San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.9/5
Based on 793 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert worth booking?
San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert is a 3-hour experience in Palm Springs, United States, from $175 per person. It scores 89 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Exceptional”, based on a 4.9/5 rating across 793 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 89 / 100
- Rating
- 4.9/5 (793)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $175 per person
Only Red Jeep Tours can take you to Metate Ranch, located in the heart of the San Andreas Fault Zone. On this awe-inspiring OPEN-AIR Jeep Tour, you will travel deep into the heart of California’s world-famous San Andre
What you get
About this experience
Only Red Jeep Tours can take you to Metate Ranch, located in the heart of the San Andreas Fault Zone. On this awe-inspiring OPEN-AIR Jeep Tour, you will travel deep into the heart of California’s world-famous San Andreas Fault and witness the forces of nature that have created amazing, steep-walled canyons and the most twisted and tormented landscapes on Earth! You will be awestruck by the spectacular scenery as your Jeep winds its way through the bones of the earth. During your adventure, you will stop several times for short nature walks, including a short hike through a slot canyon, if desired. This tour also stops at a natural palm oasis, where water bubbles up from the ground year-round. Here you will learn about how the Cahuilla Indians used desert plants to survive in this inhospitable environment. A final highlight is a guided tour of our recreated Cahuilla Indian Village that showcases the lifestyle and culture of the Cahuilla people.
What's included
Included
- Bottled water
- Naturalist guided open-air Jeep eco-tour
- Granola snacks
- Land Use Fees
Not included
- Gratuities
- Food and drink (unless otherwise specified)
- Hotel Transfers
What you'll see and do
San Andreas Fault
Experience the twisted and tortured landscape of an active earthquake fault system as your guide describes the geology of the area and you explore the bones of the earth. Don't forget your camera - the photo opportunities are endless! Take a walk between the steep walls of deep canyons created by the powerful forces of plate tectonics, water, wind, and time. Explore a natural palm oasis where crystal clear water bubbles up from the underground aquifer year round. Learn about the culture and lifestyle of the Cahuilla Indians and how they used the desert’s plants for food, medicine, tools, weapons, shelter, and more as you tour a recreated Cahuilla Indian Village. Learn about the plants and animals of the California desert and take in spectacular views as your guide describes the geologic forces and local history that shaped the Coachella Valley.
180 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Palm Springs
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.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
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.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 7 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Desert Adventures - Palm Springs
Know before you go
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 793 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
5 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
793 verified traveler reviews for San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Exceptional
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.
via Viator
Fun & informative!!
Darrell our tour guide was very knowledgeable and personable. It was a fun and informative morning. Plenty of great picture opportunities. We really enjoyed it and recommend it!!!
Response from the operator: Darrell really does make every morning out there a great one! Love hearing you had such a fun and informative time, and that the photo ops delivered too. Thanks for the recommendation! 🏜️
via Tripadvisor
Go book this experience!!!!
Great experience! Mike was great. So knowledgeable and Such a wonderful attitude about life! We had a blast!!!
via Viator
Great tour
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 the operator: 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! 🌄
via Viator
Unprofessional
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 the operator: 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.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 278
- Verdict
- Exceptional
Why this scores 89
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Palm Springs.
How much does San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert cost?
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Prices start at $175 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Palm Springs usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Palm Springs is not rushed.
Is San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 89 out of 100, which we label "Exceptional". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.9/5 across 793 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable most highly reviewed in Palm Springs, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert?
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Around 278 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Palm Springs can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Palm Springs and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour from Palm Desert start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Palm Springs within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Palm Springs?
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Palm Springs sells architecture tours through midcentury neighbourhoods, Aerial Tramway trips up San Jacinto, Indian Canyons hikes, Joshua Tree stargazing and windmill farm runs. Shade, water and pickup points separate a good desert tour from a rough one. On Outty we rank every Palm Springs experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Bank Heist Escape Room Game for Private Group, Palm Springs Modernism Architecture & History Bike Tour, Vampire's Lair Escape Room Game for Private Group. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Palm Springs?
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November to April. Book dawn or evening slots in summer. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Palm Springs?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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