ATV Riding in Palm Springs: 28-Mile Mojave Desert Trail

Two hours of trail riding through dirt, sand, rock and off-camber terrain in a high-powered Can-Am.

ATV riding in the Mojave Desert near Palm Springs puts you behind the wheel of a Can-Am X3 MAX DS Turbo for a 28-mile trail covering dirt, sand, rock, twists, turns, inclines and dips. The full experience runs three hours: one hour of safety orientation and gear fitting, then two hours on the trail with a live guide who communicates through helmet intercoms and handles any mechanical issues. Helmets with built-in sunglasses, off-roading gloves, and bottled water are included. A $3,500 damage deposit is pre-authorized and returned if there are no accidents.

The experience

You arrive and spend the first hour getting oriented. The guide walks you through safety, fits your helmet with built-in sunglasses and syncs the intercom so you can hear instructions and other riders in real time. You get gloves, check the vehicle, and learn how the Can-Am handles before you leave the staging area. Once you're ready, the guide leads the group onto the trail.

The 28-mile route covers about two hours of actual riding through terrain that shifts constantly: hard-packed dirt, loose sand, rocky sections, and off-camber slopes that force you to adjust your line and throttle. You navigate twists and turns, climb inclines, drop into dips, and work the wheel through variations the guide calls out ahead of time through the intercom. The guide stays with the group, handles any mechanical issues like tire punctures or belt problems, and uses the live communication to coach you through the trickier sections. This is not a scenic cruise. It is active driving that demands focus and reaction.

The Can-Am X3 MAX DS Turbo is built for this terrain and seats three to four riders per vehicle. You control the throttle, the steering and the line. Passengers ride along. The experience suits riders who want to operate the equipment themselves rather than watch from a seat, and it works for anyone comfortable with three hours of physical engagement and the noise and vibration of off-road driving.

What’s included

• Three-hour experience with one hour of safety orientation and gear fitting plus two hours on the 28-mile trail.
• Can-Am X3 MAX DS Turbo UTV for three to four riders per vehicle.
• helmets with built-in sunglasses and real-time intercom communication.
• off-roading gloves.
• bottled water.
• live guide in English who handles mechanical issues and provides trail instruction.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 20:00

Book up to3h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Wild Desert Tours

Is this one for you?The two-hour ride demands active focus and physical engagement. You are operating the vehicle through challenging terrain, not watching from a passenger seat. Book this if you want to drive, not ride along. If you have spinal injuries or are pregnant, this activity is not recommended.

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Top questions

What do I need to know about the Can-Am UTV before I book?

The Can-Am X3 MAX DS Turbo is a high-powered off-road vehicle that seats three to four riders per machine. You operate it yourself, not a guide. The guide leads the group and communicates through helmet intercoms. The vehicle handles dirt, sand, rock and steep terrain, and you control throttle and steering the whole time.

How much of the three hours is actually spent riding on the trail?

About two hours. The first hour covers safety orientation, helmet and glove fitting, intercom setup, and a walkthrough of the vehicle before you leave the staging area. Once that is done, you ride for roughly two hours on the 28-mile route.

What happens if something breaks on the UTV during the ride?

The live guide travels with the group and handles mechanical issues on the spot, including tire punctures and belt problems. You do not need to manage repairs yourself. The guide is there to keep the tour running.

Is there a damage deposit, and how does it work?

A $3,500 damage deposit is pre-authorized before the tour starts. It is returned in full after the ride if there are no accidents or damage to the vehicle.

What kind of terrain will I be riding on?

The Mojave Desert trail mixes dirt, sand, rock, and off-camber slopes. You will navigate twists, turns, inclines, dips and terrain variations that shift throughout the 28-mile route. The guide calls out upcoming features through the intercom so you can prepare.

Can passengers ride along if they do not want to drive?

Yes. Each Can-Am seats three to four riders. Passengers can ride along without operating the vehicle. The experience is the same (two hours on the trail, one hour of prep), but only the driver controls the UTV.