High Desert Eden, Live in Luxury in the Midst of a Wildlife Sanctuary

• The Perfect Getaway

  The Perfect Getaway

  • Guest Geo family
  • Date of stay 03/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/05/13
  What a fantastic place to get away from the rat race of life. The High Desert Eden is located in an area that has easy access to both the greater Palm Springs (Including Desert Hot Springs) area and to the adventures of Joshua Tree National Park. But, this extends to additional reaches of the High Desert, which includes historic Pioneertown, remote Canyons with old growth Junipers and Joshua Trees, and easy access to the nearby Pioneertown Mountain Reserve. The Casita is located on a lovely 22 acre property with stunning views of the Flat Top Volcanic Mesa’s to the East and the Sawtooth Mountains to the West and Southwest. The dramatic skylines make for beautiful sunrise and sunsets. You can spend your evenings watching the sunset from the Casita porch or by a comfortable fire in the desert. The property is 100% off of the power grid and relies on solar and wind power. A chance to experience how possible it is to live off of the grid. The Casita is a very clean, comfortable and well decorated. The beds are cozy with clean sheets, duvets and fluffy pillows. The kitchen is well equipped with all of the essential needs to prepare your own food. Laundry facilities are new and convenient. If you choose, there is Satellite TV to keep up with what is going on in the world. One should plan for a lengthy stay as you will find endless things to do in the area. Our 10 day stay was simply not long enough. Some of the activities we did in the area included: - a lots of local hikes to the west into the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve which were accessed right from the property. -hikes in nearby remote canyons with old growth Joshua Trees and Juniper Trees. -exploring nearby historic Pioneertown and dinner at the famous Pappy and Harriet’s. -multiple hiking trips into the nearby Joshua Tree National Park. -a few visits to the Desert Hot Spring for a soak. -a ride up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up to San Jacinto Peak. -a tour of the Noah Parifoy desert art exhibit. A stunning display. -photography, and more photography. The whole area is a photographers paradise. Sunrise and sunsets are always stunning with a wonderful desert glow. The rock formations make for interesting geometry, textures and colors. Lots of wildlife on the property. At night the skies are clear and the stars are bright if you are a night photographer as I am. You will find there are so many things to do from High Desert Eden. We plan to return in the future to explore ma

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, families with young children, sightseeing.

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• Come have fun and restore your soul.

  Come have fun and restore your soul.

  • Guest Ginny
  • Date of stay 03/10/13
  • Review Submitted 03/19/13
  These words offer a glimpse of High Desert Eden: unique, a treasure, special, full of surprises, soulful. They give a taste of what is in store for the traveler who can take some time to experience bliss, wonder and fun! Robin, an internationally renowned author, and her husband, Max, an esteemed yoga master, have created a wonderland to share with others. The casita is spacious, warm, inviting, full of art, books (and binoculars), and open to the environment with large windows and an inviting sleeping porch. One can begin the day with the red glow of an upcoming sunrise, and then experience the brightness of the full sun coming over the mesa. Throughout the day the birds, rabbits and other desert animals appear as if by magic all around the property. The sky is a gorgeous blue. The rocks are a wonder. As you wander the grounds, you see true desert gardens with raked paths solar lit for nighttime excursions! In the evening, one can sit and watch the stars unimpeded by any light pollution. I have been here with my husband in August and with junior high school girlfriends in March. Each season is special in its own way. And I invite everyone to search the nooks and crannies of the property to find such things as the wishing bell, marriage rock, the calico cat with the butterfly, the yoga mat on yoga rock with the little elephant statue, the seven dancing women, the multicolored rock circle, two Buddhas at least, an outside exercise room, the koi pond with my favorite – the driftwood bird with the multicolor rake tail, and of course so much more. If you can bear to leave the property there are lots of local places to visit such as Pioneertown and Joshua Tree. This is a place you will feel lucky to have visited and will want to come back for more.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• perfect "girls" reunion

