top of page

Guided UTV Ecological
Observation Tours 

Chiriaco Summit, CA
Manioba Valley

 

20% off promo "Enjoy"
Groups 25% off, Call or Book online.

It is extremely rare to see a Desert Tortoise.  90% of their lives is underground.  They are an Endangered Species.  March, April, September and October are the months when they are most active, typically  after Winter Coastal or Summer Monsoon rains bring enough water and moderate temperatures to bring them out of brumation or aestivation... click to learn more.

​

"The Desert Experience"
Guided UTV Ecological Observation Tour 
Maniobra Valley
Chiriaco Summit, CA.

chuckwalla nm logo.webp
tread-lightly-logo-png-transparent_edited.png
Sunset Chiriaco Plateau
Cottonwood mtns
Sunset Eagle Mtns
Orocopia Mtns
Titanic pose?!
The real Hero, Tortoise can hold their bladder for periods of a year or more in hybernation.
Winter rides can be chilly, and cloudy.
Extremely rare Desert Tortoise 3/21/25
When it was wet in 2017/18
There is nothing to eat this year!  Hopefully some new growth will happen from the rain we had about
adolecent tortoise
Epic Sunset
wow!
Rare Desert Lily
Horned Lizard, Go Slow!!!
Flowers Galore, when it rains
Tortuga
Lupine

20% off promo "Enjoy"
25% off Groups of 7 up to 11.

Summer Tour Times:
7am,  5:30pm for Sunset.
Sunset is my favorite!

"The Desert Experience"

Experience the Colorado Desert landscape on an exciting and insightful offroad UTV Ecological tour, in the newly designated Chuckwalla National Monument!  Engage and enjoy protected desert lands south of Joshua Tree National Park, known as Manioba Valley.

Book a private ecological engagement offroad tour with conscious intention and connection to Mother Earth!  We drive, so that you can immerse in the desert ecosystem and mountain scenery, and look for wildlife along the way!  

Enjoy a sunset tour, or a morning ride at 10am.  Up to 11 People max, minimum 2 adults.  If over 5 people, one in your party may drive a second vehicle if over 18 and at the same speed an with the same intention as the lead vehicle for safety and animal protection.  This is not a rip it up experience, its life changing if you let it be.

 

​​

TM

Option 1

The Desert Experience
UTV Ecological Observation Tour

2.5 hour 

50 minutes east of Palm Springs

30 minutes from Indio

Private Tours  -  Reservations required
 

  • Yamaha Viking 6 Seater.

  • Up to 10-11 people Max.

  • We drive, so you can observe and experience the desert!

  • With larger groups over 5, one in your party may drive a second vehicle if over 18. 

​

2.5 hour
$175/Adult (min. 2) 

$75 per youth 17 and under

Call for group youth rates/info.
not including gratuity or 4% book fee

​​

 

​

 

​

Option 2.   (Summer Special)

The General's UTV Tour

UTV Ecological Observation Tour

Greater Camp Young and Maniobra Valley

​

1.5 hour​

$95/Adult (min. 2)

$35 per youth 17 and under

​

Summer Start Time:  7am, 6pm

TM

Bob Chiriaco, Heather Metcalfe Garcia, Lil Heather Garcia, Ran D All

A special thank you to Margit Chiriaco Rusche and All at Chiriaco Summit.

You can support Desert Stewards (ATV Experience, Inc.) by purchasing A gift card that can be redeemed by anyone toward the purchase of "The Desert Experience" Guided Ecological Observation UTV tours.   This is a way to support our efforts on environmental and social projects.

What is an Ecological Observation Tour?

Desert Stewards offers fun and enlightening ecological engagements on mostly private lands within the newly designated Chuckwalla National Monument and Desert Tortoise Linkage Reserve Special Recreation Management Area.  As part of the engagement, we tread lightly on our journey, traveling 10-25 mph through established roads and approved trails stopping throughout the Plateau to observe key plant and tree species like Creosote, Smoke Tree, Palo Verde, Ironwood, Desert Lavender, Cholla Cactus, Ocotillo forests, Microphyll Woodlands, and view exposed minerals and geologic earth forces of the San Andreas Fault Tectonics.  Wildlife may or may not be present, based on the time of day and season.  Your guide will drive the vehicle with up to 5 people at once in your group.  Max 11 people at once with 2 six seater Yamaha Vikings.  One in your party may drive the second vehicle if desired.

​

 

Land Acknowledgment

The land on which Desert Stewards operates is the ancestral homelands of the Cahuilla, Chemehuevi/Mission, Serano, and Southern Paiute Native peoples, and also formerly Mexico prior to 1850. Read More about the Land, click here...

© 2025 Desert Stewards - ATV Experience, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

bottom of page