san andreas fault tours palm springs ca

Choose Your Experience!

Covered wagon adventure & bbq, most popular tour & the complete experience.

Experience an Adventure through the Sonoran Desert and along the Canyons of the San Andreas Fault on a Covered Wagon! Relax and enjoy the ride as you venture into a pristine wilderness preserve, accompanied by a knowledgeable naturalist guide who will entertain and educate you about the geological canyon landscapes and natural palm oases. Discover the diverse plant life and wildlife that thrive in this oasis desert wilderness. Keep an eye out for fascinating creatures like Owls, Hawks, Reptiles, and Coyotes during the tour. Gain insights into the local Cahuilla "Native American" Culture and their historical presence in this area. Delve into the early Pioneer History and learn about the stagecoach stops in this remote desert region. Embark on a guided nature walk along the trails shaped by the San Andreas Fault.

Upon returning to the ranch, you will be greeted with live western music and the aroma of a chuck-wagon BBQ. Enjoy the desert sunset and expansive mountains from one of the finest viewpoints in the Coachella Valley. The evening continues with a choice of activities including a barn dance (with easy-to-learn steps and lessons provided), outdoor games, live music, and a delicious BBQ Dinner complete with all the fixings. Our menu typically includes mouthwatering options like slow cooked Brisket or Tri-tip, BBQ Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Country Coleslaw, Cowboy Beans, and Fresh Breads. To satisfy your sweet tooth, indulge in warm apple pie topped with whipped cream. Conclude the evening by dancing or simply gathering around a glowing campfire, roasting marshmallows under the starry sky!

A Covered Wagon Adventure will be a highlighted experience during your visit to greater Palm Springs, offering the most enjoyable way to immerse yourself in our desert culture. Don't forget to bring your friends and family along! We are eagerly looking forward to hosting you and creating lasting memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

• Includes: Covered Wagon Tour, Live Music, Dancing, Games, Catered Chuck Wagon BBQ & Dessert, Firepits and Roasting Marshmallows!
• Duration: 3 hours (From ranch arrival)
• Cost: $119 Adult (15 and over) / $89 Child (4 – 14 yrs) / Free Toddlers (0-3 yrs)

Covered Wagon Adventure - Tour Only

Create the experience that is right for you.

Embark on a one-of-a-kind journey through the Sonoran Desert and along the Canyons of the San Andreas Fault on a Covered Wagon!

This option offers the same thrilling tour experience as the Covered Wagon Adventure with BBQ, but without dinner. After the tour is completed and the wagon returns to the ranch, you are welcome to stay and have some fun with the ranch activities. Enjoy the live music, libations, picturesque sunset views, barn dancing and play games like horseshoes, corn hole & roping. Customize your experience to suit your preferences!

• Includes: Wagon Adventure Tour, Games & Music, Barn Dance
• Duration: 1.5 – 2-hour experience (From ranch arrival to departure & based on your added preferences)
• Cost: $89 Adult (15 +) / $79 Child (4-14yrs) / Free (0-3yrs)

Cover Wagon Adventure

Experience an off-road adventure into the Sonoran Desert and along the Canyons of the San Andreas Fault on a Covered Wagon! Ride into a pristine wilderness preserve as unchanged as when nature had created it. Your onboard, expert naturalist will interpret the natural history and geology of these beautiful and rugged, canyon landscapes. Learn about the natural palm oases, other plant & wildlife that inhabit this ancient, desert wilderness. Coyotes are often seen on the tours. Learn about the local Cahuilla “Native American” Culture and the Pioneer History in this desert outback. Enjoy traveling through this unchanged land as when nature had created it. Your wagon master driver will lead the wagon through lush, palm oases where you can stop and enjoy an optional, guided walk along the natural topography created by the San Andreas Fault.

As we return to the ranch you will be greeted with live, western music and the smell of a chuck-wagon BBQ. Savor the expansive desert sunset from one of the best views in the Coachella Valley. Continue the evening with the choice of a barn dance (easy to learn & lessons provided), outdoor games, live music, and a delicious BBQ supper with all the trimmings. Star gazing, roasting marshmallows over an open campfire and enjoying the evening's enchanted desert lighting rounds up a full experience to your tour adventure! Covered Wagons will be one of the highlights of your time here in greater Palm Springs and the most enjoyable way to see, taste, and immerse yourself in our desert culture. Bring your friends and family too! We can’t wait to have you here and make memories to last a lifetime!

