Film star Ava Gardner once said: “Doing nothing feels like floating on warm water to me. Delightful, perfect.” It’s no surprise she learned the art of doing nothing in Palm Springs where she spent years vacationing—and effortlessly chilling out. Now, with a new generation of travelers, visitors are heading to Palm Springs to experience active outdoor adventures outside resorts.
Since mid-century, Palm Springs has been a perennial favorite for leisure seekers and, like Ava, they traditionally relax by the pool, brunch on the weekends and sightsee, shop and unwind ever so casually. But as modern travelers evolve, so do the desert activities—and they’re guaranteed to give you a new kind of thrill.
Exciting, active adventures in Palm Springs, from mountain biking to skydiving, have become just as famous as the desert’s low-maintenance sensibilities thanks to the influx of intrepid travelers looking for action-packed fun. In fact, more vacationers are making room in their laid-back itineraries to experience stimulating, outdoor excursions to create unforgettable memories.
Pack your sneakers (next to your flip flops, of course) and immerse in these adrenaline-pumping activities that prove Palm Springs has come a long way from being just a relaxing vacation spot.
5 Active Outdoor Adventures To Experience in Palm Springs
- Mountain biking in Palm Canyon
Coachella Valley, from Victor Trail. #PalmSprings #PalmCanyon #VictorTrail #CoachellaValley #IndianCanyons #Hiking… https://t.co/C64npFVDej pic.twitter.com/6YDsIq3cIP
— Mark Melnick (@riverrunpast) April 28, 2017
Palm Springs has a series of excellent bike trails, but avid cyclists go gangbusters in Palm Canyon, home to exhilarating cycling fully surrounded by unspoiled nature.
The granddaddy of tracks, the Palm Canyon Epic in the Santa Rosa Mountains provides 29 miles of masterfully designed trail riding with some seriously commanding desert scenery to boot. It’s considered the ultimate trail for bike enthusiasts, and it’s perfect for intermediate to advanced levels with its length, various switchbacks and some uphill climbing.
For visitors who aren’t exactly seeking Olympic-level pedaling, head to Palm Canyon Pinyons Flat Loop, a significantly shorter and easier course. The 11-mile loop on a single, narrow track is still immersed in magnificent desert landscape. Don’t forget to stay hydrated!
2. Extreme jeep tours in the valley
Salton Sea, Coachella Valley, Palm Springs, San Andreas Fault… #livebangs @BangsShoes pic.twitter.com/h47EeGGXte
— Katie Onuma (@KatieOnuma) September 3, 2016
With extreme jeep tours, visitors can get their heart pumping without breaking a sweat. Desert Adventures has been offering off-road enthusiasts plenty of reason to explore natural attractions in Palm Springs’ sprawling backyard in signature, eco-friendly red jeeps.
Visitors discover history, geology and native flora and fauna in some of the canyon’s most scenic areas. The San Andreas Fault Tour is among the most popular tours, where guests take a joyride through sightseeing paths to the active earthquake fault system then walk steep walls of the deep canyons. The hike highlights some pretty immense scenery you’d never see without the luxury of the jeep.
3. Skydiving in Palm Springs
Palm Springs at 12,500 feet.. Gorgeous day to fly. #skydive #beautifulday pic.twitter.com/6NgcJXwsUH
— Skydive Phoenix (@skydive_phoenix) April 28, 2015
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, one of the desert’s most popular attractions, clocks in at an elevation of 8,515 feet. But if you really want to reach great heights—literally!— get geared up in a jumpsuit at Skydive Palm Springs or Palm Springs Skydiving. Both places are the only certified skydiving operators in the Coachella Valley, taking bucket-listers to the vast, blue sky for a heart-pounding, 60-second free fall from 14,000 feet above ground.
Following the jump, the canopy ride has visitors sailing between 7 and 9 minutes while they take in the dramatic aerial views of the desert landscape. Most first-timers sign up for tandem skydiving with an instructor but Skydive Palm Springs offers training for Accelerated Free Fall. The sky’s the limit!
4. Wet and wild waterslides
Checking into the Omni in Palm Springs for the next couple of days. #staycation #livelife4today pic.twitter.com/2dJl7ax6FS
— Ben Herrera (@_BennHerr) December 19, 2016
Admit it. You love watersides as much as kids. They’re titillating and wonderfully nostalgic. There’s no better place than the sun-drenched desert to don your bathing suit and head to the water park for exciting, wet and wild thrills. The Wet n’ Wild Water Park is a 16-acre water playground featuring 20 water rides and attractions with 13 crazy watersides (including a high-speed slide 7 stories tall!) and a big wave pool.
Splashtopia at Omni Ranch features two, 100-foot watersides and water-play zones surrounded by a 425-foot lazy river. It even has a tropical vibe with its man-made beach and cliff-side Jacuzzi.
5. ATV adventures in the desert
1979 ATV riding for 2 weeks in Palm Springs ,California
Yes,I was cool #winthropma #bostonma #retrovideogames pic.twitter.com/jpH6b9Guqa— Sudden Impact (@SuddenImpactWIN) April 7, 2020
Tap into your inner road warrior with ATV Experience, a desert excursion where visitors saddle up in some heavy-duty ATVs for off-road adventures. ATVs are safe and family-friendly, and they give visitors every opportunity to explore the desert while living out their PG-rated, Mad Max fantasies.
The invigorating ride snakes through a range of desert trails, from beginners to intermediate, with the backdrop of canyons, ancient geological formations and a whole lotta sky. Best of all? Visitors spot plenty of wildlife on the tour, from deer and rabbits to lizards and eagles.
More stories:
3 essential day trips outside Palm Springs
Where to find celebrity history in Palm Springs
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Jimmy Im has traveled to 113 countries, stayed in over 600 hotels and has flown a million airmiles. He lives in New York City.