What to do and see in California Desert, California Desert: The Best Walking Tours

Explore the Magic of Joshua Tree Our private single day hiking tours lasting up to 6 hours, are the perfect way to immerse yourself in the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park. After meeting at our office, Your guide will drive you through the most incredible parts of the park, on-route to your hike for the day. From the trailhead, you will enjoy a mostly off-trail adventure through the Joshua Tree wilderness. Towering rock formations, canyons, sweeping vistas and surreal landscapes from another planet await you around every bend. Enjoy an optional lunch on the trail before continuing your journey. All along the way, your expert guide will share the history and geology of the Park, along with a myriad of stories and talks about the plants, animals and other unique characteristics of the Park. You may even get in some epic rock scrambling to the top of some of our famous rock formations for views and experiences rarely had by others. 

Inclusions: National Park fees, Bottled water, Driver/guide, Live commentary on board, Professional guide, Private tour, Transport by private vehicle

Exclusions: Optional Lunch ( Can be added for $15 extra, per person. Invoiced separately if requested, Gratuities, Hotel pickup and drop-off ( Optional pick up and drop off available for additional cost, based on location. Invoiced separately if requested

I'll provide each hiker with water, a granola bar, a backpack, & a hiking pole. We'll be hiking in beautiful south Palm Springs in the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on Native American land. I know these trails very well and the best lookout points along the way to enjoy some of the most beautiful views of the Palm Springs desert & far beyond. From the trail we'll see the Bob Hope house, the windmills, Joshua Tree, Mount San Gorgonio (the tallest mountain in So Cal at 11,501 feet high), the San Jacinto Mountains & the Indian Canyons. You'll also see desert vegetation/plants & cacti close up as we hike along & enjoy amazing views of the desert valley floor below all the way up to beautiful mountain peaks, all while getting in some great exercise. Hopefully we'll see the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep or other desert animals. We'll stop along the way for any needed breaks & scenic picture taking.

Inclusions: I will provide 1 Backpack & 1 Hiking Pole for each guest to borrow., I will provide water for each hiker., I'll provide 1 granola bar.

Exclusions: Bring an electrolyte drink if it's warm/hot out & you're not used to excercising. , Wear shoes with a sturdy sole & good tread. I wear trail running shoes for example., Bring a hat, sunglasses & wear sunscreen., Bring a salty snack if it's hot out, to maintain sodium levels that can be lost from sweating.

Explore the lush palm oases of the Indian Canyons on this morning or afternoon 3-hour eco-tour from Palm Springs. Learn about the rich history and culture of the Cahuilla Indians as you ride a jeep their ancestral homelands with your knowledgeable guide. Take an easy 1-mile guided walk up Andreas Canyon for captivating views and see a stunning palm oasis from the rim of Palm Canyon. This small-group open-air outdoor adventure is limited to seven people per Jeep for a more relaxed, intimate experience.

Inclusions: Admission Fees, Granola Snack, Naturalist guided Jeep tour, Bottled water

Exclusions: Food and drink (unless otherwise specified), Gratuities

This unique location is 30 minutes north of downtown Palm Springs & halfway to Joshua Tree National Park. The Big Morongo Canyon Preserve is one of the 10 largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in California. It's an oasis located in the Sand to Snow National Monument in the Mojave desert town of Morongo Valley. The Morongo Valley fault runs through the preserve, but don't worry the fault has not moved in over 20,000 years. Some of the oldest rock formations in North America at approximately 2.7 Billion years old can be seen here. The preserve is also an internationally recognized birding site. It's on the fringes of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Sand to Snow National Monument extends west along the Little San Bernardino Mountains to the western border of Joshua Tree National Park, where elevations are as low as 600 feet to the eastern summits of the much higher San Bernardino range & the tallest peak in Southern California being the 11,503 foot San Gorgonio Mountain.

Inclusions: I will provide bottled water to each hiker., I will provide a granola bar to each hiker., I'll provide each hiker with a backpack or you can bring your own.

Exclusions: Bring an electrolye drink if it's a warm/hot day to replace electolytes lost from sweat., Bring a salty snack if it's a warm/hot day to maintain sodium levels lost through sweat., Bring a hat, sunglasses & wear sunscreen., Wear shoes with a sturdy sole & good tread. I wear trail running shoes for example.

I provide water, a snack bar and a backpack for each hiker. We'll hike in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on some the best trails in the Greater Palm Springs Area. I know these trails very well & the best viewpoints along the way to enjoy some of the most beautiful views of Palm Springs & far beyond. You'll see desert plants & cacti close up as we hike. You'll see from the desert valley floor below all the way up to beautiful nearby mountain peaks, while getting in some great exercise. I'll point out interesting landmarks along the way, like the very unique Bob Hope house, Mt San Gorgonio (the tallest mountain in So Cal), Indian Canyons & other points of interest. Depending on the time of year I've seen the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep on this hike. They'll be lots of opportunities for taking beautiful scenic photos & I'll point out some of the best photo spots. If you want to do this hike or any of my hikes on a certain date/time contact me, thanks.

