San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Palm Springs, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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, and bottled water.
- Walk around a desert oasis fed by underground water sources
- Hear about geology and California's earthquakes
- 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)
- Hotel Transfers
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Metate Ranch | San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour38635 Monroe St, Indio, CA 92203, USA
Meet your Jeep at the Metate Ranch parking lot 10 minutes prior to your tour. Follow the signage for Red Jeep Tours. If you make it to the Granite/Hi Grade construction gate, you have gone too far.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
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 areas 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.
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 areas 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.
1
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
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Most travelers can participate
- 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.
- Tours departing after 1:00 PM are sunset tours
- 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 is not an extreme tour, but you are travelling on dirt trails and washes, so the ride is a little bumpy.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Steve_F
Craig was a fantastic guide! A very interesting tour and you will learn about so much history and geology. Wear shoes with a good tread so you can hike outside at various stops. Highly recommended if you are visiting the Coachella Valley.
Reviews
4.9
based on 793 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Linda_S, Jun 2026
Our guide was fantastic, Teresa. She was knowledgeable and fun. We learned so much and had a great time. My 15 yo grandson loved it as well.
Chanda_S, Jun 2026
Great experience! Mike was great. So knowledgeable and Such a wonderful attitude about life! We had a blast!!!
David_F, May 2026
Chris was a knowledge, friendly, and wonderful tour guide. Was traveling with friends and we talked about the information he gave us for days. This was a highlight of our visit to Palm Desert.
Response from Host, May 2026
Still talking about it days later, that's the best kind of review, David! So happy Chris made it such a highlight of your trip. Hope to see you and your friends back! 🌄
Stephanie_G, May 2026
We had an unforeseen circumstance push our schedule slightly back and we would have been 15 minutes late for the tour. The tour operators refused to wait for us. We even called and let them know about our small delay. They offered to reschedule us to the following day, which we agreed upon and booked. Then they called us back later and said they would not be able to accommodate us the following day anymore and they refused to refund us the money or give us a rain check for another day.
Response from Host, May 2026
We are sorry that this guest missed their tour, but we do feel it is important to clarify what occurred.
The guests contacted our office at approximately 12:45 PM to advise that they were just leaving the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and would arrive approximately 15–20 minutes late for their 1:00 PM tour. The Tramway is located roughly 45–60 minutes from our departure location depending on traffic conditions.
Because this was a shared group tour with other guests already checked in and ready to depart, we explained that our policy is to wait a maximum of 10 minutes for late arrivals. Guests are also asked to arrive 5–10 minutes prior to departure for check-in so that tours can leave on time and all guests receive the full experience they booked.
While we understand that delays can happen, we also have a responsibility to the other guests on the tour. Asking an entire group to remain waiting in extreme desert heat for an extended period of time would not have been fair to them.
As a courtesy, we attempted to accommodate the guests by offering to move them to another tour the following day if space allowed. Initially, we explored an afternoon option, but due to an active heat wave with temperatures approaching 110°, we ultimately determined that we would not be operating additional afternoon departures for safety reasons. We then offered available morning departures at 8:00 AM or 10:00 AM instead.
Unfortunately, the alternative morning times did not work with the guests’ schedule, so we were unable to find another mutually workable option.
We always try to assist guests whenever possible, and had this been a private tour, we likely could have waited longer. However, on a shared scheduled departure, we must balance the needs and experience of all guests involved.
We believe our team handled the situation professionally, communicated clearly, and made reasonable efforts to provide an alternative solution within the constraints of tour availability and extreme weather conditions.
Lillian_F, May 2026
Super fun- we learned so much from our guide (Gary) about the Cahuilla tribe, geology of the San Andreas fault, fauna, etc. Enjoyed squeezing through the slot canyons. Highly recommended tour!
Response from Host, May 2026
The slot canyons are always a highlight! Sounds like Gary made it a really rich experience, Lillian: the Cahuilla history, the geology, the fauna… he really does cover it all. Thanks for the recommendation! 🌄
Dean_T, Apr 2026
Great experience learning about the Coachella valley and San Andreas Fault. Our guide was very knowledgeable and even I learned some things I didn’t know about the area.
Response from Host, May 2026
When a local walks away having learned something new, we're doing something right! Sounds like an amazing day out there, Dean. Hope to see you back! 🏜️
Connie_O, Apr 2026
I did not go with my family, but my family had a fabulous time on the tour. They truly enjoyed the tour Director and it was a nice experience.
Response from Host, May 2026
Wonderful to hear the family had such a fabulous time, Connie! Hopefully what you heard convinces you to join them next time! 🌄
Cynthia_M, Apr 2026
Excellent way to spend a morning while in Palm Springs. Learned many things I never knew about the San Andreas Fault as well as the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Hiked a couple of slot canyons and saw a desert oasis!
Response from Host, May 2026
That's the beauty of this tour: so much packed into one morning! Slot canyons, a desert oasis and a geology lesson all before lunch. 😄 Hope to see you back, Cynthia! 🌄
Karen_C, Apr 2026
Mike did an excellent job explaining the fault, the historical changes to the rock formations and impact to the ecosystem. We enjoyed hiking into the canyons too.
Response from Host, May 2026
The fault, the rock formations, the ecosystem AND hiking the canyons, sounds like Mike covered every inch of it, Karen! Thanks for your review and we hope to see you back. 🏜️
Mary_C, Apr 2026
Fascinating explanations of the San Andreas Fault, amazing rock formations and hiking in a small canyon! Ron was extremely knowledgeable and friendly, a great guide!
