Just behind our condos and the adjacent golf course we had spied a rough parking area and a sign the said trailhead. A bit of sleuthing and we discovered an area called Desert Regional Park and Indio Hills Badlands. The trail close to us was the East Indio Hills Trail.
To get a sense of the landscape you first must see the landscape on and around the golf course. Here is a pic of a foursome on a tee. This is target golf. The greens and grassy landing spots are watered . Hit it anywhere else and you are in the desert with the rattlesnakes.
We parked in the rutted parking area, crept over an embankment, crossed the irrigation canal on a golfers’ bridge, and found the trailhead. It led up into seemingly barren desert hills.
However, you might note the lupine blooming at Jean’s feet. They weren’t the only flowers in this desert.
The canal was filled as well from recent rains.
When we return to Indio this is a place we want to visit again.
Paul
Travels With Picasso 
I would love the flowers but giving my ignorance I might pick rattle snake by the tail instead. I think I should abstain from playing in such fields. Looks beautiful though. Thank you for sharing with all of us.