Great Value Activity for Everyone

Most of us want to have fun on vacation and partake in unique local experiences. Vacations are designed to relax and create special memories with the ones you love the most-your friends and family. We realize especially during these times that your vacation money is valuable to you. We strive to be a great value by offering a true tour encounter, quality dinner, and professional entertainment. We realize that we are not the least expensive tour in the valley, but we are extremely economical comparatively. We do offer group discounts, “Tour Only” or “Dinner Event Only” packages as well. We genuinely appreciate your business and satisfaction!

Total Cultural Desert Experience - Tour - BBQ - Live Music - Ambiance

We are the only tour in the desert that can offer you a fully immersive experience.

• Natural and cultural desert tour
• Unique desert ranch with beautiful sunset and mountain views
• Live, quality Music, entertainment, dance, and games
• Great BBQ Dinner – Includes: Smoked Brisket or Tri-tip, BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw, Cowboy Beans, Fresh breads & seasonal fresh pie.
• Lemonade, Iced Tea, Water and Seasonal Hot Chocolate
• Vegetarian option is available with advanced notice

Naturalist Tour Guides

We believe our guides are the best in the Valley! Our mission is to educate as well as to entertain you with the natural history, geology, Native American and Pioneer History as we ride through this desert preserve. Our guides wear many hats but above all, they are deeply passionate about sharing the Sonoran Desert and the San Andreas Fault with you all!

Unique Location

We are the only covered wagon “tour” still operating in California and we are the only “desert” wagon tour in the world! Covered Wagons is a one-of-a-kind location, on a private 30,000-acre Desert Preserve set only 15 - 30 minutes from Greater Palm Springs and the nearby cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage, and Palm Desert. The ranch is at the entrance to beautiful Hidden Palms, Horseshoe Palms and Pushwallah Oases and their ancient canyons. Great valley, desert and mountain views in the day, sunset views, and the evenings twinkling, city lights at night.

Custom Touring Wagons – An Adventure for All

Our custom-built wagons have been upgraded to keep you most comfortable. Like an off-road Jeep Tour or a Hummer Tour, you will also have automotive quality spring suspension, pneumatic tires, and padded seating to ride you across this natural desert terrain. We have easy access for seniors and always someone to assist if you need it. The Master Wagoneer driver ensures a comfortable adventure for all!

Cover Wagon Adventure Pricing

Covered wagon adventure tour.

Adult/Child (15yrs & Under)

Covered Wagon Tour

Lemonade, Water, Light Snacks Provided

Covered Wagon Adventure With BBQ

Adult/Child (12yrs & under)

Catered Chuck Wagon BBQ: Fruit Crumble Dessert, Marshmallow Roasting

Live Entertainment

Custom Wagons

Our custom-built wagons have been upgraded to keep you most comfortable. We have easy access to the wagon and a short flight of stairs with handrails. The Wagons also have automotive spring suspension, pneumatic tires, and padded seating to ride you across this natural desert terrain. The Master Wagoneer driver ensures a comfortable adventure for all!

Locaton, Location, Location!

Covered Wagons is on a private 30,000-acre Desert Preserve set just 15 - 30 minutes from Greater Palm Springs and the nearby cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert resorts. Our unique Ranch-Camp is at the entrance to beautiful Hidden Palms, Horseshoe Palms and Pushwalla Oases and their ancient canyons.

Naturalist Guides

We believe our guides are the best in the Valley! Our mission is to educate as well as to entertain you with the natural history, geology, Native American and pioneer history as we ride through this unique, desert preserve. Our guides wear many hats but above all, they are deeply passionate about the Colorado, Sonoran Desert and the San Andreas Fault and they really enjoy sharing it with you all!

Upon your return to camp, you will hear the sounds of live, western music playing and the smell of a mouthwatering Chuckwagon style BBQ. Your catered dinner includes: *Smoked Brisket, *BBQ Chicken, *Coleslaw, *Cowboy Beans, Fresh breads and seasonal fresh fruit crumble for dessert! *Vegetarian option is available with advanced reservations.

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Visitor's Guide to the San Andreas Fault in California

See the Places Where the Earth's Plates Meet

 Cultura RM Exclusive/Chris Sattlberger / Getty Images

The San Andreas Fault is easy to follow through California. From the Salton Sea, it runs northwest 800 miles before ending under the Pacific Ocean. The San Andreas Fault is known as a transform fault, which is where two of the earth's plates meet. In this case, it's where the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate come together.

Geologists divide the San Andreas Fault into three parts: the Southern San Andreas Fault, the Central San Andreas Fault, and the North San Andreas Fault. There are plenty of places to see each one.

