Tour Details
Ride, Hike and Explore. Your Indian Canyons Journey Starts Here!
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.
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- Naturalist guided tour in a classic open-air Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8) with removable canvas shade top
- Shared (non-private) tour for up to 7 guests per Jeep
- Guided hike
- Admission fees and taxes
- Bottled water and granola snacks
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- Please wear closed-toe-shoes with rubber soles (such as tennis shoes or hiking boots). Sandals, flip-flops, and shoes with high heels are not recommended.
- Wear comfortable clothing – we recommend you dress in layers as desert temperatures can change quickly. In the cooler months (November through March), we suggest you bring a sweater or light jacket for morning tours. However, we do have blankets in the Jeeps in case you get chilly.
- Be sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated before and after your tour, especially in the warmer months.
- Bring a hat and sunglasses and apply sunscreen before the tour. The desert sun is strong and you can burn easily with the reflection off the sand.
- We supply plenty of cool bottled water and granola bars and we have optional snacks and beverages available for advance order if you want to customize your tour. While we ask that you refrain from bringing any outside food or beverage on tour with you, you are welcome to bring snacks and drinks for your young children.
- There are portable restrooms available.
- Don’t forget your camera or video camera – the photo opportunities are Instagram worthy and we would love if you would tag us on your social media @RedJeepTours, #RedJeepTours, #TahquitzAndIndianCanyons.
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- Advance Reservations are required and are subject to availability.
- There is a minimum of 4 guests required to operate this tour. Tour is subject to cancellation if this minimum is not met.
- We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. There are no refunds or credit for no-shows.
- Online reservations require a minimum of 4 guests to book. Parties of 1 to 3 guests may call (760) 324-5337 or email resv@red-jeep.com to inquire about joining an existing tour.
- Guests redeeming a gift certificate with a 4-digit code must call (760) 324-5337 or email resv@red-jeep.com to book. Gift Cards (with a 20-digit code) may be redeemed online.
- Private and group tours are also offered. Please contact us for more information.
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- Hotel pickup is not offered on shared tours but is included on private tours.
- This tour departs from 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
- There is plenty of complimentary parking nearby.
- Be sure to lock your valuables in your trunk or take them with you. Do not leave your valuables where they can be seen through your windows. Break-ins tend to be crimes of opportunity.
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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 have very tall (6’2″ or taller) or larger guests (over 250 lbs) in your party, please let us know when booking. We do our best to provide comfortable seating for all.
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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.