Red Rock Canyon State Park, State park in Kern County, California
Red Rock Canyon State Park is a protected area in Kern County with colorful sandstone cliffs, white clay formations, and volcanic rock. The landscape formed where the Sierra Nevada and El Paso Mountains meet.
The Kawaiisu and Coso once lived in this region and left petroglyphs in the El Paso Mountains. These rock carvings marked ceremonial sites of these indigenous peoples.
Many Western films were shot at this location. Filmmakers chose the desert formation for productions that still draw visitors today.
The area covers roughly 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) with campgrounds and hiking trails. Access is via Highway 14 between Mojave and Ridgecrest.
Sediment layers preserve fossils of three-toed horses and saber-toothed cats. These paleontological finds show animals that roamed the region millions of years ago.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
