The enormous wind turbines stretching across the San Gorgonio Pass are one of the most recognizable sights around Palm Springs. You can see them from Interstate 10, Indian Canyon Drive, and many points around the Coachella Valley—but there's a much more interesting way to experience them.
Palm Springs Windmill Tours takes visitors behind the fence and onto a private working wind farm, where you can see operating turbines up close, learn how wind energy works, and discover the history of the region's wind-energy industry.
This experience combines Palm Springs history, engineering, renewable energy, and impressive desert scenery.
What Is a Palm Springs Windmill Tour?
Palm Springs Windmill Tours provides access to a private wind farm in the San Gorgonio Pass. The experience begins at the Tour Center, where visitors learn about wind energy and the wind farm's history before heading out among the turbines.
The wind farm includes operating turbines more than 400 feet tall, along with historical artifacts and examples of earlier turbine designs. The tours explain how the technology has evolved from the early days of the California "Wind Rush" in the 1980s to today's larger, more efficient machines. And that's what makes the experience different from simply pulling off the highway to photograph the windmills: you actually get to go onto the wind farm and see the turbines at close range.
Why Are There So Many Wind Turbines Around Palm Springs?
The turbines aren't there by accident. The San Gorgonio Pass is a natural corridor between the Coachella Valley and the mountains, creating strong winds that have made the area an important location for wind-energy development.
The region became part of California's wind-energy boom in the 1980s. According to Palm Springs Windmill Tours, more than 4,200 turbines were placed in the San Gorgonio Pass during that period, with early designs coming from manufacturers around the world.
Over the decades, turbine technology has changed dramatically. A tour lets you see that evolution firsthand, from historic turbine components and designs to today's towering machines.
Choose Your Windmill Tour
Palm Springs Windmill Tours offers several ways to explore the wind farm.
Self-Driving Wind Farm Tour
The self-driving tour lets you explore the wind farm in your own vehicle. After an orientation at the Tour Center, you'll follow a marked route through the private wind farm with 10 designated stops. A curated audio app provides information along the way, and you can get out at designated locations to see the exhibits, take photographs, and get a closer look at the turbines.
The tour takes approximately 1½ hours, depending on your pace. Your booking confirmation includes instructions for downloading the app before your visit.
This is a great option for families or visitors who prefer to explore independently.
Vehicle note: RVs and coaches longer than 28 feet aren't permitted on the wind farm. Sprinter vans 28 feet or less are permitted.
Guided Golf Cart Tour
Want someone else to do the navigating? The guided golf-cart tour takes visitors onto the private wind farm in an open-air electric golf cart with a professional wind-energy guide. The approximately 75-minute tour includes a video at the Tour Center followed by a guided journey through the wind farm. Along the way, you'll learn about the history of the wind industry in the Coachella Valley, how turbines work, and how wind-generated electricity contributes to the regional energy system.
The tour includes a stop where you can get close to an operating turbine and take photographs.
VIP Guided Tour
For a more personalized experience, VIP tours provide a private guide for your group. This approximately two-hour experience goes deeper into the wind farm's history and technology and offers more opportunities to ask questions and explore. VIP tours are limited to small groups and can be arranged directly with the tour operator.
Group Tours
Group and chartered tours are also available for organizations and larger groups. Depending on the size and type of vehicle, the experience can include an orientation at the Tour Center, a guided walking component, and narration along the surrounding energy corridor. Advance arrangements are required.
What You'll See
The wind farm is more than rows of modern turbines. Along the tour, visitors can encounter historical artifacts and earlier turbine designs that help illustrate how the industry developed. You'll also see enormous operating turbines up close—an experience that gives you a very different appreciation for their size than you get from the freeway.
The tours also provide insight into the broader energy infrastructure around the San Gorgonio Pass, including the relationship between wind generation, electricity transmission, energy storage, and other forms of power generation.
A Different Side of Palm Springs
Palm Springs is often associated with midcentury architecture, swimming pools, golf, hiking, and Hollywood history. The wind farms reveal another side of the destination: the region's role in developing renewable energy. The turbines have become part of the Coachella Valley's visual identity, but their story goes well beyond the dramatic landscape they create.
A windmill tour gives you the chance to learn why the turbines are here, how they evolved, and what happens behind those rows of blades. It's also an easy addition to a Palm Springs itinerary for visitors interested in science, engineering, sustainability, transportation, photography, or local history.
When Can You Take a Windmill Tour?
Windmill Tours operates on a seasonal schedule. Days and hours vary throughout the year, and the operator reduces its schedule during the summer. Check the tour operator's booking calendar for current availability before planning your visit.
Keep the summer schedule in mind when planning a Palm Springs trip during the hottest months. Don't assume the tours operate on the same schedule year-round.
For the most current tour days, times, and availability, check the official Palm Springs Windmill Tours website before you go.
Tips for Your Windmill Tour
- Book ahead. Reservations are recommended, particularly for guided tours and during the busier season.
- Check the seasonal schedule. Tour availability changes throughout the year, and summer operations are reduced.
- Dress for the desert. Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Sunscreen is recommended, and a hat with a chin strap is a good idea because conditions can be windy.
- Bring your camera. The turbines, mountains, and desert landscape make for memorable photographs.
- Allow enough time. The self-driving experience takes about 1½ hours, while guided experiences have their own scheduled durations.
- Check the weather. Strong winds or other weather conditions can affect tours. The operator reserves the right to cancel or reschedule tours when conditions aren't safe.
- Follow the designated route. The wind farm is private property. Visitors should stay on the designated tour route and follow the tour operator's instructions.
Where Are Palm Springs Windmill Tours?
The Palm Springs Windmill Tours Tour Center is located at:
62950 20th Avenue
Palm Springs, CA 92262
The Tour Center is north of Interstate 10, near Indian Canyon Drive.
Because the wind farm is private property, don't attempt to access the turbine areas independently. The tour is the only way visitors can access the private wind farm.
Palm Springs Windmill Tours FAQ
Can you tour the windmills in Palm Springs?
Yes. Palm Springs Windmill Tours offers self-driving, guided golf-cart, VIP, and group experiences that provide access to a private wind farm.
How long is the Palm Springs Windmill Tour?
The self-driving tour takes approximately 1½ hours. The guided golf-cart tour takes about 75 minutes, while VIP experiences take about two hours.
Can I drive my own car through the Palm Springs wind farm?
Yes. The self-driving tour allows visitors to use their own vehicle to follow a designated route through the private wind farm. RVs and coaches longer than 28 feet are not permitted.
Do Palm Springs Windmill Tours operate in the summer?
The tour operator operates on a seasonal schedule and reduces its availability during the summer. Tour days and hours can change, so check the current booking calendar before visiting.
Are Palm Springs windmill tours good for families?
Yes. The tours combine local history, science, and engineering and offer an opportunity to see the enormous turbines up close. Children are permitted on the guided tours with an accompanying adult, subject to the operator's current requirements.
What should I wear to a Palm Springs windmill tour?
Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes, and bring sunscreen and sun protection. Conditions can be windy, so a hat with a strap is recommended.
Where are the Palm Springs windmills located?
The wind farms are concentrated around the San Gorgonio Pass north of Palm Springs. Palm Springs Windmill Tours' Tour Center is located at 62950 20th Avenue in Palm Springs.
Do I need to book a windmill tour in advance?
Advance reservations are recommended, particularly for guided experiences. Check the operator's current booking calendar for available dates and times.
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