The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage Review (2026): Is It Worth It?
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is the Palm Springs area's Ritz, set on a bluff high above the Coachella Valley. Is it worth it? Yes, if service, food, a proper gym and hiking straight from the hotel matter most to you. The staff were excellent, every meal was good, and the trails start practically at the front door. The catch is the design. Even after a renovation wrapped in 2025, parts of the resort still feel dated for what you pay. Book it for the setting and the service, not for a fresh, design-forward stay.
The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
The hotel reopened under the Ritz-Carlton name in 2015 after years as The Lodge at Rancho Mirage. It then went through a two-year renovation that finished in 2025, covering the rooms, public spaces, pools and restaurants. So we expected it to feel brand new. It mostly didn't. More on that below. And be sure to check out our list of best hotels in Palm Springs before you book.
The Rooms
Our king room was comfortable and well sized, and the valley view did a lot of heavy lifting. But it felt dated in ways the rate doesn't quite excuse. For instance, the closet door was completely worn with chipping paint, and the tile was dated. The renovation added new furniture, artwork and leather headboards, and some rooms now have private fire pits on the terrace. If you book, ask for one of those. They're the rooms that feel most current, and a fire on a cool desert night is hard to beat.
Club Level is now open year-round, with all-day food and drinks and a dedicated concierge. It's worth pricing out if you're staying more than two nights.
Service
This is where the Ritz earns its name. Staff remembered us, anticipated what we needed and fixed small things before we asked. At a resort where the hardware is showing its age, the people are what make it feel like a luxury hotel.
Food
We ate well every day. State Fare Bar + Kitchen is the all-day spot, with a menu built around local ingredients and a good list of California wines. It's relaxed and easy, and it works for breakfast, lunch or a casual dinner. The Edge Steakhouse is the dinner reservation. It sits on the edge of the bluff, so book around sunset and ask for a window table.
The Gym
The fitness center is open 24 hours and was genuinely good. [ASHLEY: one detail, e.g. equipment, space, views, classes.] Lots of resort gyms are an afterthought with a few treadmills in a basement. This one isn't. Pair a morning workout with a hike and you've earned the pool afternoon.
There's also a full Ritz-Carlton Spa on site if you'd rather recover than train.
Hiking Trails Next to the Hotel
This was our favorite surprise. The resort sits right alongside the Mirada trail system, a network of short desert trails that loop through the foothills. You can pick up the upper section of the Roadrunner Trail from the Ritz side and skip most of the climb. For a longer outing, the Bighorn Overlook Trail starts from the Rancho Mirage City Hall lot below and links up with the Jack Rabbit and Chuckwalla trails. None of them are long, so you can fit a hike in before breakfast.
Keep your eyes on the ridgelines. Bighorn sheep live in these hills, and sightings near the resort are common. Go early, bring more water than you think you need, and skip midday hikes entirely from late spring through early fall.
Pools
There are two. The Vista pool is adults-only and looks straight out over the valley. The Air Pool is the more social, family-friendly one. Both got new loungers and more cabanas in the renovation, and the cabanas now come with their own attendant. For families, the Ritz Kids club has reopened too, which makes this one of the easier luxury resorts in the area to do with children. For more options, see our guide to the best family resorts in California.
Is The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage Worth It?
Book it if you want polished, old-school Ritz service, food you don't have to think about, and a resort where a real workout and a desert hike are part of the day. It's also a strong pick for families and for anyone who wants views over a scene. Skip it if you're after fresh design or a buzzy Palm Springs atmosphere. For that, you're better off at a downtown boutique hotel. And if wellness is the whole point of the trip, Sensei Porcupine Creek is a very different, more intimate experience in the same town.
On price, rates here sit at the top end of Palm Springs area resorts in peak season and drop sharply in summer. [ASHLEY: add the nightly rate we paid and the month, for rate anchoring.] If the rate is close to what you'd pay at a newer competitor, the dated rooms are harder to justify. If you catch a shoulder-season rate, it's easy value for the service alone. If you're weighing desert resorts more broadly, our Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North review is a useful comparison.
Check rates at The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage
Best Time to Visit and Book
October through April is the sweet spot. Days are warm and sunny, nights are cool, and the trails are pleasant. January through March is peak season, and it's when this hotel is at its most expensive. February brings Modernism Week, and April brings the Coachella and Stagecoach festival weekends, when rates across the valley spike and rooms disappear fast. Book two to three months out for any of those.
Summer is a different story. From June through September, temperatures regularly top 110°F, so you'll spend your time at the pool or the spa, and hiking is only realistic at dawn. The upside is that rates fall dramatically. If you mostly want service, food and a pool, a summer stay can be a smart deal.
FAQ
Is there a Ritz-Carlton in Palm Springs? Not in Palm Springs itself. The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage is the Palm Springs area's Ritz, a short drive down the valley in Rancho Mirage.
Is the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage dated? It finished a two-year renovation in 2025, but parts of the hotel still felt dated to us. The service, food and setting make up for a lot of it.
Can you hike from the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage? Yes. The Mirada trail system runs right alongside the resort, and you can reach the upper Roadrunner Trail from the hotel side. The Bighorn Overlook Trail starts nearby at Rancho Mirage City Hall.
Is the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage good for families? Yes. There's a family-friendly pool, a Ritz Kids club, and short trails that work for kids. Couples can escape to the adults-only Vista pool.
What restaurants are at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage? State Fare Bar + Kitchen serves all day, and The Edge Steakhouse is the dinner spot with valley views.
Does the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage have a gym and spa? Yes. The fitness center is open 24 hours, and there's a full Ritz-Carlton Spa.
When is the best time to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage? October through April for the weather. Summer for the lowest rates, as long as you're happy to stay by the pool.