San Andreas Fault Near Palm Springs

The San Andreas Fault begins near the Salton Sea, runs north along the San Bernardino Mountains, crosses Cajon Pass, and then runs along the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles. The mud pots near the Salton Sea are a result of its action, but your best bet to see the Southern San Andreas Fault is at  Palm Springs .

Near Palm Springs, the San Andreas Fault is less well defined than further north. The monolithic geological feature fractured into many smaller ones running in various directions. Underground fissures caused by the faults give underground water an easy route to the surface and are responsible for the many desert oases found along the east side of the Coachella Valley. You can see an oasis (and stand directly over the fault line) at 1000 Palms Canyon in the Coachella Valley Preserve in the town of Thousand Palms.

All those little cracks also give rise to hot mineral springs. Most of them are located around the town of Desert Hot Springs .

An even better way to get up close to the fault near Palm Springs is to take a jeep tour with a knowledgeable guide. Desert Adventures' San Andreas Fault Adventure will take you through the desert and into the canyons and oases along the fault, going right up to a spot where the Pacific and North American geological plates intersect. In the summertime, you can take the Nightwatch Adventure, which covers much of the same terrain and ends with a spectacular look at the evening sky.

San Andreas Fault in the Carrizo Plain

Situated between I-5 and U.S. Highway 101, the Carrizo Plain National Monument is one of California's least-visited sights, with many state residents unaware of its existence. Yet nearly everyone has seen the classic image of the San Andreas Fault taken from the air at Carrizo Plain. At Soda Lake, the fault runs just at the bottom of the hillside beyond the water.

Geologists swoon over this bit of California geology. Besides the dramatic fault itself, a bird's-eye view reveals stream beds that have been offset by the fault's movement, hills torn apart in the middle, and sagging bits of the earth's surface. These features are subtle and harder to see on the ground. Nevertheless, the area is extraordinarily beautiful, especially during a good wildflower year in the spring and summer. The free, self-guided geologic tour brochure is available ​online or at the visitor's center, and it will help you get the most out of your visit. It includes a hike to a point atop the fault. 

The Carrizo Plain is closer to Los Angeles than to San Francisco, but you can visit it as part of a long day trip from either city.

Carrizo Plain is very isolated with no place to get food, water, or gasoline for many miles in any direction. It's very hot and inhospitable in summer and the visitor's center is only open from the beginning of December to the end of May. And to top it all off, there's no cell phone reception in the area, either. It's up to you to be prepared.

This area is also popular with birders and photographers. Following a rainy winter, wildflower displays are some of the state's best. Docents lead special tours to see them. The nearest lodging is along the major highways, but there is a campground.

San Andreas Fault at Parkfield

A bend in the San Andreas Fault north of Frazier Park creates an earthquake about every 150 years. In Parkfield, you can see the results in a bent bridge. Parkfield is fun to visit and is home to a deep well dug to explore the San Andreas Fault.

This tiny town sits nearly atop the San Andreas Fault and became quite famous when the United States Geological Survey observed that it had experienced six earthquakes at roughly 22-year intervals between 1857 and 1966. Based on that data, another quake was predicted for the early 1990s. The Geological Survey installed instruments to record it and in 2004, they drilled the San Andreas Fault Observatory at depth, a hole almost two miles deep to get closer to the source of the movement. In the early 1990s, a sign at the local cafe said: "If you feel a quake or a shake, get under the table and eat your steak," but the 1990s came and went and interest waned. Finally, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake did occur on September 28, 2004.

Parkfield is just barely on the east side of the fault. Since the first bridge was built there in 1936, the Pacific Plate has moved more than five feet relative to the North American Plate. The bridge has been rebuilt several times. This latest structure is built to slide atop concrete pillars as the fault predictably moves. Sources say the bend in the metal railing was not there when it was first constructed. In town, you'll find a cafe and a small inn that boasts: "Be here when it happens."

San Andreas Fault at the Pinnacles

You can see results of the San Andreas Fault's movement at Pinnacles National Park . Rocks found here hitched a ride from Los Angeles on the Pacific Plate and were deposited there. Because of unique rock formations found in only two places, they are believed to be part of the Neenach volcano that occurred 23 million years ago near present-day Lancaster, California. The San Andreas Fault ripped the old volcano in half and they have traveled some 195 miles to reach their present location.

