Bob Hope’s house is perhaps the most iconic and noticeable residence perched high above South Palm Springs. I’ve always wanted to visit it, but it’s not open to the public and the private road that leads to it is guarded by a rather ominous sign that is either morbidly comical or disturbingly forewarning. So, what can a girl do to get close to this architectural wonder? Hike right to it, of course!
The Araby Trail, accessible from the Rimcrest/Southridge Road right off Highway 1-11, leads you right past the space-age estate and will leave you breathless (in any sense) with the stunning views of the plateau below. You will have to walk past a mobile home park on the left, and some condos built into the hillside on the right, before getting ¼ of a mile further on to the switchbacks that will take you up the side of the hill.
I absolutely love this trail, as it has a great path surrounded by occasional beautiful shrubs and cacti. In terms of difficulty, it is easy to moderate, depending on how far you want to go. If you hike to the top of the hill beyond Bob Hope’s house, your hike will give you an elevation gain of approximately 800 feet.
There are no picnic tables at the top of this trail, but there are several places where you can sit on large boulders for a well-deserved break, so be sure to bring some snacks and plenty of water, as always.
Around the World with the Duchess 