Location:
The site is located 20 miles east of Ridgecrest, California.
Description:
The Trona Pinnacles are some of the most unique geological features in the California Desert Conservation Area. The unusual landscape consists of more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet, rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake basin. The pinnacles vary in size and shape from short and squat to tall and thin, and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (tufa). The Trona Pinnacles have been featured in many commercials, films, and still-photo shoots.
Mailing Address:
BLM
Ridgecrest Resource Area
300 South Richmond Road
Ridgecrest, CA 93555
Phone Number:
760-384-5400
Fax Number:
760-384-5499
Directions:
From Ridgecrest, travel 20 miles east on State Highway 178 to its intersection with Trona-Red Mountain Road. Continue east on Highway 178 for 7.7 miles, and access the site by a dirt road leading off Highway 178 to the south.
Visitor Activities:
Hiking, picnicking, photography, and geologic sightseeing.
Permits, Fees and Limitations:
Visitors are urged to remain on designated routes or trails.
Accessibility:
None
Camping and Lodging Facilities:
Primitive camping is permitted; there are no developed sites. Lodging is available in Ridgecrest.
Food and Supplies:
Food and supplies are available in Ridgecrest and Trona.
First Aid:
The nearest hospital or place for other assistance is Ridgecrest.
Additional Information:
The site is open year-round; the best times to visit are fall, winter and early spring. Good hiking and walking shoes are recommended. The dirt access road is usually accessible by two-wheel drive vehicles. Following a rain, however, the road may be impassable to all vehicles, including by four-wheel-drive vehicles
View a Video of the Trona Pinnacles
View a QuickTime VR of the Trona Pinnacles. QuickTime VR is a photorealistic technology that makes it possible to explore the picture as if you were really there! Interactive content design and immersive imaging allow the viewer to explore and examine detailed virtual worlds using a computer and mouse. Quicktime VR images let you spin around, look up and down and zoom in as if you were standing right there! You need to have Apple's QuickTime ( Its is for Windows or Mac and it is a free download.)
Also See The Final Frontier
