Planet of the Pinnacles

Exploring the Trona Pinnacles

The Trona Pinnacles have costarred as backdrop in sci-fi epics like Planet of the Apes and Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, but seeing these tufa towers in person is far more jaw-dropping than the virtual version.

When you stand before this rock fantasy, your feet are firmly planted on what was once the bottom of Searles Lake, one in a chain of interconnected inland seas during the Pleistocene Ice Ages. The towers are made of calcium carbonate, formed underwater (just like the tufas at Mono Lake) roughly 10,000 to100,000 years ago. About 500tufasrise from the dry-lake basin, the tallest reaching 140 feet.

You can drive on scenic loops around many of the formations, but you’ll want to get out on foot and feel the rock’s sharp, coral-like texture with your bare hands. A short hiking trail loops through tufas in the northern group beside the parking lot. This group also includes shapes called tombstones, ridges, and cones. Even better: Get off the trail and wander like an astronaut stranded on a barren planet. The miracle—the marvel—is that this ancient, alien landscape exists on our own beloved Earth.

TIPS: This area is very remote with no facilities, so bring plenty of water. You’ll need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle to reach the middle and southern groups. Avoid visiting during rainy weather—you risk getting stuck in mud on the dirt-road approach. Trona is a popular filming location. Contact the BLM before visiting and ask about scheduled production shoots that might detract from your experience.

CAMP: The Searles Lake basin is a remarkable place to experience sunset and to bask in the cosmos after dark. Dispersed camping is allowed for up to 14-day stays at no charge on BLM land surrounding the tufas.

Trona Pinnacles is located about 20 miles east of Ridgecrest. From Los Angeles, take US-395 north. Turn right onto Trona Rd. and right onto CA-178 east. After 7 miles, turn right onto Pinnacle Rd. Follow this road 4 miles south to reach Trona Pinnacles. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View