Top Palm Springs Nature and Wildlife Tours

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Explore Palm Springs and Indian Canyons by bike and on foot during a half-day tour from downtown Palm Springs. With guide, bike rental, and snacks included, it’s easy to discover one of southern California’s most scenic city and desert landscapes. You'll ride through Palm Springs on a 10-mile (17-km) loop to Indian Canyons, then hike in the canyon at a leisurely pace suitable for reasonably active people.

Goodbye glitz of Palm Springs, hello simpler days. With this tour, you’ll leave behind modernity for a true eco-adventure, hopping on a mule-drawn covered wagon through the Sonoran Desert. With a naturalist leading your way, explore the vast landscapes of the Coachella Valley, returning to the ranch for music, yard games, BBQ, dancing, campfire marshmallows, and desert views under the stars.

Enjoy over 100 self-guided driving and walking tours across the USA. Each tour is professionally narrated to provide context, uncover hidden gems, and explain historic events. Discover the happening streets of Brooklyn, and experience the wildlife of Yellowstone. Ranging from historic battlefields to national parks, the tour automatically begins when triggered by GPS, no signal or WiFi needed. The bundle is valid for one year after purchase.

Get the full California experience while you listen to this ultimate bundle of narrated audio Golden State drives. Enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe, seek celebrities in LA, and take a cruise down the rugged Pacific Coast Highway. In the Bay Area, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and hear stories of start-up success in Silicon Valley. For the best experience, stick to the route and suggested speed limit. Check opening hours before your visit.

Discover the desert landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park on your own with this self-guided GPS tour. The guide’s GPS tracks you as you explore the park and informs you about the scenery and landmarks that you are looking at; it’s like having a real-life guide with you. Hike along trails, see interesting rock formations, and take in the views from different vantage points all without missing a beat.

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.

Make your time in Palm Springs into an interactive game with this smartphone-based scavenger hunt tour. You and your group of up to 12 people can tear through Palm Springs on the hunt for clues that reveal facts and figures about the town while leading you ever onward. Test your problem- and puzzle-solving skills during this activity, great for groups of friends and family.

Experience a glimpse of the night time desert, under the full moon, immersed in the rustic desert beauty of the Joshua Tree National Park. Connect with the ancestral energies of the land as we learn about flora/fauna, geology, geography, cultural/historical significance, as well as the natural elemental energies that converge in this unique stretch of the Mojave Desert. Our trail takes us through a breathtaking section of the national park and allows us time to truly connect with the rich surrounding terrain. Illuminated by the charging energies of the full moon, we will guide our way through the abundant desert landscape. As this is the desert, there is a wide range of nocturnal wildlife and endless views to behold. The nature walk/hiking portion of our experience is led by a local, certified guide, who is well versed in the natural beauty of the sacred land.