Visit Red Rock Canyon State Park, California.
Hello loves! Hope you’re staying safe and healthy.
If you’re dying to get out to nature because you’re tired of staying indoors, I highly recommend Red Rock Canyon State Park in Southern California! It’s small enough to make a day trip out of it and big enough to explore every crevice! Yes, there’s camping available!
The park is located along the state highway 14 in Kern County near the city Cantil, California. It’s home to desert cliffs, buttes and jaw-opening rock formations. Let me tell you, you will be amazed by the colors and all the forms and shapes of the rocks. It’s a perfect place to bring your kids because there’s a lot of exploring to do and off-trail exploration is allowed.
Also, did you know this park is home to many films? Hollywood has been filming here since the 1930’s! It’s famous for The Mummy, The Outlaw, The Ten Commandments, Westworld, Jurassic Park, and more! How fun is that?! Make sure you watch the scenes so you can be ready to snap a photo at the exact location. :)
Important! I do ask that you pack in and pack out. I tend to pick up trash along trails whenever I see it, but we all need to do our part to take care of them.
Did I also mention that it’s dog-friendly?! As long as your dog is leashed and you pick up after their doings, they are allowed. We brought our doggie Mowgli and he loved it! You will see a photo of him below.
We went the first weekend of February and the weather was absolutely perfect. It wasn’t cold or hot! I was expecting it to be crowded, but we were shocked with the amount of people we saw on a Saturday afternoon, barely any! We arrived around 3:00pm and spent a good two hours exploring all it has to offer. We didn’t have to pay at any trailhead or entrance; however, I do recommend to visit the Visitor Center to support the State Park.
Important information to know before you go!
Official hours are from Sunrise to Sunset
The visitor center is located on the northern part of the park, near the campground.
Horseback riding is allowed on the trails.
The Ricardo Campground is $25 per night and $6 per vehicle. It offers 50 campsites all on first-come, first-serve basis.
Make sure you bring enough water because it can get extremely hot. During the day, there’s little to no shade.
Wear the right shoes for it does have unstable ground and can easily crumble with weight.
Alrighty then, let’s get to the two popular spots you must explore!
HAGEN CANYON NATURE TRAIL
Miles: 1.2 mile (1.9km) loop
Location: 35°21'54.2"N 117°58'58.9"W
Level: Easy
Elevation Gain: 62 ft
Dog-friendly? Yes but leashed
Kid-friendly? Yes!
Fee? No, but be aware of changes
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
This trail is accessible year-round and it’s good for all skill-levels. It has a dirt road parking lot, so you can easily accessible by any car. It’s a perfect trail for a chill walk and for beautiful pictures! There are no steep parts unless you go up to explore the rock formations. It can be a bit slippery if you don’t wear shoes that have traction, however it’s very doable with any type of shoes as long as you have balance. This trail travels through amazing red/orange-stained sandstone windows and cliffs. It is possible to spend hours exploring the cliffs, however there are parts that have uneven ground and can easily crumble with weight, so please make sure you’re careful. Remember to always stay safe because you are a priority!
RED CLIFFS NATURE TRAIL
Miles: 1 mile (. Km) Loop
Location: 35°21'45.3"N 117°58'37.6"W
Level: Easy
Elevation Gain: 101ft
Dog-friendly? Yes but leashed
Kid-friendly? Yes!
Fee? No, but be aware of changes
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Red Cliffs Nature Trail will lead your towards the red sandstone and volcanic rock cliff walls that will leave you incandescently happy! Even though the loop is only a mile, it is possible to explore the place for a few hours off trail. We loved walking along the trail around sunset because the lighting for photos was perfect.
This state park is a perfect pit stop if you’re traveling through that area because you can do a lot in only a couple hours. However, you can also make a day out of it. Well, I hope you have a great visit and you enjoy it to the max.
Love you all and happy traveling!
