The small middle group claims only 100 spires, but boasts the tallest "tower", rising 140 feet (43 m). At this point, we could actually see the pinnacles off in the distance but were separated by a 5-mile stretch of gravel road.
Continue traveling about 28 miles east on Highway 178 (passing the intersection with Trona-Red Mountain Road) and turn south (right) onto BLM Route RM143. If you enjoy desert camping, or photographing weird landscapes, then this place is for you.This OHV Route takes from the paved road to the Trona Pinnacles, a unique geological feature consisting of 500 tufa spires rising from the bed of the Searles Lake (dry) basin.Had a great time with my husband it felt like we were the only ones on the planet off roading yesterday , the day was beautiful in this part of the desert! Trona Pinnacles has three ridges. Similar (modern) formations can be found today at Mono Lake to the north.The northern group is the youngest at 11,000 to 25,000 years old. Trona Pinnacles. We took it slow and the 5.5 mile trip from the highway to our campsite took about 45 minutes. You will see a BLM sign for Trona Pinnacles where you turn off of Highway 178. Getting to the Trona Pinnacles. The groups are dubbed the northern, middle, and southern groups because they formed during three ice ages. Directions: From Ridgecrest, travel 20 miles east on State Highway 178 to its intersection with Trona-Red Mountain Road. This is the last town you will find for quite awhile with most modern amenities. All my visits to Trona Pinnacles have been during daylight hours so I was eager, if a little apprehensive, for a night of camping. Before you begin, be sure to stock up on groceries, gas, and anything else you may need in Ridgecrest. The "12.2 mile trail" referenced in the listing is actually vehicle miles from the pavement to the middle of the pinnacles. One ridge is 800 feet long, 500 feet wide and 140 feet tall. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/trona-pinnacles-ohv-route Access to the site is from a BLM dirt road (RM143) that leaves State Highway 178, about 7.7 miles (12 km) east of the intersection of State Highway 178 and the Trona-Red Mountain Road.
The small middle group claims only 100 spires, but boasts the tallest "tower", rising 140 feet (43 m). This area is also known as Charlie's Place. Once you're at the pinnacles parking lot, you're feet away from the pinnacles themselves.The Drive: Good up to a point where the road ends up feeling more washboarded out (we were in a 2WD) and there were 2-3 deep washouts created by people who clearly must have gotten stuck in the mud and only dug themselves deeper -- so keep aware on the drive!Nearby: Fish Rocks aren't far away when on the main highway, so those are definitely worth a visit en route or on your way back to civilization.The Pinnacles is worth visiting.
IDKRoad to get there : 5 miles of very rugged terrain. Road Report. I was out here camping overnight on my way to Death Valley. It is open year-round, but due to the extreme heat in the late spring and summer months (110+ degrees), the best times to visit are in the fall, winter, and early spring. These are the best examples of what are known as tufa towers. Don’t miss the little cave close to restrooms. At this point, we could actually see the pinnacles off in the distance but were separated by a 5-mile stretch of gravel road. Really, it is as ugly as anywhere else in L.A.