With Palm Springs’ dusty brown desert dunes, craggy cliffs and array of indigenous foliage, it’d be a shame to spend all your free time lounging by the pool. There are many good ways to get out and explore the jewels of the surrounding wilderness with the aid of a knowledgeable guide. In fact, outdoor excursions are one of the most popular group activities in Palm Springs.
The best-known tour operator in the area is Desert Adventures Jeep Tours and Special Events (760.340.2345; www.red-jeep.com), which has been around nearly 20 years and has a reputation for fun, experiential and educational tours of Palm Springs natural surroundings. The company offers numerous programs daily and is capable of taking more than 100 guests out at a time aboard some 16 Jeep Scramblers that are painted signature red.
“Desert Adventures provides one-of-a-kind experiences for groups coming to the Palm Springs Desert Resorts,” says Mary Dungans, founder of the company. “We have an extensive product menu with something for every group. We take them places they cannot go on their own, narrating every inch of the way.”
Available adventures include exploring the San Andreas Fault and driving the rugged backcountry trails into Joshua Tree National Park. Some programs can include hikes through narrow slot canyons, climbing up foot ladders and across rugged terrain to access panoramic vistas and overlooks. Team-building programs are also available.
With beginnings as a bicycle rental company, Big Wheel Tours (760.779.1837; www.bwbtours.com) now offers Jeep tours and guided hikes, in addition to its popular two-wheel adventures. Its bike trips remain the star attraction, especially the Earthquake Canyon Express, on which groups as large as 50 pedal through the heart of the San Andreas Fault zone on a paved road to an agriculturally rich region. The ride descends some 1,200 feet and winds through the Box Canyon.
“The tour runs through federally protected land,” says Big Wheel’s Evan Trubee. “Large group rides are done with a support vehicle, and we provide everything you need. We’ll usually stop at a date farm and get date shakes for everybody at the end.”
Big Wheel’s hikes are also a great way to explore and learn about Palm Springs geology, flora and fauna, and the company’s Jeep tours take guests through scenic backcountry with expert guides at the wheel. Tours include drives through rugged canyons and a drive to Joshua Tree National Monument.
Covering some of the same ground but in decidedly different conveyance, Elite Land Hummer Tours (760.318.1200; www.elitelandtours.com) whisks individuals and groups around the rugged terrain outside Palm Springs aboard air-conditioned Hummer H2s.
“We call it European-style touring,” says Mark Farley, who founded the company after an experience he had on tour in Kenya. “The Hummers are equipped with a fridge, and we provide drinks and gourmet snacks. We can also do picnics with white linen, silverware and tablecloths. We can really do anything the guest requests.”
Elite has five Hummers taking up to 25 people at a time, but larger groups can be accommodated on multiple trips.
The firm offers many tours, from backcountry adventures to programs heading to remote regions of Joshua Tree National Park, with knowledgeable guides steering the way. Unusual tour options by Elite include a visit to the world’s only wolf sanctuary, where guests can interact with the animals.
