Is Red Rock Canyon State Park Worth Visiting?
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If mild terrain and breathtaking views are your
This is an incredibly easy hike with a great payout. There are even small canyoneering paths and a “secret city” if you know where to look.
Not to be confused with Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area located just outside of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon State Park is in Cantil, California.
Is Red Rock Canyon State Park Worth Visiting?
Red Rock Canyon State Park in California is absolutely worth a visit. Located only about two hours from Los Angeles and off the beaten path, you won’t have to worry about noisome crowds or busy trails. Instead, explore the park’s easy paths conveniently lined with breathtaking views of Joshua Trees and outstanding rock formations.
Whether you want to spend a full day there for some activities such as camping, hiking, and climbing or just take a peaceful stroll around, Red Rock Canyon State Park will no doubt give you an experience worth remembering!
Silent Secret City
Nightmare Gulch is a popular trail for hiking Red Rock Canyon State Park California. The main trail follows a gulch with several offshoots and tiny caves.
In the spirit of keeping the Silent Secret City a secret, if you follow one of the offshoots between the escarpments you will find yourself in what seems to be a plaza surrounded by skyscraper cliffs. Silent Secret City is a peaceful part of the canyon with unique views and rock formations.
Canyoneering Nightmare Gulch Red Rock Canyon
From Silent Secret City, you will find a steep slope on the opposite side of the gulch that leads to the rim of the canyon. Climbing up to the rim and trekking east you can then find a small path between the escarpments leading back down to Nightmare Gulch trail.
This small canyoneering path is a fun way to get back to the trailhead. There are some tight squeezes, steep steps, and even a small cave to climb through. As always, exercise your own caution and judgment before selecting your hiking experience.
Before You Go
The craggy rock formations make Red Rock Canyon State Park the perfect breeding ground for California raptors and other birds of prey. To protect these species the park is only open to the public from July through January.
Visiting during the extreme heat of summer would not be pleasant anyways. Temperatures have reached well over 110 degrees!
On that note, be sure to bring plenty of water and food. The park is in a remote part of California, although there are bathrooms available at some trailheads.
Red Rock Canyon State Park CA FAQ
Cantil is the closest town to Red Rock Canyon State Park in California. Lancaster and Bakersfield are the nearest major cities, both one hour away.
You can explore Red Rock Canyon State Park in one afternoon. However, if you have longer there are plenty of camping facilities for a long weekend stay.
Red Rock Canyon State Park is in Cantil, California. It is two hours northeast of Los Angeles and one hour east of Bakersfield. It is considered Central California and is within the Mojave Desert.
I hope this put Red Rock Canyon State Park on your radar. Be sure to check out some of my other guides to California. And if you’re really into finding red rocks, you’ll want to add Denver to your bucket list as well!
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