San Andreas Fault Small-Group Jeep Tour from Palm Springs

Sightseeing  :  United States  :  California  :  Palm Springs  :  4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours

This awe-inspiring journey from Palm Springs takes you deep into the heart of California’s world-famous San Andreas Fault. On this open-air Jeep eco-tour, experience the forces of nature that have created amazing, steep-walled canyons and the most twisted and tormented landscapes on Earth!This sunset and stargazing adventure begins when you board your “Big Red Jeep” and depart on an open-air Jeep ride into the desert.  Your expert guide explains the ecology of this desert environment and takes you to see one of its unique features: an oasis of native palms. There you can see water from 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 survival skills needed for living in the desert. Your guide also shares details about life for early American and European settlers in the area. Next up, get a close look at the San Andreas fault on an easy walk into a slot canyon. Your guide shows you parts of the rock that reveal the region's unique geology and discusses the impact of the collision of the Pacific and North American plates, including earthquakes. Drive through other sections of the fault for another perspective.