This place is great for all ages. First, its easy to find as the only road there ends at the preserve. Be aware that there is very limited parking so get there early. There are a few manmade ponds that are very clean and next to them are many picnic benches to enjoy a meal at. There is zero food to buy there so you must bring your own. Oh and dogs are allowed everywhere here. Plenty of shade also for the picnic tables. Further in are many hiking trails with a lot of level trails with no elevation gain for the very young and older folks. But if you want a more serious hike you'll find them here too. And since your in the desert there is no elevation and the oxygen depravation associated with mountain hikes. Look for the herd of big horn sheep too!

What a nice surprise. Not far off the freeway. Worth a stop bring some snacks and some comfortable walking shoes so u can explore. There is a “pond” that you can get in. So if it’s hot, bring your bathing suit. So many places to taking some nice pics. Plenty of parking. Restrooms on sight. Many hiking trails to enjoy.

Wow! What a beautiful oasis in the IE. Truly a paradise just a quick drive away. We went for a short hike and decided that we're going to have to make a camping trip out of our next visit. We saw plenty of flora and fauna and even bighorn sheep 🐑 up on the eastern ridge! And the man-made ponds near the parking lot are an easy and very pretty walk. One is even designated for wading, which is a nice cool treat during hot days. A very family friendly place to visit. There are clean restrooms that do require masks 😷 upon entry, and marked trails to enjoy for all ages. FYI, although parking is limited, ♿ parking is available. We also enjoyed a nice, unscheduled, very informative chat with Ranger Lucas while out walking the trails, so please do take advantage of the rangers knowledge and stop by to see them. Looking forward to seeing more of the preserve!

Whitewater Reserve is a lovely place to visit with breathtaking scenery. I loved every second of my visit here! It is a small reserve with plenty of shade and trails that branch out through the hills. I loved looking at the crystal clear lagoons on site and dipping my toes into the wading pool. I came on a Sunday morning at 10 am and the parking lot was already full. The picnic tables (although plentiful) were already mostly taken, It's a pretty popular spot. I would arrive as early as possible to ensure you get parking close to the reserve. We left at around 12 pm and people were still steadily streaming in. I really appreciated the clean restrooms that were available, they even had hand soap! This is an amazing place to visit for anything really. I can imagine coming back here for a romantic afternoon picnic or just to sit and meditate in the grass.

I've been here many times, hiked the different trails and it never gets old. Great place to walk, hike, get away from all the city noise. Very easy hiking trail with some more difficult ones to choose from if ur up for the challenge, many have rewarding views of Mt. San Jacinto. Staff from the preserve are VERY FRIENDLY. They welcome you to the preserve and are very willing to answer any questions you have.

So worth the little detour! We had a little picnic under the Aspen trees. If you're willing to hike, there is a swimming hole that everyone goes to. We did not have the time, unfortunately.

So much beauty. Bring a picnic or some snacks. Enjoy the scenery or go on a hike. When we come back, we will be doing some hiking. Parking is tricky, so plan to go early.

We had a nice walk around. Had a nice visit with a couple of staff members and guests. We enjoyed our time and hope to come back during the week for a picnic with family.

A beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert. Easy walking trails are great for kids. Make sure to bring water because it's can get very hot!

Such a fantastic getaway and such a short drive from Palm Springs. Great seating area for picnics. I was there today on a Monday afternoon and there was hardly anyone around. Lots of parking and easy walking trails

It was a beautiful Sunday and I wanted to go on an outing in search of wildflowers. We have had a lot of rain, relatively speaking, and the desert was in bloom. So we headed up to Whitewater preserve. The road in is amazing with all the different rock formations and terrains. We saw a waterfall sprouting out of the side of one of the mountains and I kept my eye open for Big Horn Sheep which are known to frequent the area. Parking is always difficult... Especially on the weekends so the parking lot closest to the ranger station and fish pond was full. We were able to find parking along the roadside. Lots of hiking opportunities are available in the area and the scenery is beautiful. I highly recommend it this time of year when the water is flowing and the wildflowers are blooming.

This is my new favorite getaway. Spent the day here with my squeeze and we both didn’t want to leave. Best barely known wilderness ever…Um, nevermind, horrible place! Don’t go! Stay away! There’s zombies and rabid wolves! Our smiles were due to sheer panic from the hordes of brain eating creatures! Stay away!

This place is really beautiful, but it is not suitable for summer. At least in August and September, I think the wind here is hot. If you walk towards the creek, you may suffer from heat stroke. There are no trees to block the sun.

Me and my wife arrived when the gates opened at 8am on a Sunday. We were the only ones in the parking lot; which is free. The picnic area (ample amounts of tables and shade) was very nice and the bathrooms were very clean. The multiple water features at the visitor center were fantastic. We hiked the Canyon View loop trail. Which was a moderate hike with pretty good elevation change. The elevation changes offer stunning views, so it’s worth the effort. We also explored the river bed and surrounding areas. Overall, this was a great place for a day trip to hike, picnic and enjoy nature.

Beautiful location with a everything from short beautiful strolls to miles of hiking trails. And it's all free! Wildlands Conservancy is an amazing gift to the public.

Great place for outdoor recreation. You can have a family picnic. A beautiful oasis emerges from the desert. Easy walking paths, but it is better to leave the dog at home in hot weather. Take water with you because it can be very hot! Beautiful photos can be taken here.

I was at the Preserve a week prior as well and the difference in the spring super bloom was quite evident. This is one of my favorite hikes, but the water in the river was flowing heavily and access to the mountain hikes was prohibited this time so it was mostly viewing flowers this time. Beautiful!

Hidden gem! Trails and picnic area were very clean. Bathrooms were clean as well. Dog friendly place. Parking is small but if you get there early enough you can find parking in the camp site. Trails were nice and clean. Water was amazing.

A very unexpected place to visit out in the desert. And so beautiful. From the manmade lake and wading pool to the real stream of water flowing from the mountains and the gorgeous landscape. And all for free! This place is not to be missed.

This is the most beautiful oasis we’ve seen in this valley. The canyon view trail provides great vista to see miles of canyon with green oasis along the river. Great picnic spots near visitor center and good bird watching area! There are hummingbirds feeder attracts a lot of hummingbirds by the pond. Strongly recommended for a day trip.

Went in the late Winter Stunning scenery with wildflower wonders! Friendly rangers with small educational signage in visitors center Several trails in excellent maintenance to enjoy—from easy, flat, short walks to climbing for views What a gift to the public! Deep gratitude to the Wildlands Conservancy!!!

I lived in SoCal for many years. And I’d cruise over to the Whitewater Preserve at least 8-10 a year to hike and disconnect. It’s very beautiful! Super hot in the summer months, perfect for winter desert trekking. Watch out for rattlesnakes, always in the mornings especially.

Absolutely stunning place! Loved spending time there and listening the nature.