Top Palm Springs 4WD Tours

Explore the geology around California’s legendary San Andreas fault during a Jeep tour from Palm Desert. See a desert oasis fed by an underground spring as your naturalist guide describes how the Native American Cahuilla tribe used the desert's plants for food, medicine, and shelter. Marvel at steep-walled canyons and tall twisted rock mountains, and learn about the plant and animal life of the area. Choose from a morning or afternoon tour that includes light snacks, bottled water, and round-trip transport from Palm Desert.

Explore a shady oasis and rugged canyons on a Hummer adventure that goes deep into Joshua Tree’s arid landscape. Leave Palm Desert and hold on tight as your guide takes you through the park’s back roads, and enjoy sweeping views from the truck’s open top. Walk through the heart of a vast oasis, and learn about the settlers and Cahuilla Indians that lived in this harsh environment; watch for golden eagles and bighorn sheep as you navigate Berdoo canyon then discover ancient stands of bristling Joshua trees.

At nearly 800,000 acres, Joshua Tree is nearly impossible to take in on foot, and the best views are far off the paved path. Touring the park via 4x4, you’ll get to ride deep into the rugged backcountry, nabbing enviable views of the Mojave Desert, the sacred Joshua trees, wild rock formations, and more, making the most of your precious time in this incredible national park.

Enjoy a full-throttle way to explore the dramatic scenery of the Mojave Desert, and travel along 19 miles (31 kilometers) of rugged trails, on this private, all-terrain vehicle tour. Pick a start time that's convenient for you, make your way to the Helendale headquarters, and take part in a safety briefing. Next, you'll be outfitted with gloves and safety helmets equipped with intercoms, and can then follow your guide into nature.

Learn about California's geology and desert wilderness on a half-day Jeep/SUV tour to the San Andreas Fault. Drive through the Coachella Valley to the fault zone while hearing from your guide about native plant and animal life, local history, the Salton Sea, and earthquakes. Depending on your preference, you can take a nature walk in the desert or stay in the vehicle. Includes guide, transportation, and light refreshments.

Experience the unique landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park as you embark on a half-day tour from Palm Desert. Join a small group and visit the most iconic locations in the park including its legendary giant boulders. Learn about the forces of the San Andreas Fault that jolt the landscape and hear stories of the Native Americans who lived in the area.

Southern California’s Joshua Tree National Park can be a bit intimidating to take on all on your own; however, this Joshua Tree National Park Self-Driving Audio Tour lets you explore the park in your own vehicle while navigating the area with a tour that leads the way. Just download the app on your smartphone, launch the app when you get the park, and follow the recommended route and speed limit.

Soar over Palm Springs on the Aerial Tramway for spectacular views of the desert. Ascending to 5,783 feet (1,790 meters), the tram transports you to the cool air in the San Jacinto Mountains. View unspoiled wilderness, including mountain spires and Ponderosa pine trees, during your ascent. Disembark and explore the area around Mountain Station, which includes a cocktail lounge, restaurant and observation deck. Hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski on the trails in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness Area around Mountain Station.

Explore the uncanny landscape of Joshua Tree National Park with a 4.5-hour van tour from Palm Desert, near Palm Springs. Enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned van or SUV as you navigate soaring granite formations and groves of the park’s famously spiky trees, and capture unforgettable images of terrain that spans the Colorado and Mojave deserts. Trace a gentle trail into the rocks at Hidden Valley and Keys View, watch for the park’s reclusive wildlife, and experience the unique beauty of one America’s most remarkable national parks.

The San Andreas Fault is one of the world’s best-known fault lines—and this small-group tour will help you discover it up close. Pick between morning and afternoon start times, make your own way to the Indio departure point, and set off via open-air Jeep. You’ll discover the region’s dramatic scenery, will learn about desert habitats and the local Cahuilla people, will visit a desert oasis, and much more.

Enjoy a thrilling guided ATV tour through the Mojave Desert outside of Helendale, 1.5 hours northeast of Los Angeles. After a safety orientation, challenge yourself by riding over dirt, sand and rock, through inclines, dips, twists, turns and off-camber terrain. Includes advanced helmets with sunglasses and intercom system so you can communicate with other drivers and receive instructions from your guide.

Go deep into Palm Springs’ Indian Canyons on a 3-hour, small group Jeep and hiking tour to the ancestral home of the Cahuilla tribes. Take in views of the rugged desert landscape as you ride into the rocky canyons, and learn the rich history of the Cahuilla; take a 1-mile (1.6-km) walk along a palm-lined stream to see the traces of historic Native American settlements. Visit a shady desert oasis, walk to a seasonal spring and browse a tribal trading post, then finish the tour at your Palm Springs hotel.

The vast Mojave Desert can be a tricky landscape to explore on foot, so save time and energy with this exciting off-road adventure in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or a utility task vehicle (UTV). To ensure you don’t get lost, the trip includes a high-tech helmet that’s equipped with an intercom system to communicate with the group and guide.

Get up close and personal with the Mojave Desert's rugged, striking scenery—and enjoy an adventurous, outdoorsy experience—on this small-group all-terrain vehicle tour. Make your own way to the Helendale departure point, attend a detailed safety briefing, and grab your gear, including gloves and helmets outfitted with intercoms. Then, follow your guide on a 28-mile loop through the desert, over dirt, sand, and rocky terrain.

Learn about the natural history of the Indian Canyons area from a professional naturalist guide with this tour from Palm Springs. You and your small group of fellow explorers will head out in an open-air jeep, with a break along the way to take an easy, one-mile walk up the Andreas Canyon.

Swap the hustle and bustle of city life for an adventure in the Mojave Desert. With this off-road UTV tour, there’s no need to worry about getting lost as your helmet has a built-in intercom system for clear communication with your guide. Take in the desert views and expand your off-road driving skills with a diverse route that goes through sand and over rocky terrain with plenty of dips, climbs, twists, and turns along the way.