PAINTED CANYON JEEP TOUR

Experience sheer canyon walls, fascinating geology, local agriculture, scenic vistas, abundant desert flora, and amazing hiking options on this 4WD back-country adventure.

About This Tour

The on-road journey to Painted Canyon takes approximately 60 minutes each way. In Painted Canyon, you will spend most of your time out of the Jeep exploring on foot.

Journey to the eastern end of the Coachella Valley where you will find yourself immersed in our area’s second largest industry: agriculture. Depending on the time of year and growing conditions, you may see fields of artichokes, cauliflower, bell peppers, dates, table grapes, and citrus to name just a few of the crops grown locally.

As you rise above the agricultural basin and cross the beautiful Coachella canal, you will be afforded with a magnificent view of the awe-inspiring Salton Sea.

As you leave the pavement and enter the majestic Mecca Hills Wilderness Area, you will be amazed by the lunar-like landscape, reminiscent of Star Trek. Journey into the spectacular Painted Canyon and marvel at the billion-year-old rainbow-colored mineral striations towering above you.

Choose from one of several walks or hikes through the canyons, ranging from an easy nature walk to the Indian Jones Hike or the Hike of Death! While your guide may take you to see the ladders in the Painted Canyon are, a ladder hike is not included due to it’s length and difficulty.

Tour Details

Duration:

• 4.5 hours from Indio/Coachella

TOUR AVAILABILITY:

• Morning Tours are offered M-F from October through May
• Afternoon Tours are offered M-F from November through April

VEHICLE:

• Open-air 7-passenger Jeep CJ-8 (Scrambler) with shade top

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

• Naturalist guided tour in a classic open-air Jeep Scrambler (CJ-8) with removable canvas shade top
• Guided hike (Choose from a variety of easy to moderate hikes) – You will spend approximately 2 hours of your tour out of the Jeep exploring narrow slot canyons on foot
• Bureau of Land Management Use Fees
• Bottled water and granola snacks

TOUR ADVISORIES:

• Proper footwear (hiking boots or walking/tennis shoes with good traction) are required. Please no open-toe shoes or sandals.
• You will spend approximately 1-hour each way in the Jeep on the way to Painted Canyon, as your Jeep travels through the rich agricultural lands at the east end of the Coachella Valley. Once you get to the Mecca Hills Wilderness Area, you will spend approximately 1.5 to 2 hours exploring narrow slot canyons on foot.
• Guests should be in reasonably good physical condition to take this tour. This tour included a lot of walking/hiking through soft sand. This tour is not recommended for guests with mobility issues. 
• There are limited bathroom facilities on this tour. Please let your guide know before the tour starts if you require frequent bathroom stops so that accommodations can be made.
• Guests who are pregnant or who have neck or back issues or injuries should consult with their doctor before taking this tour.
  

CHILD POLICY:

• This tour is recommended for children aged 12 and up. The minimum age for this tour is 8 years of age.