Trona Pinnacles and the Road to Death Valley NP

We had read abut the Trona Pinnacles, a BLM site at about 2000 feet above sea level in the Western Mojave Desert, about 20 miles east of Ridgecrest, California. We stayed at the Ridgecrest Walmart overnight and took off toward Death Valley. We weren’t sure if we would stay at the Pinnacles, as the dirt road in is supposedly very bumpy and washboard. We were able to unhook the jeep at the entrance and drove the 5-mile road in. No way would we drive our motorhome in there. It is a long 5-miles of bumps. There are areas for boondocking and a vault toilet. When we unhooked the jeep, there were 3 young people who had a car stuck in a sandy area, and they were waiting for Triple A to come get them out. When we got back the tow truck was there, but I don’t think he knew how he was going to do it. He was walking around the car and was on his cell phone.

"Fish Rocks" per Roadside America

The Pinnacles were in many car commercials and sci-fi movies.


Searles Valley Minerals Processes brine solutions from Searles Lake to produce boric acid, sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, several specialty forms of borax and salt.

A 7% grade down to the valley.

Click here for more pictures of the trip.