Mission Creek Preserve: An Easy and Beautiful Dog-Friendly Hike

Mission Creek Preserve: An Easy and Beautiful Dog-Friendly Hike

traceytlc

12 Feb, 2024

On a cloudy and overcast day, Cooper and I were going stir crazy and were in need of an adventure. We jumped in the truck and ended up at the Mission Creek Preserve for a dog-friendly hike. Located on a dirt road off of Highway 62 in Desert Hot Springs, the entrance was easy to find. We parked in a small area in front of a large, locked gate. From there, we headed down a wide path into the unknown. Read on to find out what we discovered.

Cooper sitting on a picnic table in a stone house at the Mission Creek Preserve
Cooper at the remains of a swimming pool which was once part of the T Cross K Ranch.

Remnants of the Past

Not too far from the entrance, we stumbled upon four stone, roofless buildings. Inside of each was a picnic table. As we continued to explore, we found the remains of a shallow swimming pool and a fireplace with a tall chimney. My curiosity was piqued.

Turns out this was once the T Cross K Ranch, a popular guest ranch in the early 1900’s. A 1938 advertisement shows rates for stays in the unique stone cottages to be $5 daily and $30 weekly per person. A main house stood where the fireplace is today. A fire in 1960 destroyed it and another building marking the end of the guest ranch. It eventually became part of the Wildlands Conversancy who owns the land today.

Coop posing on a rock with the creek behind him

Loving the Sounds and Sights of Mission Creek Preserve

As we meandered down the trail (more like a road), the sounds of Mission Creek babbling to our left kept us entertained. With all the recent rainfall, quite a bit of water rushed through the creek bed even though the Preserve is situated between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts. We climbed down some rocks to take a look at the creek. It’s not often you get to walk next to a natural water source in the desert. While water is not Coop’s favorite, we saw many dogs splashing about.

Lush wetlands in the center of the Preserve are home to an abundance of creatures and plants. We saw many birds flying overhead, but we did not spot any of the big horn sheep, deer, bears or mountain lions that call the area home. I can’t say I was disappointed that I did not see any mountain lions on our dog-friendly hike! Everything was very green. I expect the wildflowers will be incredible this spring.

Cooper sitting on a fence surrounding the stone house at Mission Creek Preserve.
Clean restrooms with running water were available on our dog-friendly hike

Arriving at the Stone House on Our Dog-Friendly Hike

A little over a mile and a half down the trail is a stone house. Surrounded by picnic tables, it is a nice place to take a break. Behind the house are bathrooms with running water. I found them to be very clean. While I did not venture inside the house, my understanding is that there are maps and informative displays inside.

The hike to the stone house is rather easy and almost all flat. There is one small uphill section that is not strenuous. If you have those in your party who prefer not to walk but still want to experience the beauty of the Mission Creek Preserve, you may request a day use pass to the stone house by clicking here. At least 48 hours notice is required.

Campers rejoice! You can camp at the Mission Creek Preserve. Pack your tent and propane stove and sleep under the beautiful night sky. Reservations are required. Click here to find out more.

A sign at the Mission Creek Preserve notating the different trails past the stone house to continue your dog-friendly hike.

Continuing Your Dog-Friendly Hike at the Mission Creek Preserve

Cooper and I did not travel past the stone house. We turned around and headed back to the car. All in all, we got in over 8400 steps. Not too shabby. However, from the stone house you can continue another two miles to the Pacific Coast Trail. From there, you can normally travel to the Whitewater Preserve. Unfortunately, the recent storms have caused damage along the riverbed trails connecting the two preserves, so don’t go.

A Few Tips

  • The address of the Mission Creek Preserve is 60550 Mission Creek Road, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240. The last mile or so is a dirt road suitable for most car models. GPS led me straight there.
  • The Preserve is open dawn to dusk.
  • The parking area is small, so you may need to park along the road.
  • It is pack it in/pack it out, so you will not find any trash cans along the way, but there are trash cans in the bathrooms.
  • Many interesting artifacts, rocks and plants dot the landscape. Do not take them with you. Leave them behind for others to enjoy.

Where is your favorite dog-friendly hike? Tell us in the comment section below.