Trona Pinnacles, California

The Trona Pinnacles are a unique formation of tufa spires in California’s Mojave Desert.

Due to its incredible otherworldly and sci-fi-like appearance, the Trona Pinnacles are one of the top unusual and unique places to visit in California.

In our post Trona Pinnacles, California – National Natural Landmark & Hidden Gem In California you will learn more about how to visit these unique pinnacles.

Trona Pinnacles, Ca – Hidden Gem In California

Table Of Contents

Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark In California
Trona Pinnacles Movies & Film Location
Trona Pinnacles Camping
Trona Pinnacles At Night
- Photographing The Milky Way At Trona Pinnacles
Weather At The Trona Pinnacles
How To Get To The Trona Pinnacles In California?
Fish Rocks, California Near Trona
Where To Stay Near The Trona Pinnacles?
Other Places To Visit Near Trona

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Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark In California

Sign of Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark managed by California BLM — Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark

The Trona Pinnacles are a National Natural Landmark in California which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Tufa Spires

The otherworldly landscape consists of over 500 tufa spires. The pinnacles of Trona vary in shape and size. Some are short and squat and others are tall and thin. Some are up to 140 ft / 43 m tall.

Tufa is primarily a composition of calcium carbonate.

Tufa spires at Trona Pinnacles California National Natural Monument — Tufa spires at Trona Pinnacles, Ca

Searles Lake

The tufa pinnacles of Trona are actually located in Searles Lake. However, the lake has dried out a long, long time ago and has been a dry basin since, but that’s why the pinnacles came to light.

How Were The Pinnacles Formed?

The tufa pinnacles formed underwater beneath Searles Lake about 10,000 to 100,000 years ago when calcium-rich groundwater and alkaline lake water combined. So the spires didn’t just miraculously shoot out from the ground!

Btw, similar spires can be found at Mono Lake in the North of the Eastern Sierras.

California Desert Conservation Area

Sunset at Mojave Desert at Trona Pinnacles in California — Sunset over Mojave Desert at Trona Pinnacles in California

The Trona Pinnacles are located in the California Desert Conservation Area which is protected land.

Trona Pinnacles Movies & Film Location

Sci-Fi Movies Filmed At Trona Pinnacles

The unique tufa spires in California’s Desert are a very popular filming location. For good reason! With their otherworldly appearance, the Trona Pinnacles are the perfect backdrop for sci-fi movies.

Lots of movies are filmed here each year, some of those are well-known blockbusters like Planet of The Apes and Star Wars.

Some other famous Star Wars filming locations can be found in nearby Death Valley National Park.

Backdrop For Car Commercials

In addition to science fiction movies, a lot of car commercials are filmed at the Trona Pinnacles as well. Without knowing about the car commercials at the beginning, it became very clear to us why, when we were viewing the pinnacles from afar and saw a car drive towards us with the spires in the backdrop.

TV Series & Music Videos

The Trona Pinnacles can also be seen in TV series and even music videos like Lady Gaga’s video to her song “Stupid Love” or Rihanna’s music video to the “Sledgehammer” single.

Trona Pinnacles Movies & Video Features

Star Wars

Planet of the Apes

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Battlestar Galactica

Lost in Space

Sledgehammer by Rhianna

Stupid Love by Lady Gaga

… and many more

Trona Pinnacles Camping

Camping at Trona Pinnacles is allowed. However, there are no camping facilities. There is also no potable water at the landmark. There is only this lone single toilet (pictured above).

You have to bring everything and also take everything out with you again. Don’t leave anything behind!

There are designated camping areas where you can set your tent or park your car.

The California landmark is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. For more information about camping at Trona Pinnacles see the BLM’s website.

If you are going camping at the Trona Pinnacles, check out our car camping packing list.

Trona Pinnacles At Night

If you camp there you can experience the otherworldly Trona Pinnacles at night (surely not scary at all!) and get to experience some incredible stargazing with the tufa spires in the back drop.

Trona Pinnacles Milky Way Photoshoot

The Trona Pinnacles are a popular and incredible Milky Way photography spot among photographers.

Since there are no big cities around, there is only minimal light pollution in the area. This makes it a great spot to shoot the Milky Way, especially which such an amazing rock formation in the foreground.

Unfortunately, we didn’t camp there and once the light was completely gone it did get kind of scary in the middle of the lonely desert, with no reception or anything else around. So we didn’t want to wait a few more hours to see the stars and the Milky Way. This will be for yet another trip in the future!

