A thrilling cable car ride shuttles visitors from the desert floor to the heights of Mt. San Jacinto, where you might experience a 40-degree temperature drop in just a few minutes. While many visitors just hop up for the view, it can be a starting point for many outdoor activities like hiking and mule rides. At the top, you’ll also find a cocktail bar and restaurant with stunning views.
Spread alongside the zigzagging South Palm Canyon Drive, the Indian Canyons have been the ancestral homes of the Cahuilla Indians' Agua Caliente Band for nearly a millennium. Revered by local Native Americans, these beautiful canyons are treasured by scientists and paleontologists for their vivid rock artwork and petroglyphs that offer insights into tribal life. A much-needed getaway from the sometimes glitzy atmosphere of Palm Springs, the sparkling streams, and the untamed arid wilderness allows its visitors to be one with nature. A phenomenon named the 'Witch of Tahquitz Canyon' can be occasionally spotted here which is essentially an eerie shadow cast on the slopes of the canyon.
Palm Canyon Drive is the main street of Palm Springs and the pulse of this desert resort city. It has everything a tourist needs - shops, attractions, galleries, restaurants and more. Dotted by tall palm trees throughout with the San Jacinto Mountain as a backdrop, it is where most of the action lies. Shop at unique stores and the farmer's market to take away something as a gift or souvenir. Check out the Villagefest held every Thursday. Some of the interesting places to visit are the Palm Canyon Theatre, Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs Visitors Center, Desert Art Center, Annenberg Theater, The McCallum Adobe and Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
This landmark botanical garden has been delighting Palm Springs visitors for more than 60 years and is sometimes used in films. Proudly proclaiming itself the “World's First Cactarium,” the garden includes 3000 fine examples of desert cacti and other desert plants in a quirky Wild West setting. Turtledoves, hummingbirds, lizards and other small wild creatures also make impromptu appearances among the rocks and plants. Many unusual botanical specimens are for sale, along with other souvenirs.
If you're into hiking and trailing, then don't miss out on Tahquitz Canyon. Embark on an adventure into this 2-mile loop trail which leads to the 60 foot Tahquitz waterfall. The path here is rocky, steep and has many rock steps to climb, so be sure to leave that fancy footwear behind and get proper hiking gear. You can either go by yourself or opt for a ranger directed guided trail, which can be up to 2.5 hours. The elevation here is up to 350 feet, so expect beautiful scenic views.
Nestled in the sprawling San Jacinto State Park, the imposing San Jacinto peak towers over the fascinating landscape of Palm Springs Desert. Touted to be one of the most prominent peaks of the country, the mountain is marvelously mottled with craggy corrugations and sweeping escarpments. The mountain is traversed by an an array of crisscrossing trails and trams, its spectacular summit affording astounding views of the charming desert terrain beneath. A wonderland for the intrepid hiker, this imposing peak is a breathtaking, snow-glazed canopy come winter. Its pinnacle dotted with outhouses, the mountain is draped in indigenous Californian oak and pine, only further accentuated by a startlingly beautiful gradation of its neighboring environs.
In operation since 1998, Big Wheel Tours has garnered raves for its bicycle rental services. Whether you want a mountain bike, a high performance road bike or simply a cycle for your little one, you can be rest assured that Big Wheel Tours has something in store for you. Besides bicycle rental services, the tour company also offer guided jeep and SUV drives as well as hiking and bike tours. If you are looking for a fun-filled time, participate in a tour and get ready to make memories for a lifetime.
Desert Adventures owns one of the largest fleet of Jeep Scramblers in the country and offers a variety of tours whether you are seeking adventure, Native American history and culture, old mining lore, nature, ethno-botany, geology, or panoramic vistas. See the San Andreas Fault and Joshua Tree National Park up close and personal. Enjoy jeep eco-tours, hiking adventures, team building and parties at the Metate Canyon Ranch, an exclusive 1000-acre private desert preserve just 15 minutes from most Palm Springs resorts. Expert naturalist guides ensure that these back-country adventures are both educational and fun.
A short drive from the northwest entrance of the Joshua Tree National Park will lead you to one of the most spectacular sunrise and sunset spots in the area. Keys View, a coveted vantage point, rests high above the Little San Bernardino Mountains, and offers vast, uninterrupted views of Coachella Valley and beyond. On a clear day, one may also be able to sight the San Andreas Fault along the valley's contours. Its easy access and rewarding vistas make it a very popular destination.
A thrilling cable car ride shuttles visitors from the desert floor to the heights of Mt. San Jacinto, where you might experience a 40-degree temperature drop in just a few minutes. While many visitors just hop up for the view, it can be a starting point for many outdoor activities like hiking and mule rides. At the top, you’ll also find a cocktail bar and restaurant with stunning views.