybe alongside some PCT hikers continuing their own epic journey. Once there, we load up and journey to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center for lunch.
Then off to Palm Springs, where our guides are happy to drop off at Palm Springs International Airport or at our host hotel. All departing flights should be scheduled for after 8pm. Breakfast and lunch included.
Ready to get started?
FAQs and More Info
Travel Information
We meet in Palm Springs at our host hotel at 8am on the start date. You can park your car for the week at the hotel.
On the last day of the event, we’ll return the host hotel in Palm Springs or drop you at the Palm Springs International Airport. All departing flights should be scheduled for after 4:45 pm.
Can I rent a bike?
Yes, you can rent a bike through our local outfitter, including e-bikes. They will bring your bike to the trip start. Rental prices vary for the week, depending on the style of the bike.
Cannondale SuperSix EVO Disc 105
- $291.74
Trek Emonda SL7 Disc
- $410.59
- $291.74
More information is available once you register.
What is the single supplement cost?
If you would like to have your own room every night of the trip, the cost is $635.
If you request a roommate, we’ll do our best to pair you with someone, but if we cannot, the single supplement fee will apply.
What’s NOT included?
- Bike helmet (required)
- transportation to/from the start point hotel
- insurance of any kind
- excess baggage charges or airport taxes (if any)
- alcoholic beverages or soft drinks
- optional guide gratuities
- items of a personal nature
What does my fundraising support, and why is it so important?
Cyclists can choose from the more than 100 incredible beneficiary organizations in our network! One of the things that make Climate Ride such an effective charitable event is that you can select the organization(s) you wish to fundraise for from our extensive list of beneficiary organizations. Our beneficiaries were selected for their work on the environment, conservation, sustainability, climate education, and active transportation advocacy. At the end of the year, Climate Ride grants the proceeds from our events to these hard-working organizations.
Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates
Fundraising Deadlines:
| $500 Fundraising Deadline: | August 24, 2023 |
|---|---|
| $2,000 Fundraising Deadline: | September 28, 2023 |
| Transfer Deadline: | October 1, 2023 |
| $4,000 Fundraising Deadline: | October 10, 2023 |
Transfer Deadline: October 1, 2023
Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!
More Questions?
Be sure to review our general FAQ and policies or contact us!
