Welcome to Ridgecrest

Ridgecrest (pop: 24,950), formerly known as Crumville is the only incorporated city (est 1913) on highway US-395 in Kern County.

The city is located in the Indian Wells Valley in northeastern Kern County, California, adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWS, or China Lake).

The city of Ridgecrest is a largely "company" oriented (China Lake, above) community big enough to provide plenty of fine schools, shopping and health care, and hospitals.

Maturango Museum
Las Flores Ave and China Lake Blvd, Ridgecrest, CA; (760) 375-6900;
Open Daily: 10AM-5PM (Exc: Major Holidays); Admission: $2;
Exhibits protraying life in the Upper Mojave Desert, including ancient American Native petroglyphs, art gallery, and children's exhibits.
Death Valley Tourist Center -

Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark
Located at Searles Lake, east of SR-178, near Trona; (760) 384-5400; Free Admission; BLM Website;
Maze of rock monoliths jutting out of a dry-lake bed, was used as a backdrop for the popular movie: Star Trek: The Final Frontier. The pinnacles are the nation's best example of tufa formations, gnarled columns of calcium carbonate which were formed by upwelling underwater springs some 50,000 years when most of the area was covered by a lake.

Popular Hiking Trails:
All directions are approximate, and we strongly advise you check with the nearest ranger station regarding climate conditions, backcountry permits, trail maps and directions.

• Darwin Falls - 1.5 mile trail across Darwin Plateau with deep chasms cut across the volcanic rock face and spring fed creeks. Popular in spring for abundance of desert wildlife and migratory birds. (Trailhead look for roadsign on SR-190, five miles west of Panamint Springs, for Darwin Falls.)
• Surprise Canyon - 10 mile trail thru rugged mountain terrain with deep cut canyons to abandon mines. (Trailhead: follow SR-190 to Panamint Valley Rd, to Trona Wildrose Road to Indian Ranch Road)

Goldstone JPL Facility - Ft Irwin CA
Deepspace Radio Network
Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex is located about 35 miles north of Barstow on the Ft. Irwin Military Base. Our tour begins at the Goldstone museum where three large areas are dedicated to current missions, past missions, and Deep Space Network history - plus there is a hands-on room for children. The guided tour then travels around the 53-square-mile complex to view the large antennas. All tours must be scheduled in advance.

China Lake Naval Weapons Testing Center
1723 sq mi weapons development facility and testing range where nearly every weapon in the US arsenal has undergone testing. There are two major geothermal power plants and numerous petroglyphs located in the Coso Mountains on the north end of the reservation. Navy Website.

Ridgecrest Cinemas
1631 North Triangle Drive, Ridgecrest, CA 93555; (760) 446-7771;