Psychedelic Lava

Exploring Fossil Falls

You’d be hard-pressed to find a volcanic landscape in California as memorable and psychedelic as Fossil Falls. This chasm of water-sculpted lava rock in the Coso Mountain Range northwest of Ridgecrest was carved thousands of years ago by the Owens River after an eruption dammed the water’s course, causing it to flow over the basalt lava bed here.

Getting to Fossil Falls is simple—it’s just off US-395 and the hike takes just a few minutes—but you can easily spend two hours wandering its extraordinary environs. The quarter-mile trail cuts over a flat, craggy lava field flecked with burrobush and other yellow-flowering plants that appear to glow when cast in direct sunlight against dark rock.

A red cinder cone rises to the north, part of an extinct chain of volcanoes in the Coso Range eastward, and the Sierra Nevada provide a majestic backdrop to the west. The deep fissure of Fossil Falls reveals itself abruptly at trail’s end. To the left, where the lava bed erodes and splits open, the basalt chasm looks like a hell demon’s acid trip etched in stone. Polished black lava protrudes and recedes into sharp-edged, amorphous knobs and deep gouges.

Scramble down to reach the wide, lower ledge of the falls. In prehistoric times, a mighty waterfall roared off it and into the channel below, now a sandy wash. At dusk, watch for bats pouring out of holes in the cliffs here. Littered with cracks and pockets, these 40- to 50-foot-high lava walls also attract rock climbers—it’s a favored venue for one-pitch, top-rope climbing.

CAMP: Pitch a tent and stay the night at Fossil Falls for deep-space stargazing and great views of Red Hill Cinder Cone. The BLM-managed campground is within walking distance of the chasm. Eleven campsites ($6 a night) with picnic tables and fire rings are situated on a flat expanse strewn with lava rock. Potable water and restrooms are also on site.

Take US-395 north and turn right onto Cinder Rd., about 4 miles north of Little Lake. After half a mile, you’ll see a sign pointing right for Fossil Falls. Turn there to reach the parking lot and trailhead.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Hiker taking a photo of sunset at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

    Sunshine and Skyline

    Head to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve for a 4-mile out-and-back hike on the Bay Area Ridge Trail that offers a front-row seat to spectacular sunsets.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View