Ridgecrest is located in the southern portion of the Indian Wells Valley, surrounded by four mountain ranges; the Sierra Nevada on the west, the Cosos on the north, the Argus Range on the east, and the El Paso Mountains on the south. It is approximately 80 miles from the Lancaster/Palmdale area and approximately 125 miles from both Bakersfield and San Bernardino, the three nearest major urban centers.
As the only incorporated community in the Indian Wells Valley, Ridgecrest acts as the urban center for northeastern Kern, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties. The City's incorporated area includes approximately 13,300 acres Ridgecrest is host to the famed federal research and development laboratory at China Lake. Ridgecrest is located in the Mojave Desert east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and west of Death Valley National Park.
Population / Elevation
28,978 people / 2,289 feet above sea level
Weather / Climate
The meteorology in the Indian Wells Valley is predominantly influenced by its high desert location. The climate is characterized by hot days and cool nights, with extreme arid conditions prevailing throughout the summer months. The mean annual temperature for the Ridgecrest area is 65 degrees F. There are wide annual temperature fluctuations that occur from a maximum of 118 degrees F to a minimum of 0 degrees F.
Ridgecrest, California - Monthly Climate Normals
Year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
High °F
80
59
65
70
79
86
96
103
101
95
83
69
60
Low °F
50
30
35
41
48
56
64
70
68
61
50
37
30
Average °F
65
45
50
56
64
71
80
86
85
78
67
53
45
Rain
3.5
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.1
0.1
-
-
0.2
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.5
Lodging
Hotels/Motels
There are hotels and motels in Ridgecrest, with something for every taste and price range. For more information and a complete list. Click Here. (Rates, availability and reservation online)
Ridgecrest, incorporated in 1963, is located in the northeast corner of Kern County in the Northern Mojave Desert. Prior to the establishment of the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at Inyokern in 1941, Ridgecrest, then "Crumville," consisted of a few scattered farms and homesteads. Ridgecrest evolved during the 1950's and 1960's as a support community, vital to the mission of NOTS, by providing housing and services for Federal employees and contractors.
NOTS, later China Lake Naval Weapons Center (NWC) and now the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) home to the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) Weapons Division, continues to be the major source of employment for Ridgecrest residents. At the same time, NAWS depends increasingly upon Ridgecrest for support services. The economic stability Ridgecrest has enjoyed as a service community for the NAWS has been essential to its successful emergence as a community in its own right.
Things To Do
Events Calendar
Annually in spring: Wildflower Tours
Annually in spring & fall: Petroglyph Tours
Annually in September: Desert Empire Fair
Annually in May: Josh's Jamboree
Annually in October Ridgecrest Balloon Festival