San Andreas Fault at San Juan Bautista

In  San Juan Bautista , you will find an old Spanish mission that sits just above the San Andreas Fault. The old Spanish mission at San Juan Bautista sits just next to a small escarpment, and if you did not know better, you probably would not realize that the San Andreas Fault caused the little uplift in the earth's crust. A historic marker and geological exhibit call attention to what lies below the plowed field nearby. Surprisingly, the old adobe-brick Spanish mission building has been used continuously since 1812 and has never been toppled by an earthquake. However, in October 1798, the shaking was so bad that the missionaries slept outside for the whole month. There were as many as six tremors in one day, making huge cracks in buildings and in the ground.

San Andreas Fault Along Trancos Ridge

The fault continues through the Santa Cruz Mountains, which was the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake up the San Francisco Peninsula, where you can take a little hike to see along it at Los Trancos Open Space Preserve.

On the peninsula south of San Francisco and near Palo Alto in the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, you can take a self-guided hike that runs over the San Andreas Fault. It's an easy walk through some pleasant terrain. The fault's features are subtle in this area: depressions that look like road beds, shallow sag ponds, and gullies running the wrong way. You can  download the self-guided trail guide here .

San Andreas Fault in San Francisco

The fault turns offshore near Mussel Rock, the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Several spots in San Francisco are reminders of that event. It comes back onshore north of Stinson Beach , goes underwater beneath Tomales Bay , and crosses Point Reyes. It comes onshore near Fort Ross, goes out to sea near Point Arena, runs up to Cape Mendocino, bends west, and finally ends.

By far the most famous victim of the San Andreas Fault was San Francisco, which was rocked by two big earthquakes in 1906 and 1989.

The bigger and more destructive of the two was the temblor which occurred at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. With an estimated magnitude of approximately 8 on the Richter scale, it was almost 10 times larger than the 7.1 magnitude quake in 1989. Centered about two miles offshore, it ruptured the San Andreas Fault for almost 300 miles and was felt from Oregon to Los Angeles. Devastating fires sprung up in its aftermath. More than 3,000 people died, which was the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster in California's history.

The statistics are eye-popping: 200,000 people were homeless out of the city's 410,000. About 25,000 buildings were destroyed, and there was $400 million in losses (an equivalent to $11.4 billion in 2020 dollars). Surprisingly, the city got back on its feet in just a few years, in time to host the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Today, few landmarks remain where you can see evidence of the 1906 quake.

San Andreas Fault at Point Reyes

The 1906 earthquake caused more damage in San Francisco, but near Point Reyes , it generated the largest surface displacement ever recorded from an earthquake: 24 feet. More gradual movement along the fault moves the Point Reyes peninsula a little further north each year, separating it further from the Tehachapi Mountains, which are now 310 miles further than where it was once attached.

San Andreas Fault Map

This map shows the San Andreas Fault as it runs through the state of California. You can also find an interactive version  of the map.

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74-794 Lennon Place, Suite B Palm Desert, CA 92260

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OPEN-AIR JEEP TOURS

A Safe & Fun Outdoor Activity for Ages 3 and Up!

ABOUT RED JEEP TOURS

Since 1988, Desert Adventures has provided the most highly regarded outdoor adventures in the Greater Palm Springs area and we are the #1 Outdoor Activity in the California Desert on TripAdvisor! Our tours and events provide an authentic and unique Destination Experience that captures the true essence of the California desert.  Shifting gears for 35 years!

Climb aboard one of our signature open-air Big Red Jeeps with removable shade tops for an engaging, entertaining, and educational journey with one of our highly-trained naturalist tour guides.

For your safety and convenience, we offer both public (shared) and private San Andreas Fault Tours.  With public tours, your party may be combined with one or more other parties in the same Jeep (up to 7 guests).  With private tours, the Jeep is reserved exclusively for your party.  The only other person who will be with you is your tour guide.

Come see for yourself why Desert Adventures is #1 Outdoor Activity in the California Desert on TripAdvisor!

San Andreas Fault Jeep Tour

Journey through the heart of the San Andreas Fault Zone with an expert naturalist guide, walk between narrow slot canyon walls, explore a natural palm oasis, and tour a recreated Cahuilla Indian Village.

Duration: 3 hours

BEST OF THE BEST 2022

Indio and palm desert tours.

EDITOR'S CHOICE 2022 "Best Ways to See the Desert"

By palm springs life magazine.

