Red, White, and Hoodoos

Hiking in Red Rock Canyon State Park California

“Don’t stay on the trail” sounds like an odd suggestion, but it’s the best way to explore the crimson sandstone cliffs and hoodoos that crosscut Red Rock Canyon State Park in the northern Mojave Desert. Perfectly legal, too, in this otherworldly convergence of the Sierra Nevada and El Paso Mountains just 120 miles north of Los Angeles (although it would seem to be more at home in southern Utah). Eons of uplift here from the nearby Garlock Fault exposed an ancient lakebed’s sedimentary layers, which then eroded into the exotic shapes seen today.

Start your exploration on Hagen Canyon Nature Trail, one of the park’s most scenic walks—an easy 1.2-mile loop over washes and along intricate red and white sandstone “curtains” capped by dark lava flow. Distinct formations have names like Camel Rock and Turk’s Turban.

The park allows, even encourages, hikers to walk anywhere off-trail. So you can easily spend half a day here wandering side canyons and climbing cliffs.

Where the stone-lined trail starts looping back, two sandy washes lead farther west into vast badlands of white sandstone and igneous rock. Save for sparse vegetation, the landscape here is rugged and Martian, yet the sand underfoot is as pleasant as a Malibu beach. A single willow tree abides near where one wash dead-ends at a dramatic basalt lava wall. For lovers of exposed geology and the SoCal desert, spring in Hagen Canyon is truly nature at its finest.

TIP: Avoid the midday heat by hiking in the morning, when temperatures are still pleasant. Bring plenty of water.

STAY: Ricardo Campground, just north of Hagen Canyon, has 50 first-come, first-served campsites, many situated right beneath eye-popping fluted cliffs. Tables, potable water, pit toilets, and fire rings are provided. $25 per night.

To get to Red Rock Canyon State Park, take CA-14 24 miles north of the town of Mojave. Turn left on Abbot Dr. (it’s well signed) and follow it into the park. No dogs on trails.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Reno Tahoe Summer Bucket List

    There’s no place quite like it - a perfect intersection where the Truckee River meets the creative enclaves that inspire Burning Man. A landscape with lakes throughout and a downtown that glows with casino resorts, art light exhibits, and an acclaimed food scene.

    View
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  2. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    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