Trona Pinnacles — BLM Dispersed Camping

Trona Pinnacles is a National Natural Landmark managed by BLM, where more than 500 tufa towers stand on the bed of ancient Searles Lake. Camping is dispersed. You pick a flat spot off the Pinnacles Road loop, with no marked sites, no hookups and no water. Bring everything you need. Sunsets and sunrises on the spires are the draw, and that’s why the place gets used for film shoots and photographers’ trips. The dry lakebed is wide open, so it feels remote even on a busy weekend. Expect wind, and expect real heat in summer.

Access is a dirt road of roughly five miles off Highway 178 near Trona, rated fine for most vehicles when dry. It can get washboarded, sandy and soft after rain, so check conditions first. BLM generally limits dispersed stays to 14 days. Gas and groceries are thin in Trona, so fill up in Ridgecrest first. Pack out all trash and stay on existing tracks. Verify current road status and any closures with the BLM Ridgecrest Field Office before you roll in. Have a dirty day.

Tufa spires and open lakebed camping, free.