  perfect "girls" reunion

  • Guest Lin
  • Date of stay 03/10/13
  • Review Submitted 03/15/13
  I have just returned home from a four night stay at High Desert Eden and can't say enough about what a magical experience it was! The cassita was great....spotless, super comfortable beds, fully equipped kitchen, two eating areas (one on the screened porch), small library...with many choices, etc., etc. Outside activities are endless...there are 22 acres to explore. At night the star gazing is incredible. Did I mention the sunrises and sunsets to view :) My friends and I spent a full day at Joshua Tree State Park, just a short drive from HDE...we took a picnic and ate it atop the rocks! Robin and Max, the owners of HDE are the perfect hosts...so willing to share their extensive knowledge of the area. High Desert Eden is truly "Heaven on Earth"

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway.

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• Fantastic!

  Fantastic!

  • Guest james g.
  • Date of stay 01/02/13
  • Review Submitted 01/14/13
  What a great place, in a great location, with superb hosts!! If you are looking to get off the beaten track and feel you are really in the desert, this place is it (ie. more so than some of the other properties around JT). The house itself is very comfortable and well equipped, and Robin is a pure gem - a really lovely lady who knows how to make you feel welcomed and at home. We stayed with two teenage sons who slept comfortably on a sofa bed and a sofa. We also slept out on the porch one night - it was beautiful but in winter so decided once was enough!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, people with disabilities, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Serene and lovely getaway 2hrs from LA

  Serene and lovely getaway 2hrs from LA

  • Guest Katie
  • Date of stay 11/21/12
  • Review Submitted 12/07/12
  My family of 4 plus another couple were very lucky to snag this rental over Thanksgiving weekend (2012). There was something for everyone: our boys ran loose on the enormous property, playing hide-and-seek in the boulders, playing bocce ball, lounging on the huge sofas, and using a magnet to collect iron "stardust" in the dry river bed. The adults enjoyed the great selection of books, the outdoor firepit under the stars, the fully equipped kitchen, the sunrise walks and wildlife, the binoculars and star-maps provided, finding petroglyphs in the adjoining Preserve, learning about desert oaks and other plants, and the comfortable beds. We enjoyed a multicourse Thanksgiving meal in style, and all enjoyed to chance to relax and reconnect. Our fun outings included Pappy and Harriet's in Pioneertown and hot springs in Desert Hot Springs. Joshua Tree is also nearby. The hosts, Robin and Max, were super helpful and fun to meet. We'll be back!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

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• Peace. Beauty. The perfect escape.

  Peace. Beauty. The perfect escape.

  • Guest Cara
  • Date of stay 11/23/12
  • Review Submitted 11/28/12
  Its difficult to write a classic review in this type of format when truthfully I've had to write poetry to describe my experience this weekend because prose just doesn't cut it. I suppose I was "ready to receive it" as Picasso said but, this place is simultaneously powerful and peaceful. Walking under the observation deck dome of blankets of stars, I went to my yoga session with Max on Friday night where i was opened. he is one of those rare practitioners who is widely and diversely mastered and uses his various magiks on an as needed basis. I needed. I gotted. Slept. like. a log. Saturday morning was slowed ... down to desert time... I worked on my writing, made and ate breakfast in multiple parts; coffee on the screened porch after taking stunning sun rise shots. I went in to Joshua Tree for a full on, uber satisfying day of rock climbing. Epilogued with a beautiful, insightful talk with Max and Robin. Such lovely, earnest, open, generous, truthful people. Sunday morning. Oh Sunday morning. What can i share in this forum? The short version: I woke, I walked in to the desert, hiked in to utter ancient solitude, I communed with The Burning Bush and in exchange for an acorn I gave it the last of my water, he needed it more than I did. I practiced yoga on a rock, made lunch of salmon and a red pepper on the open fire; supped and packed for home. High Desert Eden, I will be back.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, people with disabilities, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Relaxing, Quiet and Well Equipped Casita

