Man found dead on hiking trail was bartender at Lulu’s in Palm Springs

A hiker was found dead Sunday morning on a popular Palm Springs trail, and the coroner’s officer released his identity on Monday morning.

Steven West, 55 of Palm Springs, died at about 8 a.m. while he was in the Goat Trails hiking area, which starts at Palm Hills Drive.

Barbara Keller, the owner of Lulu California Bistro in Palm Springs, confirmed to KESQ and CBS Local 2 that West was a long-time bartender at the restaurant. Keller said West hadn’t been into work at LuLu for awhile, but he was beloved by all at the bistro.

Keller remembers West as “a very sweet guy who was so devoted to his mom.”

The Palm Springs Police Department responded to a call after someone found West’s body Sunday morning. Palm Springs Police Search and Rescue crews were called to assess the situation, and found the body with the Coroner’s Office.

The official cause of death is still under investigation.