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.

Small-group open-air Jeep tour to the San Andreas Fault, from Palm Desert
Walk around a desert oasis fed by underground water sources
Hear about geology and California's earthquakes
Learn about the Native American Cahuilla tribe and early pioneer settlers
Travel with an expert naturalist guide
Small-group tour ensures a more personalized experience

What's Included

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

Gratuities
Food and drink (unless otherwise specified)

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

Metate Ranch - Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures departure location
38635 Monroe St, Indio, CA 92203, USA
Meet your Jeep and Guide in the dirt parking lot. NOTE: Once you turn onto the dirt road, you will only go about 100 feet before you turn left into a big dirt parking lot. If you get to the horse corals, you've gone too far. Please turn around and go back to the parking lot.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

After pickup at a central location in Palm Desert, enjoy a scenic drive through the Coachella Valley, until you reach your starting point.

Your guide explains the ecology of this desert environment and takes you to see an underground creek that has been forced up to the surface by the fault lines, creating a green oasis that supports a range of plant and animal life.

Then go to a recreated Native American site that illustrates how the native Cahuilla people managed to live in this harsh climate. See homes, a sweat lodge, and artifacts, and hear details about the survival skills needed for living in the desert.

Next up, get a close look at the San Andreas fault on an easy walk into a slot canyon. Your guide shows you arreas of the rock that reveal the region's unique geology and discusses the impact of the collision of the Pacific and North American plates.

At the end of your tour, your guide returns you to the original departure point.

San Andreas Fault

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
A minimum of 2 guests per booking is required
Closed-toe shoes, a hat and sunscreen are strongly advised
As desert temperatures may vary, dressing in layers would be advised
Please call the reservation's desk a day or two before your tour to confirm your pickup time and location. Failure to call, however, will NOT result in cancellation of the tour.

Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Most travellers can participate
Guests with neck or back problems or pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester should consult with their doctor before taking a Jeep Tour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Armando_M

Ray is the best guide ever! He’s so passionate and knowledgeable! We truly enjoyed our experience! Would recommend to anyone, but if you can, ask for Ray!

Reviews

5.0

513 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 513 reviews

Go ahead, explore the land!

Jessica_G, May 2023

Michael S was extremely knowledgeable about the history of the ancient Kaweah, native plants in the area, and about the history of the San Andreas Fault. He made the journey fun and really engaged with everyone. The tour was an emmense learning experience and even in the 95 degree heat (yes, we are crazy people) I was glad I did it. Would highly suggest this and the Indian Canyon tour as well! Good times!

Great tour

Dawn_K, May 2023

Great tour. Knowledgeable. Michael was great ! Highly recommend this to anyone headed to Palm Springs.

Family Fun

Ruth_N, Apr 2023

We had a memorable trip into the fault and the canyon walk was very educational. Our tour guide, Teresa, was fantastic!

Great Trip

Edward_S, Apr 2023

Had a great time on a day with great weather. Guide was fun/friendly and know what he was talking about.

Terrific experience

Svetlana_Y, Apr 2023

Terrific experience! We saw and learned a LOT about the falls, agriculture, history, how earthquakes work; we even got to go into a slot canyon. Highly recommend!

Take this tour!

Abigail_P, Apr 2023

Neil took us to amazing spots and had terrific info. Very engaging with us. Great and very interesting tour.

Dessert is underrated

John_H, Apr 2023

Interesting and very informative tour. Guide was entertaining and knowledgeable. 3,000 Years of Indian history living on what seems uninhabitable land. Incredible adventure

Super jeep tour with Darrell!

Brenda_K, Apr 2023

My sister and I traveled to the Palm Springs area for the first time and decided a jeep tour would be a fun and different experience. Darrell was our guide and he did a great job with knowing the history and telling stories. He was a great and energetic teacher! He made the jeep tour so much fun and we highly recommend this tour!

Great adventure

Juanita_A, Mar 2023

Everything was so beautiful. Our guide was full of knowledge and so friendly. Thanks Bill, I would definitely recommend this to everyone!

A must do trip!

Michael_H, Mar 2023

Ron our driver / guide was great. Explained all the rich history of this land. Ron took his time with us. Took pictures for us, let us hike into the crevices of the fault. This was a great experience with Ron! Taught us the history of the Cahuilla Indians, showed us how they lived, how they lived and what they stood for. If you have a chance, do this tour. Ron made it well worth it.

The topography was both spectacular and stunning

Tom_C, Mar 2023

We had a fabulous time. Our driver Jenne was the absolute best! The tour exceeded all expectations!!

Very interesting!

Trudy_O, Mar 2023

Bonnie was fun to be with and very knowledgeable of the desert plants along with the terrain. She explained the San Andreas fault and tectonic plates. I would highly recommend this tour! Thanks Bonnie for a fun day!

Fascinating and informative!

Richard_Z, Mar 2023

Had a wonderful time with Ron as our leader on the tour. He came prepared in a comfortable red jeep with refreshments. The tour was educational, exceeded expectations, and we learned a lot.

Jenny made the tour great!

Donna_A, Mar 2023

We enjoyed all the information and history that Jenny provided. It was very interesting and informative. We all loved it and thought it was very worth the afternoon.

Great all around...

Bernard_W, Mar 2023

Great all around adventure!!! Ron was a great guide. He was very knowledgeable of the valley. We will visit again.....

Great tour!

Vickie_N, Mar 2023

Our driver Kristin was great! We had a great adventure and she was such a great moderator of our tour. So educational!

Ray is the best guide...

Armando_M, Mar 2023

Ray is the best guide ever! He’s so passionate and knowledgeable! We truly enjoyed our experience! Would recommend to anyone, but if you can, ask for Ray!

Great Fun with a Challenging Hike

Linda_W, Mar 2023

There were 6 of us on this tour with Kristin as our excellent, informative guide. Just a "heads up" that it requires a lot of walking, with the hike through the Slot Canyon at the end extremely challenging. I highly recommend this tour to anyone up to that,

Interesting landscapes, though only OK tour

Kathy_D, Mar 2023

The rock/land formations shown on the tour are remarkable. The short hikes through slot canyons are unique experiences, though can be challenging for those unsteady on their feet. Fulfilled expectations, but didn't exceed them; a bit pricey for what you received. Guide was knowledgable and informative. Plenty of water offered, though no granola snacks..

Great time and education!

John_S, Feb 2023

Fantastic guide and education about the faults and surrounding areas. We enjoyed and would recommend.

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