red rock canyon state park california

Red Rock Canyon State Park: Even California Has Its Own Red Rock Park!

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When you read the title of this article, it may come as a surprise. Really? Another Red Rock Canyon? But how many are there? In fact, this is a common name for parks and natural areas in the West, the land of canyons and red rocks. The most famous one is Red Rock Canyon in Nevada, just a stone’s throw from Las Vegas, but it’s not the only one. There’s Red Rock Canyon in Sedona (Arizona), and there is even Red Canyon in Utah, near Bryce Canyon, minus the word “rock”. California’s Red Rock Canyon is located not too far from Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley, and thus from the Nevada border.

Whether due to its somewhat unfortunate location or to its small size, the park is not well-known and very rarely gets chosen as one of the main stops on road trips. However, I believe that Red Rock Canyon is a classic hidden gem and that it represents an excellent opportunity to see incredible views without too much effort and in a short time, especially for those who are going from Sequoia National Park to Death Valley or vice versa. Besides, it’s not that common to see red rocks in California!

Location and Directions

red rock Canyon california

Red Rock Canyon State Park is a desert park in Cantil, California. The canyon is crossed by CA-14 S, which is called Aerospace Highway in that section. As I mentioned above, it is very likely that you will visit this park as an intermediate stop coming from the direction of Sequoia National Park or Death Valley. In another article, we have already explained how to plan the trip between Sequoia and Death Valley, but it is useful to reiterate the distance from the two parks, from the nearest big cities (Los Angeles and Bakersfield), and from two strategic towns for overnight stays in the surroundings: Mojave and Ridgecrest.

  • Distance to Death Valley (Furnace Creek Visitor Center): 168 miles (approx. 2 hours and 40 minutes) via US-395 N and CA-14 N
  • Distance from Sequoia National Park (Foothill Visitor Center): 174 miles (approx. 3 hours) via CA-65 S and CA-58 E
  • Distance from Los Angeles: 121 miles (approx. 2 hrs) via CA-14
  • Distance from Bakersfield: 81 miles (1 hour and 15 minutes) via CA-58 E and CA-14
  • Distance from Mojave: 25 miles (25 minutes approx.) via CA-14
  • Distance from Ridgecrest: 34 miles (about 40 minutes) via CA-178 and CA-14 S

Mojave is the main reference point for visiting the park, but we will give more information later in the article.

Find accommodations in Mojave

The Visitor Center

The address of the Visitor Center is Red Rock Canyon State Park, 37749 Abbott Dr, Cantil. The building is in the Ricardo Campground, located on high ground in the canyon.

Fees and Hours

red rock canyon california hours

The ticket price is $6 per vehicle. The fee allows you to park in the park and use the picnic tables. The hours of operation are from sunrise to sunset. If you access the Red Cliffs or Hagen Canyon area without going through the Visitor Center, it is unlikely that anyone will ask you to pay. However, it is highly recommended that you pay admission to support the work of the State park.

Hiking Red Rock Canyon

red rock canyon state park cantil

Red Rock Canyon State Park is very small and easy to visit – you won’t need more than 1-2 hours to get a feel for its layout. The most interesting trails are the Hagen Canyon Trail, the Red Cliff Trail, and Ricardo Campground Nature Trail, but the Red Rooster Day Use Area along the dirt road of the same name, which is a bit more remote, is also noteworthy. The easiest to get to as well as the most scenic and quickest to visit is the Red Cliff Trail.

Red Cliffs Trail

Just 24 miles past Mojave – just before the turn that takes you to the high ground where the Ricardo Campground Visitor Center is located – you’ll be amazed by the sheer reddish-streaked towers of the Red Cliffs Natural Area on the right side of the road.

To reach the trail at the foot of these formations, you’ll need to take a right on the main road to get to the parking area, which is located right at the foot of the cliffs. Even if you just park the car and walk towards the cliff on foot, paying the price of the ticket will be worth it. This is a good way to get the most out of it in the least amount of time.

However, if you have some time and desire to explore the area, it is advisable to follow the short loop trail (1 mile, 102 ft elevation gain) that starts from the parking area and leads to an elevated viewpoint where you can admire the pinnacles in all their glory.

Hagen Canyon Trail

This trail also offers the possibility to see in an easy way the side of a small and scenic canyon characterized by the presence of rock formations typical of the park. To reach the entrance of the trail coming from Mojave, you will have to pass the Red Cliffs area and turn left after about 1,600 ft on Abbott Drive, heading in the direction of the Visitor Center. As soon as you turn left, you will find on your left a large space where you can park your car. That’s where the trail begins, actually well visible also from CA-14.

The hike is a 1.2-mile loop that takes you through desert scenery, rock windows, and viewpoints, but you can also shorten the length when you’ve enjoyed enough of the views of the tall and impressive red sandstone rock formations that crowd the western side of the canyon.

Hollywood trivia
This area of the park has been the setting for many movies, including “Zorro Rides Again,” “The Big Country,” “Law and Order,” “The Ten Commandments,” “Jurassic Park” and “Beneath the Planet of the Apes.”

Ricardo Campground Nature Trail

This trail is located along Ricardo Campground Road, the dirt road that winds around the plateau where the Visitor Center is located. It offers beautiful views of the area’s red and white peaks and gorges and I recommend that you drive along this road, but if you don’t have proper transportation, please drive with caution.

At the south end of the road (see article map), the Ricardo Campground Nature Trail begins. Throughout the 1.5-mile trail, with 364ft of elevation gain, you have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the desert environment of the area and admire the flora and, if you are lucky, the fauna.

Visiting tip
If you’re short on time, I would advise against venturing out on this trail, and choose one of the other two I mentioned above instead.

Red Rooster Road

hiking red rock canyon california

This is not really a trail, but a somewhat adventurous excursion that should only be done if you have a 4×4 vehicle. The Red Rooster is located in a remote and not very well-known part of the park, south of the Visitor Center. To get there, you’ll need to turn onto a secondary dirt road at this point on CA-14 and drive about a mile to this point (use this route to avoid getting lost). You’ll find large pristine desert spaces (the desert is full of flowers and looks the most beautiful in the spring), but most importantly, some of the most distinctive rock formations in the park. Erosion has created tall organ pipes, mushrooms, sculptures, hats… Get out of your car and take a closer look at these strange rocks.

Best Time to Visit the Park

red rock canyon california trails

Although most people choose to visit parks in the summer, it is not exactly the best time to visit this park. Red Rock State Park is a desert area and temperatures can be very high in the summer months, forcing you to make short visits to the different areas of the park. The best times of year to visit this small park are spring and fall. Spring offers the opportunity to see beautiful vegetation, with flowers and desert plants that offer a nice contrast with the color of the rocks. I especially recommend the Ricardo Campground Nature Trail and Red Rooster.

Where to Stay

If Red Rock Canyon is one of the main stops on your trip, I recommend you to choose accommodations in one of the following two towns:

Ridgecrest is a bit further away than Mojave but nearby you will find one of California’s most incredible natural secrets: Trona Pinnacles. If Red Rock Canyon is an intermediate stop between Death Valley and Sequoia or between Death Valley and Los Angeles, then I suggest you have a look at the link below, where you can find recommended hotels in Bakersfield.

Find a hotel in Bakersfield

Red Rock Canyon State Park Map


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

bernardo pacini
Bernardo Pacini

I am an enthusiastic traveler. I have also published some poetry. Besides traveling, my interests include literature, prog music and good food,.

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