Ridgecrest City Overview
Ridgecrest is a city in Kern County, California. Located in the Indian Wells Valley of the Mojave Desert, it serves the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. It is surrounded by four mountain ranges.
Location and Climate
Ridgecrest is located northeast of Los Angeles. It has an arid desert climate.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall are best. Summers are extremely hot.
Best Ways to Get Around
A car is essential.
Top 5 Things to Do
- Visit the Maturango Museum: Learn about the desert's natural and cultural history (and book petroglyph tours).
- Tour the Petroglyphs: (Through the museum) See the thousands of ancient rock art images in Little Petroglyph Canyon (on the naval base).
- Explore Red Rock Canyon State Park: (Nearby) Hike among the spectacular rock formations.
- Visit the China Lake Naval Weapons Station: (Restricted access, but the museum covers its history).
- Go Off-Roading: Explore the many desert trails.