Response from Host, May 2026
Ron is one of the best. We're happy he made it such a fascinating experience for you, Mary! Thanks for your review. 🏜️
Deborah_J, Apr 2026
This tour was a highlight of our visit to Palm Springs! It was fun and informative! Our guide, Pace, was knowledgeable about all the things/areas he showed us! We would definitely recommend to family and friends!
Response from Host, May 2026
Pace will love to hear that our tour was a highlight of your whole trip, Deborah! Thanks for the recommendation and hope to see you back! 🌄
Colleen_A, Apr 2026
Amazing trip! Travis was spectacular and made the evening! Super knowledgeable, passionate and has great dinner suggestions! 10/10
Response from Host, May 2026
Travis really does go above and beyond! We'll make sure he sees this, Colleen. 10/10 means everything to us. Hope to see you back! 🏜️
John_K, Apr 2026
Beautiful vegetation of CA palms and distinct linear layers of sand and stone. Our guide, Greg, was well informed, answered all our questions, was mindful of the limitations of guests on short hikes. Thanks for the water and snacks.
Thanks Greg!
Response from Host, May 2026
Greg knows how to read his group and make sure everyone gets the most out of the experience. The palms and rock layers never get old either. Thanks for choosing us, John! 🌄
Ronald_M, Mar 2026
Nice tour and Ron was very informative. Not exactly what we expected (thought we might see more of the effects of the San Andreas fault).
Jeep was nice and restroom availability was a nice surprise.
Learned about effects of geology and local indigenous people.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks for the honest feedback, Ronald! We're sorry the tour didn't fully match your expectations, we'd love to hear more about what you were hoping to see so we can better set expectations for future guests. That said, we're glad Ron made it an informative and enjoyable outing. Hope to welcome you back! 🌄
Michael_W, Mar 2026
This was a really interesting tour. Tom was awesome and very knowledgeable. I definitely would recommend this.
Response from Host, May 2026
Nothing better than heading home with great memories, we love that, Michael! We'll pass the kind words to Tom, he is going to love this. Thanks for the recommendation! 🏜️
Lisa_W, Mar 2026
A must do in Palm Springs!! Kelly was our tour guide and he was simply the BEST! This tour is not only educational, learning all about the indigenous people of the land but also the San Andreas fault. It has some light hikes, lots of laughs and photo ops. Request Kelly for your tour and you won’t be disappointed. Definitely a highlight of our vacation. Thank you.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you, Lisa! Thrilled to hear the whole experience hit the mark from the hikes to the laughs to the photo ops. Hope to see you back in Palm Springs! 🌄
Kinga_B, Mar 2026
Morgan was a wonderful guide. Very informative and a great photographer. We enjoyed learning about the area.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Morgan really does cover all the bases: the geology, the history and the photos to take home! Love hearing you had such a great time, Kinga. Hope to see you back! 🏜️
Debra_R, Mar 2026
We had a great time! Learned a lot. Loved the combo of the Jeep ride and a little bit of hiking. Unique experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
The Jeep+hiking combo is the real adventure. Love hearing you had such a great time, Debra. Hope to see you back! 🌄
MaryLou_G, Mar 2026
It is very bumpy but the guide was full of great information and made it so interesting. A fascinating adventure.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
The bumps are part of the experience! 😄 Thrilled to hear the guide made it such a fascinating adventure, Mary. Hope to see you back! 🏜️
Krystal_M, Mar 2026
Bonnie our travel guide was incredibly knowledgeable and kind. The time went by fast. I don’t think I’ve ever had a better tour experience before. The walking and/or jeep experience was top notch. Loved our experience.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Woww, this means a lot to us, Krystal! Bonnie is going to love reading this. We hope to see you back! 🏜️ Thanks for your review.
Ana_R, Mar 2026
Amazing experience! So much to see. Pace was a great tour guide and made it fun and educational! Would definitely recommend for all ages!
Jeffrey_S, Mar 2026
Exceptional experience. Our guide, Belinda, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Really knew the plant life, indigenous history and geology features. Sunset with champagne and cheese and crackers was an unexpected plus!
MARY_A, Mar 2026
Very informative and fun! Linda made the trip so much fun with her humor. A little hiking, scenery, and learning about the faults. Would recommend this trip to everyone.
Julie_W, Mar 2026
Can be hot! Some people on the tour weren’t prepared to walk up the canyon. Very informative guide! 🥵
Chris_S, Feb 2026
Some light hiking, water, granola bars, sunscreen provided. Restrooms are available about every hour. Jennie, our driver/tour guide was knowledgeable, informative and entertaining. We enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend it.
Lori_L, Feb 2026
The experience was amazing! Our guide Teresa was so knowledgeable! She answered any questions we had and was so great at explaining all the nuances of the desert. It was just a great experience. Highly recommend it.
Mary_W, Feb 2026
Remember to dress in layers. Bill was our tour guide and we learned so much. It was a great experience.
Cecil_W, Feb 2026
Rick was a very good guide. Made the tour enjoyable. We learned a lot about the natives and the different faults in the area.
Sundy_F, Feb 2026
We have been to Palm Desert many times, but never tried this tour before. Since we had friends visiting we signed up & I’m so glad we did. It was fantastic. Marv is an amazing guide- very knowledgeable and so good about taking photos for us & answering questions. We were really fortunate to have spent the morning with him! I would highly recommend this experience.
Robin_W, Feb 2026
Very fun experience! Jennie was very informative. The weather changes quickly so make sure to wear layers.
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From $175.00
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