Nestled in the foothills of the Indio Hills, just minutes away from Del Webb Sun City, lies Metate Ranch, a private desert sanctuary where Red Jeep Tours by Desert Adventures conducts their award-winning San Andreas Fault Jeep and Hiking Tours. Named “Best of the Best” (Editor’s Choice) by Palm Springs Life Magazine for 2021, Red Jeep Tours has been providing engaging, educational and entertaining outdoor adventures since 1988. This is the perfect activity to enjoy with your family or friends who come to visit and also if you simply want to learn more about this desert paradise.
On their signature San Andreas Fault “Bones of the Earth” Jeep Tour, you visit a private natural palm oasis where water seeps up through the ground year-round, supporting plant and animal life including coyote, fox, and a variety of birds, lizards and snakes. A recreated Cahuilla Indian Village sits on the historical site of the ancient village of Paltewet, depicting life as it was hundreds of years ago. A large metate (grinding stone) still sits on the hillside above the village, a remnant of the vibrant community that once existed there. Tour a ceremonial house, sweat lodge and kishes (family huts) adorned with interpretive displays portraying the lifestyle and culture of the Cahuilla People. The highlight of the trip is a journey through the desert badlands landscape as your Jeep snakes its way through narrow, winding canyons that were thrust up by geologic forces and carved by wind, water and time. A shorter “Movers and Shakers” Jeep Tour is also offered for those with limited time or who are primarily interested in the geology /San Andreas Fault aspect of the tour.
For hiking enthusiasts, Red Jeep Tours also offers hiking tours at Metate Ranch. The “Four Posts Canyon Hike” starts out in a wide, level wash that narrows to winding, intermittent high-walled canyons and rises gradually to reveal an incredible view of the valley floor below. On the “Gem Canyon Hike” the trip takes you through slot canyons and up a 10-foot-tall ladder to reach the top of the fault line, where you will be rewarded by expansive views of the valley below, from the Salton Sea to the east, the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto mountains ranges to the south, and the San Gorgonio Pass to the west.
Metate Ranch is also home to the “Enchanted Desert,” a spectacular outdoor wedding and event venue featuring a beautiful pond with amazing sunset and mountain views, large stone firepit with fireside seating, pond-less waterfalls, a water fountain and other unique features. Vivid lights bathe the desert landscape in a wash of color at night, creating an unforgettable “WOW” experience for guests.
For more information on tours and events at Metate
Ranch as well other amazing experiences by Red Jeep Tours, call (760) 324-5337 or visit www.red-jeep.com
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