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Free Traveling Guides » States » California » Deserts
Red Rock Canyon State Park
Twenty-five miles northeast of Mojave on Highway 14, the desert traveler comes upon Red Rock Canyon State Park. Only a hundred and twenty miles north of Los Angeles, this beautiful park is setting to the gorgeous and mysterious desert cliffs and stunning rock formations, resplendent in many colors which give the park its name. Its natural beauty and unique wonders have made the park a Hollywood favorite, and many music videos and films have been shot on location here, including an early archaeological scene in the first Jurassic Park movie.Â
The Red Rock formations are located where the southern tip of the Sierra Nevada comes together with the El Paso range, and formerly played host to the Kawaiisu Indian tribe. The El Paso Mountains are alive with the history of the tribe, in the form of petroglyphs. The area is rich with paleontological artifacts, with fossils of extinct elephants and giraffe-like camels among the treasures discovered. The Rocks themselves were formed by years of volcanic activity and sea erosion, creating the vivid colors and unusual geography on display today.
Coyotes, bobcats, owls, and jackrabbits make up only a part of the exciting desert wildlife native to the area. Joshua Trees and cacti, as well as common shrubbery, decorate the landscape. The park includes two natural preserves, and the visitor will have no shortage of activities with camping, sightseeing, horseback riding, and hiking comprising only a part of the available recreation. Camping is permitted only at the Ricardo Campground for a fee of $12 per night.
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