Tour Details
Indian Canyon Trails Await, Book Your Private Jeep Adventure in California!
Journey to the Ancestral Home of the Cahuilla Indians where stunning rock formations and the contrasting greens of magnificent California fan palms and more than 150 species of plants beckon travelers to these lush oases.
Throughout your journey, your naturalist guide will engage and entertain you with stories about the lifestyle, culture, and beliefs of the Cahuilla Indians, our local Native American Tribe.
Enjoy a guided, easy 1-mile hike on a tranquil trail along the banks of Andreas Creek as your guide describes the ceremonies and legends of the Cahuilla people and explains how they used the desert’s plants for survival.
View one of the largest natural palm oases in North America from the rim of Palm Canyon and enjoy a short walk to a hidden water cave where the water flows most of the year.
ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE
- The tour we offer is a soft-adventure and is safe and suitable for guests aged 8 and up. The most challenging part of the tour for some guests is climbing in and out of the Jeep, but we have step-stools to make that easier for you. Your guide is also happy to lend a hand if you need assistance.
- This is primarily a walking/hiking tour. The Jeep transports you to and from the Indian Canyons, but travels entirely on paved roads. A significant part of the tour is spent out of the Jeep exploring on foot.
- The experience we provide is designed to be educational, entertaining, and engaging.
- Guests should be able to walk a 1.5 to 2 miles along a dirt trail. Elevation gain is minimal, but there are multiple stream crossings and some light bouldering required to navigate large rocks and small boulders along the trail.
- The trail is designated as easy, though guests with limited mobility may have difficulty in sections.
- Guests should be of average or better physical conditioning.
- For your safety, seat belts are required at all times when the Jeep is moving.
OPTIONAL ENHANCEMENTS:
The following items are available for purchase if you would like to customize your private tour experience. Please contact us after booking if you would like to add any of these options to your tour.
- On-board snacks and beverages including sweet and salty snacks (chips, cookies, candy) and soft drinks. Alcohol is not permitted in the Indian Canyons.
- We are happy to arrange for cupcakes or flowers if you will be celebrating a special occasion.
- Boxed lunches
- Custom signage on the Jeeps
Over the years, we’ve witnessed many engagements, vow renewals, bachelor/bachelorette parties, girlfriend/buddy get-aways, family reunions, and other celebrations. We would love to be part of yours!
Please contact us at least 2 business days prior to your tour if you would like to add any enhancements.
RESERVATIONS
- Advance Reservations are required and are subject to availability.
- Private tours are sold by the Jeep. You will be charged the full fee even if some of your guests cannot make the tour.
- Online reservations are accepted for up to 2 private Jeeps. If you need to book more than 2 Jeeps, please call (760) 324-5337 or email resv@red-jeep.com for assistance. A signed contract and deposit are required to secure bookings of 3 or more Jeeps and a different cancellation policy applies.
- Group tours for up to 84 guests at a time are available. Please contact us for more information.
Please review your tour confirmation for details about your departure time and location.
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Guests visiting Palm Springs for the day may join the tour at the Sightseeing Tour Loading Zone in front of the Tahquitz Canyon entrance to the Welwood Murray Memorial Library.
Library Address: 100 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262) Click for Map.
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Our standard pickup area includes hotels, vacation rentals, and private residences in the cities of Palm Springs or Rancho Mirage (west of Frank Sinatra Drive).
Our extended pickup area (+$150/Jeep) includes pickup from hotels, private homes, and vacation rentals in Palm Desert, Indian Wells, and La Quinta (south of the I-10 freeway and between Washington Street to the east and Date Palm Drive to the west).
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Each Jeep holds a maximum of 7 guests plus your driver/guide.
The vehicle configuration is 1 guest in the front passenger seat (next to the driver) and 6 guests in the back (on two inward-facing bench seats that accommodate three guests each).
If you are booking more than one private Jeep, you may request that they stay together.
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Proper footwear (hiking boots or walking/tennis shoes) is required. Please no open-toe shoes, sandals, or flip-flops or shoes with high heels.
This tour includes getting in and out of the Jeep several times for hikes.
Guests should be able to walk at least 2 miles over uneven terrain. Creek crossings and light bouldering are required in places.
The front, passenger seat is recommended for guests with mild neck or back issues, though this tour travels on paved roads, so it is not particularly bumpy.
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Dogs are not permitted in the Indian Canyons.
If you are travelling with a service animal, please contact us before booking so we can confirm whether or not an accommodation is possible.
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All of our tours take place as scheduled: rain or shine, cloudy or clear, hot or cold. Thus, you should dress appropriately for the weather.
At Desert Adventures’ sole discretion, tours may be altered to accommodate changes in weather so as to provide the safest and most enjoyable experience possible.
If light rain is predicted, we have rain ponchos for you to use. If heavy rains are expected or there are any flash flood advisories or warnings, then the tour will be cancelled or rescheduled. We prioritize your safety above all else.
If you wish to cancel your tour due to forecasted inclement weather when we deem it safe to operate, our normal cancellations and refund policy will apply. However, we will allow you to reschedule your tour to a different day or time at no charge, subject to space availability.
If we cancel a tour due to weather or safety concerns, you will given the option to reschedule your tour at no charge (subject to space availability) or we can issue a gift card that you can use at a later date, or we can provide a refund back to your original method of payment. Refunds and credits may be prorated, based on the circumstances.
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Tour guide gratuities are not included in the tour cost, but are appreciated.
The suggested gratuity is 10-15% of the retail tour price, but tips are at your sole discretion.
Gratuities paid directly to your guide are preferred and most guides can accept tips via Venmo or Zelle as well as cash.
However, if you would like to add a gratuity to the credit card you used to book your tour, please contact us and we can add that on for you.