QuakeIndex

Fault · California

Kern Canyon fault

135 kmlong (84 mi), as mapped
not measuredhow fast it slips
< 15,000 yearssince it last broke the surface
25quakes of M2.5+ within 10 km since 2016

In plain English

Its most recent surface rupture is younger than 15,000 years.

The largest earthquake recorded near it was M 6.3 in 1896 (Near Independence, California) — about 89,000 times the energy of an M3.0, the size people start to feel. It released about 43 kilotons of TNT.

This week vs. its last ten years

87/100

elevated

1 quake of M1.5+ within 5 km of the trace in the last 7 days — busier than 87% of weeks since 2016. A normal week: 0–0.

Computed from the USGS catalogue · a description of the past, not a forecast · method

San Andreas faultGarlock faultSouthern Sierra Nevada faultLenwood-Lockhart faultOwens Valley faultHelendale-South Lockhart faultWhite Mountains faultHunter Mountain- Saline Valley faultLittle Lake faultWhite Wolf faultPleito faultAirport Lake faultWheeler Ridge faultDeep Springs faultEdison faultBreckenridge faultKern Front faultNew Hope fault M 6.3 · 1896 · Near Independence, California
The Kern Canyon fault as mapped at the surface (glowing), with the other mapped faults nearby, 25 of the M2.5+ earthquakes within 10 km of it since 2016 (dots), and the epicentres of the large historic earthquakes recorded near it (rings). Traces: USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database. Historic epicentres are estimates.

Every year since 2016

Earthquakes of M2.5+ with an epicentre within 10 km of the mapped trace. Near is not the same as on: some will have slipped on neighbouring faults.

The big ones recorded near it

  1. M 6.3 Near Independence, California
    August 17, 1896 · epicentre 13 km from the trace
  2. M 4.3 11 km S of Bodfish, CA
    April 18, 2024 · epicentre on the trace

Before 1973 from the USGS ComCat historical catalogue (within 25 km; epicentres of old earthquakes are estimates). Since 2016, M4+ within 10 km.

Most recent near it

  1. M 2.6 42 km WSW of Olancha, CA
    2025-12-03 · 0 km from the trace
  2. M 3.2 42 km WSW of Olancha, CA
    2025-12-03 · 0 km from the trace
  3. M 2.7 11 km S of Bodfish, CA
    2025-11-21 · 1 km from the trace
  4. M 2.7 23 km S of Bodfish, CA
    2025-08-05 · 10 km from the trace
  5. M 2.6 12 km SSE of Bodfish, CA
    2025-02-22 · 7 km from the trace
  6. M 3.2 11 km SSW of Bodfish, CA
    2024-04-19 · 1 km from the trace

Neighbouring faults

Fault trace, slip rate and age: USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database (public domain), simplified for the web. Earthquakes: USGS ComCat. QuakeIndex does not forecast earthquakes; a fault's history describes the past. For early warning use ShakeAlert.