Top Palm Springs Hiking

To truly see Joshua Tree National Park and feel the Mojave Desert’s magic—artists and visionaries flock here, after all—travel in the footsteps of a local guide and naturalist. On this private tour, you’ll follow what feels like an expert friend, discussing flora, fauna, geology, history, and more of this vast, wondrous, storied park. Totally customizable to your group, you’ll go beyond the guidebooks, leaving the park with connection and appreciation.

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.

This sunrise hike in the San Jacinto Mountains has a beautiful resting stop with stunning views of the Coachella Valley. Here, your guide will lead you through a grounding meditation to help set your intention for the day. Before you get there, you'll watch the sunrise over Indian Canyons and enjoy the nature in Oswitz Canyon. This hike and meditation will help you feel refreshed, relaxed, and connected to the Earth and universe

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.

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.

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.

Opt for this Palm Springs windmill tour, and try something a little different from your typical celebrity homes or San Andreas Fault tours you’d usually do in Palm Springs. This self-driving windmill tour allows you to explore the evolution of wind turbines on a private wind farm from the comfort of your own vehicle. The tour allows you to exit at each stop and guides you with a curated video.

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.

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.

No day in Joshua Tree National Park is ever wasted, but it’s best experienced on foot, with a local to deepen the experience. On this full-day hike, you’ll follow a seasoned guide through the park—picking a trek suitable for your group—learning about the region’s flora and fauna, human history, and feeling the desert’s energy and artistic vibes. You’ll leave having had a hiking adventure and a connection with Mother Nature.

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.

If you've ever imagined what a desert oasis looks like, it probably looks like the ones here in Indian Canyons nature preserve. It's incredible to see these lush green oases in contrast to the arid desert landscape. Enjoy a hike in a beautiful desert oasis surrounded by palm trees, flowing water & a seasonal winter waterfall depending on rainfall amount. The Cahuilla people made these sacred canyons their home for thousands of years & is still part of their land today. It's always amazing to hear water rushing along the canyon floor & over boulders & birds chirping in the vegetation. Indian Canyons is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places due of it's cultural significance. Located near the southern boundary of Palm Springs on the eastern side of the San Jacinto Mountains, Indian Canyons has long been recognized as among one of the most significant natural preserves in California's desert.

Joshua Tree and the Mojave Desert are magical spots best experienced when you don't have to race to get back to the car before dark. The natural desert rhythms and clear light provide a much needed relief from the daily grind. This intimate experience can work by having a basecamp or starting in one location and camping at night in another. From there we can explore whatever rock, canyon, or peak that piques our interest.