Incredible Experience, Outstanding Guide! - What a spectacular outing with my wife and tour guide, Captain Ron! This route along the San Andreas from the high desert down through the canyon to the Saltan Sea provided plenty of stunning views, geological marvels, and wildlife encounters. Although the downhill nature of the route affords an easy peddling experience, you can still get a workout if you desire at higher gears. Views and exercise aside, what really made the excursion outstanding and memorable was the personality, knowledge, and professionalism of our guide. Ron is a walking encyclopedia with regards to the seismology, geology, history, biology, and intimate familiarity with the area. I highly recommend Big Wheel Tours and the Earthquake Canyon Downhill Bicycle Adventure!

Fascinating bike ride - A great experience! On the drive to and from the bike ride we learned all kinds of things related to the area, from earthquakes to the Salton Sea to water management….super interesting. We did the bike ride on a very hot day, but since it is a downhill ride, you don’t really exert yourself and there’s a nice breeze from the bike, so don’t let high temps deter you. (It got up to 107 that day in Palm Springs, not sure exactly what it was when we biked) It is amazing what topography is covered in the course of 20 miles - start in a desert, go through a crazy canyon and end in the super green crops of the town of Mecca. A great time was had - highly recommend!

Fun bike ride into earthquake canyon - The tour was excellent. Good safe equipment , our guide Ron was knowledgeable and informative. The scenery was awesome. Definitely recommend this

Family bike experience with Capt Ron - What an experience! The whole family enjoyed the Earthquake bike tour from start to finish. During the (fairly long) van ride to the start, 18+ miles of easy bike riding, to the frequent stops along the way. Captain Ron educated us on the geology and history of the land and desert vegetation. The canyons were amazing as were his stories.

Scenery views for the win - Captain Ron led our small family group on this bike tour early April. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the area and its history, giving us facts at each stop. Ron’s great communication before and during the ride helped us stay safe on the road. The bikes were in great condition: very easy to coast and take in the views. We started out in the desert and my mind was blown as the scenery drastically changed along the trek. Very fun ride!

A great ride, every time! - A great ride, every time! - - - - - - - - February, 2025 Visit - - - The Concise Overview - - - Big Wheel has been doing this for years; you’ll be glad you rode with them… we rode the Earthquake Canyon Bike Ride You can talk on the phone and ask questions, but you sign up / register online. 1) You meet; 2) the van drives you to the starting point; 3) you get your bike and confirm it’s set “just right” and get water; 4) riders ride and Big Wheels follows you - mostly downhill with minimal pedaling for 15-16 miles, which you’ll likely cover in 30-45 minutes; minimal pedaling the last 4-5 miles, all flat, no uphill; Recommended… DO slow and/or stop and take it in and capture photos and have a great time; 5) at the end you ride back in the van. - - - Brief Background - - - My wonderful wife and I just enjoyed a trip to Pam Desert and San Diego, with a visit to La Jolla. One of the more exciting activities was riding the Earthquake Canyon ride… again! I first rode wit Big Wheel Tours, just me, on one of our trips to Palm Desert back around 2005; then in 2008 or 2009 we enjoyed a family ride, my wife pedaled with our daughter in a pumpkin seat and I pedaled with our son in a pumpkin seat. Now they are both in college so we are traveling, together, just us. On this trip, my wife recommended this ride, and what a recommendation! Even if the weather was not as amazing as it was (clear skies, mid-80s), it would have been a great ride. - - - The Prep - - - All riders meet at the pickup location; we happened to meet in Palm Desert, at the parking lot for Morton’s, across the street from the JW Marriott & Marriott Vacation Club’s Desert Spring Villas. From there, you’re all in the van. Three of us couples rode that day; Ben was our friendly and helpful and knowledgeable guide + chauffeur + chase van driver. Ben is wise about many things, from the weather and geology of the Coachella Valley, and nearby Joshua Tree National Park, to animals including his falconry interest, and much more. Ben is also helpful in getting you ready to ride. The Earthquake ride is through the Box Canyon… It’s off I-10, east of the Valley; at the same exit, to the South, as you would take if you were going north to the Joshua Tree Cottonwood National Park Entrance. Ben parks in a safe place and provides the helmets and bikes; they are hybrid bikes with tires thicker than 10-speed road bikes and not as thick as a mountain bike. You share your height when you register, and they bring a couple extras to make sure you have one that fits. The bikes have bottle holders and BWB provides water bottles. And you can leave all things in the van and they will be there when you are picked up; and if you need something you can stop and get it. - - - The Ride - - - A fellow rider was accurate when she shared: biking / cycling / riding is just the right pace… driving is too fast to take in all the beauty of the desert and this canyon, and walking is too slow. So true. So true. The Coachella Valley leads down to the Salton Sea, which is the second-lowest elevation in North America, at -234 feet below sea level; most of places visitors stay in the Valley - Palm Springs, Palm Desert, etc., are ~ 250-450 feet in elevation. The Earthquake Canyon ride starts just over 1,500 feet in elevation and finishes ~ -180 below sea level. On the drive you’ll notice the gentle uphill climb along I-10 eastbound. That similar slope is your Earthquake Canyon friend. Ben shared the five sections of the canyon, and each is distinct and readily seen; thanks, Ben for sharing! BWB will pace you in the van, so you can ride at your pace and stop for photos and to take it in. Impressive are the views of the layers of the rock that are tilted by the San Andreas fault, which you ride over! Impressive are the plants growing along the ride. Impressive are the minimal vehicles you’ll likely encounter. Toward 15 miles you’ll cross over one of the aqueducts that brings water to the farmland that provides so much of our food in the grocery stores, especially the produce we enjoy in the winter. The ride will likely end in Mecca; you’ll hand back the helmets and turn in the bikes; you may likely stop by a stand where you can get fresh-cut fruit or something else. - - - The Ride Back - - - BWB will get you to a place with a restroom before the drive back. The ride back helps you see more farmland and some palm tree farms. Soon you’re back at the drop-off/pickup spot, and happy for such a great ride. Review Thank you, Ben, and Big Wheel Tours! ----- ----- -----

Fantastic! - What a beautiful way to learn about plate techtonics and see the beauty of our earth. Jeff was such a knowledgeable and kind guide -- he took terrific care of us! We had a beautiful time!!

Easy and fun bike ride through some amazing geology - We drove ~45 minutes from Palm Desert to the starting point, hopped on our bikes, and enjoyed an easy 15 mile cruise through an other-wordly landscape. Captain Ron, tour guide extraordinaire, gave us lots of info during the drive and on occasional stops in the canyon. The Coachella Valley is a truly unique place -- between this, Joshua Tree, and Indian Canyon, we feel like we visited three different planets in a week!

Ben at Big Wheel for the win! - Ben was so knowledgeable, friendly and engaging. He was passionate about explaining everything about the fault zones, topography and plant & animal life. Easy downhill ride that gets prettier as the ride progresses.

Great morning activity.... - Great morning activity. The bikes were very comfortable and Ben our tour guide was very knowledgeable and was a lot of fun.