Top Palm Springs Outdoor Activities

Out here in the Ocotillo desert, you may have the chance to see the most amazing sunrises and sunsets you've ever seen! Ride through all kinds of desert terrain in our ATV's, Razors or dirt bikes, as we take you on tours anywhere from 15 to 50 miles in 4 hours. You might have the chance to see Painted Gorge, a beautiful canyon colored by purple, green and red dirt; drive around the bombing range where you'll see an abandoned WWII Russian tank; witness F-18's dropping practice bombs and missiles, or Cobra and Apache helicopters shooting the Russian tank with 50 caliber bullets; watch the Blue Angels training for the air show (January through March); see The Sandbar, a local shrine covered in off road tributes and treasures (make sure to bring memorabilia of your own to post there!); experience "wide open" on an enormous, flat dry lake bed; or visit Superstition Sand Dunes, with 5,500 Acres of sandy, hilly fun and the spot where they shot the movie Jarhead.

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.

Learn about California's geology and desert wilderness on a half-day Jeep 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. You'll also stop by a date farm where you can try their signature date milkshake. Includes guide, transportation, and light refreshments.

Take a leisurely bike ride in the desert. This guided mountain bike tour will take you down a gentle grade along the San Andreas Fault where the Mojave Desert transitions into the Colorado Desert. Enjoy beautiful views of the desert landscape as you pedal along the paved path. The tour concludes with a rest stop at a date farm where you can try a date shake.

Explore the otherworldly landscape of Joshua Tree National Park with a customized, guided hiking tour that takes in the best of the region. Tailor the trip to your interests and abilities, and walk to soaring granite formations with sweeping views of the arid terrain. Learn about the plants and animals that thrive in this unique ecosystem, then see Joshua Tree’s fascinating geological history laid bare in the rock record. Choose between a 1- or 2-day hiking tour, and immerse yourself in one of America’s most distinctive National Parks.

The lush resorts of Palm Springs will feel a million miles away when you get out in the wilds of Joshua Tree National Park on this small group Jeep tour. Leave the city behind as you head off-road and over a rocky landscape some people say feels like being on another planet. See plants and rock formations that are unique to the desert, and learn what makes Joshua Tree so special.

Take a break from the heat on a visit to Palm Springs’ Escape Rooms. Work as a team to find clues, solve puzzles, and use logic to complete your mission, playing at a time that suits you with regular game slots available throughout the day. Enjoy an immersive, private experience for you and your party, ideal for families, bachelor parties, or corporate groups.

Take a break from sightseeing and put your mind to the test in this challenging group escape room. Get a group of fellow detectives and get to work solving the mystery of the Jack the Ripper murders. Help Scotland Yard find the killer’s identity before he claims his next victim by solving a series of fiendish puzzles. Take a break from the stress of traveling and have some fun with your family or friends in this private escape room.

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.

Go rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park on a half-day, private trip with a certified rock-climbing guide. Since all equipment is included, you won’t need to bring or rent your own gear. Whether you’re a beginning climber excited to try the sport, or a more experienced climber looking for a local intro to Joshua Tree rock climbing, the tour will be tailored to your preferences.

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.

Team up with friends or family for a fun vampire-themed escape room. Test your teamwork and challenge your puzzle-solving abilities as you collect clues and work out how to escape. As you unravel the vampire love story, set in 17th-century Salem, learn how the husband-to-be was turned into a vampire and then locked out of his coffin—it’s your job to help him open it!

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.

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.

I provide water, a snack, a backpack & a hiking pole for each hiker. The hike to the summit of Murray Hill is considered one of the best around because the views from the top are among the most spectacular in the desert. We'll be hiking in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on some the best trails in Palm Springs. You'll be able to see desert vegetation/plants & cacti close up as we hike along the trails. You'll see from the desert valley floor below all the way up to beautiful mountain peaks, all while getting in some great exercise. I'll point out interesting landmarks along the way, like Mount San Gorgonio (the tallest mountain in So Cal), Indian Canyons & other points of interest. Now that it's winter the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep have returned so maybe we'll see some, I've seen them in this area before. There will be lots of opportunities for taking beautiful scenic photos during the hike.