Trona Pinnacles Weather

The Trona spires are located in the California desert, which means, the weather at the Trona Pinnacles is desert-like weather. Hot during the day and colder at night.

Summer

During the Summer months, it can get extremely hot in the desert there. The best time to visit the Trona Pinnacles in the summer is for sunset. Not only does the heat cool down, but the sky also turns into all kinds of shades of orange and red.

Winter

During winter it gets pretty cold, even freezing cold. Especially at night. It is also during the winter months when it rains the most.

If you decide to visit the Trona Pinnacles in winter, check the road conditions for the last stretch of the road, which is a dirt road. During heavy rainfall, the road to the pinnacles is closed. More on this below.

How To Get To The Trona Pinnacles In California?

Trona Pinnacles sunset the perfect backdrop for movies and car commercials — Sunset at Trona Pinnacles, California

Trona Pinnacles Location

The location of Trona Pinnacles is about 20 miles / 32 km east of Ridgecrest, California. Ridgecrest is the nearest bigger town.

Trona Pinnacles Directions

The directions to Trona Pinnacles are pretty simple and straightforward. From Ridgecrest to Trona Pinnacles you will drive about 17 mi / 27 km on Highway 178 eastwards until you see a dirt road and a small Trona Pinnacles sign on your right. The entry to the dirt road is rather wide and noticeable, the little sign not so much, so keep an eye out for it.

Trona Pinnacles Map

Check out the Map of Trona Pinnacles on Google Maps and get directions here. We recommend to cache the map around Trona Pinnacles before your go, because you may not have reception in the area.

Dirt road to Trona Pinnacles in the Mojave Desert — Trona Pinnacles off-road conditions

Trona Pinnacles Off-Road Drive

From the intersection of Highway 178 and the start of the dirt road to Trona Pinnacles, it is another 5 mi / 8 km to get the tufa spires.

From here, your off-the-beaten-path adventure in California starts. The road to Trona Pinnacles is an off-road desert road.

Road Conditions

The road conditions are mostly fine and good, considering it is a dirt road. Most of the road is a washboard-like road carved into the dry Searles Lake river bed. Sometimes it can get bumpy and you have to pay attention and slow down. There are also some sandy sections along the way.

The drive can most of the time be accomplished by a regular 2-wheel drive. An all-wheel drive is not necessary, but certainly helpful.

After lots and heavy rain, the drive to the Trona Pinnacles is not accessible, however.

Rail road crossing on the dirt road to Trona Pinnacles

Railway Crossing

Pretty soon after you hit the dirt road from the highway, you will cross a railroad track. This is used for the nearby mining facility.

Fish Rocks, California Near Trona

On the way to the Trona Pinnacles on Highway 178 you will pass another smaller roadside attraction in California, the Fish Head Rocks.

You can park your car on the side of the dirt road that leads to the California Fish Rocks and walk the short rest of the sandy road to get to the fish head rocks.

Get directions to Fish Rocks, California here.

Where To Stay Near The Trona Pinnacles?

If you decide to visit the Trona Pinnacles, the nearest places to stay are Ridgecrest, China Lake Acres, and Inyokern.

Hotels Near Trona Pinnacles

Ridgecrest is the biggest town and has to most options for places to stay near Trona. All hotels in the area are simple budget to mid-range hotels.

We have stayed at the Best Western China Lake Inn in Ridegrest, which is one of the top rated hotels in town and a good place to spend the night.

Other Places To Visit Near Trona

There are some other places near Trona you can visit too and make a full road trip out of it.

Death Valley

While visiting the Trona Pinnacles we were actually on a road trip to Death Valley, and Trona was conveniently located on the way there. This was perfect, as we’ve been wanting to see the otherworldly landscape for a long time and then we finally got the chance.

To the East Entrance of Death Valley, the Panamint Springs, the drive takes a little over an hour.

Lone Pine & Alabama Hills

To Lone Pine and Alabama Hills, it takes about 2 hours on the Eastern Sierras Highway 395. The Alabama Hills are another hidden gem in California.

Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree National Park is located a little over 3 hours South of Trona Pinnacles where to Mojave Desert and Colorado Desert meet.

Iconic tufa spires of Trona Pinnacles in California

An Off-The-Beaten-Path California Adventure

As you can see, the Trona Pinnacles are an incredible and otherworldly hidden gem in California. The tufa spires landmark is away from the main tourist routes and more like an off-the-beaten-path California adventure but is even more so worth visiting if you are up for it.

Julia & Felipe

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