Have you ever visited somewhere so otherworldly, it seems like you’re walking on another planet? I remember the first time I had that feeling at Craters of the Moon in Idaho, like I was in a place where I shouldn’t be able to breathe oxygen. On a recent visit to this lesser-known spot in the Mojave, I felt like I was in another dimension waking up at the Trona Pinnacles in California.
What are the Trona Pinnacles?
Located in the Mojave desert just outside Death Valley is the otherworldly Trona Pinnacles in California. Managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the 3800 acres here feature more than 500 odd-shaped tufa towers. The Trona Pinnacles are the largest of their kind in North America, towering as tall as 140 feet!
How were the Trona Pinnacles Created?
The process for how the Trona Pinnacles were created took place over a period of 10,000-100,000 years. This stretch of land was covered by the ancient Searles Lake nearly 100,000 years ago. Snow from the Sierra Nevada’s fell into the basin of Death Valley then flowed in to Trona.
Underground hot springs fractured the lake floor and calcium carbonate came seeping out from the cracks. Bound with algae, over the next few thousand years hollow towers were created under the water.
Cool Facts About the Trona Pinnacles
The ancient lakebed that the Pinnacles sit on holds half of all the natural elements known to man, a staggering fact. Rich in minerals, the area has been mined for borax since the 1860s. The shortest regulated railroad in the United States also exists at the Trona Pinnacles.
This area has been featured in a number of movies and videos like Star Trek V, Planet of the Apes and Disney’s Holes. Most recently, Lady Gaga’s music video for ‘Stupid Love’ was filmed at the Trona Pinnacles.
Exploring the Pinnacles
Since BLM manages the Trona Pinnacles area, the rules here are lax and the exploring opportunities are endless. Even with those laid-back guidelines for exploring, it’s important to follow the Leave No Trace principles, stay on designated roads/hiking trails and be respectful of the land and others around you.
Exploring the Trona Pinnacles is such a treat. With the area spanning out over 3800 acres, you can drive the short scenic loop or utilize the dirt pathway to walk around the tufa towers.
The scenic driving loop wraps around the middle group of the Pinnacles. From here, you can get out and walk the trails up and around the tufas to get a closer look.
The driving paths are seemingly endless throughout the area. Splitting into different directions, they allow you to get up close and personal with all the fun formations. Eventually you’ll find yourself back to where you started.
Camping & Spending the Night at the Trona Pinnacles in California
Since the Trona Pinnacles area is ran by the BLM, you can camp or car camp for free within the area for up to 14 days. I’ve slept out under the stars at the Trona Pinnacles multiple times and it’s one of my favorite places to do so. Cooking dinner over a fire while watching the sun dissipate in the distance is an awesome experience.
Read more here to learn about camping at the Trona Pinnacles
The most otherworldly part of the Trona Pinnacles is when the daylight leaves and night takes hold. With a large stretch of land featuring these little towers, they create the perfect silhouette to those nighttime shots.
The bright glow of LA and Vegas shining from the south and east, it creates the perfect aura over the tufa towers. I couldn’t ask for more for some astrophotography!
And if you didn’t feel like you were exploring another planet at Trona Pinnacles, I’ll bet you do now.
Before heading into natural areas, it’s imperative that you’re familiar with the “Leave No Trace” principles. Read More: Leave No Trace: The 7 Rules of the Backcountry. Learn more about Leave No Trace on their website here.
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