This is a ~2 hour bike tour of three architecturally and historically significant residential neighborhoods in South Palm Springs. Bus tours have difficulty accessing these areas, because streets are somewhat narrow and it's hard for them to turn corners -- which makes it perfect for biking! Quiet streets, no hills, constant sunshine, and very little traffic make for a great ride for novices or expert cyclists alike. Please note that bike rental is NOT INCLUDED in this tour, and you're welcome to bring your own bikes. Discounted rentals available at Big Wheel Tours. Our tour begins and ends in their parking lot. We'll explore the neighborhoods of Deepwell Estates, Twin Palms, and Indian Canyons. We'll see great examples of homes designed by William Krisel, Charles DuBois, and developments created by the Alexander Construction Company. Of course there will be frequent stops for photos and to learn details about specific homes before returning to Big Wheel Tours to turn in our bikes.

Ideal for couples, families with kids, and groups of friends or co-workers, Merlin's Magic School escape room in Palm Springs is a challenging real life escape game without the dark and scary themes. Working as a team, you'll uncover clues and use magic to break into Merlin’s secret study and find his hidden spell book. See if you’ve got what it takes to save the entire school from a talent show curse in under an hour.

We use the latest communication technology in our helmets, the Sena 30K headset. These headsets let you have a real-time intercom experience with everyone on the tour even if they are in a separate vehicle. Through this intercom, our tour guides can alert drivers of upcoming terrain and obstacles to help promote an accident-free experience. Helmets are equipped with built-in sunglasses for bright, mid-day tours.

From first time climbers to competition team kids, there are opportunities for fantastic climbing in Joshua Tree National Park. We have experience guiding families with mixed climbing experience and know the best crags to serve everyone's ambitions! Regardless of your experience level, desires or goals there is a fantastic rock climbing trip ready and waiting for you!!! We have guided ages 2- 80 and have specialty equipment such as tiny rock climbing helmets, sticky rubber baby climbing shoes and full body harnesses for little people or pregnant moms! The 4-Hour Trip is great for people who want to focus on rock climbing. Typically, we keep the approaches short and visit only 1-2 rock formations so that we spend the bulk of your trip climbing as many routes as possible!

Are you a beginner or intermediate rock climber looking to have a fantastic time sampling the excellent rock climbing routes in Joshua Tree National Park under the careful watch of an experienced and certified rock climbing guide? Maybe you have a family with kids who absolutely love rock climbing? Or perhaps you are an experienced climber looking for a partner to climb as many rock climbing routes as possible during your trip? Regardless of your experience level, desires or goals there is a fantastic rock climbing trip ready and waiting for you!!! The 6-Hour Trip is a great option for travelers who want to travel deeper into Joshua Tree National Park, leave the crowds behind and climb on a few rock formations. Contact Stone Adventures for more information.

We use the latest communication technology in our helmets, the Sena 30K headset. These headsets let you have a real-time intercom experience with everyone on the tour even if they are in a separate vehicle. Through this intercom, our tour guides can alert drivers of upcoming terrain and obstacles to help promote an accident-free experience. Helmets are equipped with built-in sunglasses for bright, mid-day tours.

I provide water, a snack, a backpack & a hiking pole for each hiker. We'll be hiking in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument on Native American land on some the best trails in the area. 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. You'll be able to see desert vegetation/plants & cacti close up as we hike along the trails. You'll see from the desert valley floor below all the way up to beautiful mountain peaks, all while getting in some great exercise. I'll point out interesting landmarks along the way, like the very unique Bob Hope house, Mount San Gorgonio (the tallest mountain in So Cal), Indian Canyons & other points of interest. During the winter I've seen the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep in the area. There will be lots of opportunities for taking beautiful scenic photos during the hike. For a certain date/time not shown ask me.

Join our certified local guides for a half day exploration of Joshua Tree National Park's world renowned rock climbing! Meet other travelers who, like yourself, have a healthy appetite for adventure, while learning the basics of the sport from an expert. See JTNP from a new perspective 100' up a wall of granite!

We use the latest communication technology in our helmets, the Sena 30K headset. These headsets let you have a real-time intercom experience with everyone on the tour even if they are in a separate vehicle. Through this intercom, our tour guides can alert drivers of upcoming terrain and obstacles to help promote an accident-free experience. Helmets are equipped with built-in sunglasses for bright, mid-day tours.