San Andreas Fault Hiking Tour

Join a naturalist guide for a entertaining, engaging, and educational hike through the San Andreas Fault zone at our private and exclusive Metate Ranch property.    (Private tours only)

BEST SELLER

Joshua Tree National Park Tour with Lunch

Travel through two deserts and the transition zone between two ecosystems on this naturalist-guided tour to a land filled with jumbled boulders and the Park’s iconic Dr. Seuss-esque Joshua Trees.  (Private tours only)

Duration: 6 hours

LIKELY TO SELL OUT

Journey through the heart of the San Andreas Fault Zone with an expert naturalist guide, walk between narrow slot canyon walls, explore a natural palm oasis, and tour a recreated Cahuilla Indian Village. (The Indian Village will be closed for renovations June 1 through August 31, 2023).

Public Tours (2 person minimum)

• Adults - $150 per person
• Children - $135 per person

Private Tours

• $200 per person (Minimum 4 guests)
• $1,000 per 7-passenger Jeep

Duration: 3 hours from Metate Ranch

VOTED BEST OF THE BEST 2022: Indio and Palm Desert Tours

EDITOR'S CHOICE 2022

 "best ways to see the desert", by palm springs life m agazine.

Join a naturalist guide for a entertaining, engaging, and educational hike through the San Andreas Fault zone at our private and exclusive Metate Ranch property. (Private tours only)

Duration: 2.0 to 2.5 hours from Metate Ranch

Travel through two deserts and the transition zone between two ecosystems on this naturalist-guided tour to a vast wilderness area filled with jumbled boulders and the Park’s iconic Dr. Seuss-esque Joshua Trees. Masks are required while inside the enclosed vehicle. (Private tours only)

SUV: $750 for up to 3 guests

VAN: $1,250 for up to 5 guests

Call for larger groups

Indian Canyons Walking Tour by Jeep

Visit the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and enjoy a guided nature walk along picturesque Andreas Creek as your guide entertains you with stories about the Cahuilla People. (Private tours only)

Duration: 3 hours from Downtown Palm Springs.

Visit the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and enjoy a guided 1-mile nature walk along picturesque Andreas Creek as your guide entertains you with stories about the Cahuilla People. (Private tours only)

Painted Canyon Jeep Tour

Experience sheer canyon walls, fascinating geology, local agriculture, scenic vistas, abundant desert flora, and amazing hiking options on this 4×4 back-country adventure.  This tour requires a lot of walking/hiking. (Private tours only)

Duration: 4.5 hours

Give the Gift of Experience

Gift cards are available in any amount, they are valid on any tour, and they never expire!  The receipient chooses when they want to tour.

Available for instant online purchase and email delivery

Experience sheer canyon walls, fascinating geology, local agriculture, scenic vistas, abundant desert flora, and amazing hiking options on this 4×4 back-country adventure. (Private tours only)

• $250 per person (Minimum 4 guests)
• $1,250 per 7-passenger Jeep

Duration: 4 hours from Indio/Coachella

Gift cards are available in any amount, they are valid on any tour, and they never expire!

It is not necessary to buy a gift card for a particular date. The recipient can choose a tour date when they redeem their gift card.

GROUP TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Jeep Tours | Sightseeing Tours | Hiking Tours | Shopping Tours

Board a Big Red Jeep for an unforgettable journey to our private and exclusive Metate Ranch sanctuary on the San Andreas Fault. Group tour options include team building, snacks & beverages, catering, and other VIP experiences.  We also offer group Jeep excursions to the Indian Canyons in Palm Springs.

Sightseeing Tours

Experience out-of-this-world scenery on a guided hiking tour as you explore lush palm oases in the Indian Canyons, an alpine forest at the top of the tram, the desert badlands of the San Andreas Fault, the rugged landscape of the Santa Rosa Mountains, or iconic Joshua Tree National Park.

Hiking Tours

Experience out-of-this-world scenery on a guided hiking tour. Our expert naturalist guides will turn your trek into a true nature experience as you explore lush palm oases in the Indian Canyons, an alpine forest at the top of the tram, the desert badlands of the San Andreas Fault, the rugged landscape of the Santa Rosa Mountains, or iconic Joshua Tree National Park.

Food, Shopping, and Gallery Tours

For Foodies, we can arrange a walking food tour through downtown Palm Spring or a beer tasting tour to two of our local craft breweries.  Shoppers can explore unique local boutiques, designer shops, and favorite retailers, while art lovers will enjoy all the art galleries, museums, and public art installations around Greater Palm Springs. 

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JEEP AND HIKING TOURS

San Andreas Fault

Palm Springs Indian Canyons

Painted Canyon & The Mecca Hills

Joshua Tree National Park

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Team Building Activities

Desert Naturalist Speaker

Commercial Filming

Influencer & Press Tours

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 Palm Desert, CA 92260

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