California note
The Trona Pinnacles look like stone towers from an old lake
The Trona Pinnacles are one of those desert places that make you slow down because the shapes do not look ordinary. More than 500 tufa spires rise from the Searles Dry Lake basin, and some reach as high as 140 feet.
The spires are made mostly of calcium carbonate, also called tufa. They formed in an ancient lake setting, when this dry basin was part of a much wetter Ice Age landscape. What looks like a strange stone city is really a record of water, minerals, and time.
The site became a National Natural Landmark in 1968. It has also appeared in commercials, films, and photo shoots, which makes sense once you see the skyline. It looks remote even before you remember how remote it actually is.
Bring the right expectations. The Bureau of Land Management site has a vault toilet, but no potable water and no trash service. Pack out what you bring, stay on existing roads, and let the odd towers do the showing off.
Where to see it
Trona Pinnacles National Natural Landmark east of Ridgecrest, near Trona.
Sources
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Reviewed July 1, 2026
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