Inclusions: I will provide a backpack for each hiker or you can use your own., I will provide water for each hiker., I'll provide 1 granola bar for each hiker,

Exclusions: Bring an electrolye drink if it's a warm/hot day to replace electolytes lost from sweat, Bring a salty snack if it's a warm/hot day to maintain sodium levels lost through sweating., Bring a hat, sunglasses & wear sunscreen., Wear shoes with a sturdy sole & good tread. I wear trail running shoes for example.

Only Red Jeep Tours can take you to Metate Ranch, located in the heart of the San Andreas Fault Zone. On this awe-inspiring OPEN-AIR Jeep Tour, you will travel deep into the heart of California’s world-famous San Andreas Fault and witness the forces of nature that have created amazing, steep-walled canyons and the most twisted and tormented landscapes on Earth! You will be awestruck by the spectacular scenery as your Jeep winds its way through the bones of the earth. During your adventure, you will stop several times for short nature walks, including a short hike through a slot canyon, if desired. This tour also stops at a natural palm oasis, where water bubbles up from the ground year-round. Here you will learn about how the Cahuilla Indians used desert plants to survive in this inhospitable environment. A final highlight is a guided tour of our recreated Cahuilla Indian Village that showcases the lifestyle and culture of the Cahuilla people.

Inclusions: Naturalist guided open-air Jeep eco-tour, Granola snacks, Bottled water, Land Use Fees

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drink (unless otherwise specified)

I provide water, a snack bar & a backpack for each hiker.. The hike to the summit of Murray Hill is considered one of the best in the area cause the views along the way & from the top are among the best in the Coachella Valley. We'll be hiking in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on some the best trails in Palm Springs. You'll see desert plants & cacti close up as we hike the trails in a pristine desert landscape. You'll see from the desert valley floor below all the way up to beautiful mountain peaks, all while getting some great exercise. I'll point out interesting landmarks along the way, like Mount San Gorgonio the tallest mountain in Southern California, Indian Canyons & other points of interest. Depending on the time of year we may see some endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep , I've seen them on this hike before. There will be lots of opportunities for taking beautiful scenic photos during the hike. See Additional Information section for important info.

Inclusions: I'll provide a backpack for each hiker or you can bring your own., I will provide water for each hiker., I'll provide 1 granola bar for each hiker.

Exclusions: Wear shoes with a sturdy sole & a good tread., If warm/hot out bring an electrolye drink to replace electolytes lost from sweating., If warm/hot out bring a salty snack to maintain sodium levels lost through sweat., Bring a hat, sunglasses & wear sunscreen., Bring a light meal, like a sandwich & some fruit so you can eat at the top of Murray Hill if you would like to.

Explore the lush palm oases of the Indian Canyons on this morning or afternoon 3-hour eco-tour from Palm Springs. Learn about the rich history and culture of the Cahuilla Indians as you ride a jeep their ancestral homelands with your knowledgeable guide. Take an easy 1-mile guided walk up Andreas Canyon for captivating views and see a stunning palm oasis from the rim of Palm Canyon. This small-group open-air outdoor adventure is limited to seven people per Jeep for a more relaxed, intimate experience.

Inclusions: Naturalist guided Jeep tour, Granola Snack, Bottled water, Admission Fees

Exclusions: Gratuities, Food and drink (unless otherwise specified)

Explore the rugged, mystical beauty of Joshua Tree National Park with a self-guided driving tour. This raw desert landscape features amazing vistas, stunning rock formations, and the eponymous cartoonish trees. As you drive through Joshua Tree and listen to stories around each bend in the road, keep an eye out for desert animals like the roadrunner, tortoise, & even bald eagle. Plus, enjoy a Bonus Tour of Palm Springs! Purchase only one tour per car. Everyone can listen at the same time! Here's how it works: Within 30 min, we'll send you two things a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour. When you arrive, go to the first stop, launch the app, and follow the instructions! Stick to our recommended route & speed limit for the best experience. This is not an entrance ticket. Check pandemic rules & opening hours before your visit. No expiration — the tour is available from the minute you book until forever!

Inclusions: GPS Map, Audios and Text, Online Support

Exclusions: Admission to paid attractions

Only Red Jeep Tours can take you to Metate Ranch, located in the heart of the San Andreas Fault Zone. On this awe-inspiring OPEN-AIR Jeep Tour, you will travel deep into the heart of California’s world-famous San Andreas Fault and witness the forces of nature that have created amazing, steep-walled canyons and the most twisted and tormented landscapes on Earth! You will be awestruck by the spectacular scenery as your Jeep winds its way through the bones of the earth. During your adventure, you will stop several times for short nature walks, including a short hike through a slot canyon, if desired. This tour also stops at a natural palm oasis, where water bubbles up from the ground year-round. Here you will learn about how the Cahuilla Indians used desert plants to survive in this inhospitable environment. A final highlight is a guided tour of our recreated Cahuilla Indian Village that showcases the lifestyle and culture of the Cahuilla people.

Inclusions: Land Use Fees, Granola snacks, Naturalist guided open-air Jeep eco-tour, Bottled water

Exclusions: Food and drink (unless otherwise specified), Gratuities