  Relaxing, Quiet and Well Equipped Casita

  • Guest Eric C.
  • Date of stay 09/07/12
  • Review Submitted 09/10/12
  Max and Robin greeted us with warm smiles and made sure we knew what was available to us. Once we settled in the peacefulness was what we felt first. A very nicely kept property with lot's of amenities and everything you'd need to make your stay comfortable. My wife and I slept on the screened porch/patio area as the night temperatures were perfect. Falling asleep to a sky full of stars and waking in the morning to a colorful sunrise was one of our favorite parts of the stay. This was the perfect location for our stay as we visited The Integretron for a soothing sound bath and went to an fun rock show at Pappy and Harriets. You're still close to Joshua Tree National Park. On our next visit we will certainly look to stay at the Desert Eden first. Thank you Max and Robin for such a wonderful stay!!!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Awesome Experience!

  Awesome Experience!

  • Guest Kricket
  • Date of stay 05/06/12
  • Review Submitted 05/15/12
  My husband and I had 2 days to enjoy the JT and high desert experience and enjoy it we did at Robin & Max's High Desert Eden! The casita is very clean and comfortable, we slept on the sleeping porch, enjoying the stars and sunrise! It is close to Pioneertown, where we ate a good meal, and enjoyed the uniqueness of the surroundings. They are close to the park and also have trails to explore if you are wanting to stay and enjoy their surroundings. If you want to cook and eat in, the kitchen is very well equipped. The house itself is very relaxing and rejuvenates the soul. We hope to go back someday, thank you Robin & Max!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Heaven on Earth

  Heaven on Earth

  • Guest Barbie
  • Date of stay 02/18/12
  • Review Submitted 03/28/12
  My husband & I have spent time in Joshua Tree before, but we'd never had the opportunity to stay at "High Desert Eden". Within hours of our arrival, we knew we'd found a place of great power and tranquility. Robin and Max have thought of everything! One has all the amenities & comforts of home, while nature is highlighted in every window and in every room of this beautiful bungalow. After a full day of hiking and outdoor activity one can cuddle up with a book or sit outside and count the stars. The beauty and serenity of this space is heaven on earth. We've already scheduled our next trip, and can't wait to be back with you again!

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, girls getaway, sightseeing.

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• Relax and Enjoy

  Relax and Enjoy

  • Guest Cosette Gross
  • Date of stay 03/23/12
  • Review Submitted 03/28/12
  My sister, my teenage son, and I stayed 2 nights at High Desert Eden. We enjoyed the beautiful scenery, hiking, and plush beds. My son slept on the enclosed porch one night and was snug under a down comforter. I spent an evening lounging on the porch myself, drinking a glass of wine, looking at the stars and planets, and listening to the sound of quiet. Robin provided a generous and delicious selection of breakfast foods which we happily munched on over the weekend. We ate at Pappy and Harriet's twice--lunch on Friday and dinner on Saturday night. The food was very good and it is important to make dinner reservations well in advance. A week ahead got me a table without a view of the band. Next time I'll reserve earlier and make a specific table request--it was still a great experience to enjoy the local hangout. They do fill up--check out their website. Back to the casita. Since we all needed to rest we spent one afternoon watching DVDs. Do consider getting up to watch the sunrise it is a peak experience! Next time we will stay longer so we can explore more and do more hiking. I am a former VRBO property owner and have stayed in VRBO properties in the US & Costa Rica (4 times) and this place is a 10. The location and view are the best. It is a real treat to stay at the High Desert Eden.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, people with disabilities, romantic getaway, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

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$190/nt up to 4 people, 2/nt minimum  $25/nt each additional person
$1,150/wk
7% tax
Cleaning Fee  $40
3/nt minimum December 21-25
Personalized yoga classes with Max Thomas
$75/hr for one person, $15 each additional person
WEEKEND YOGA RETREATS (rates arranged with Max Thomas)

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.