RCGeo

General Information

There is lots more to do in Ridgecrest and the surrounding areas other than Geocaching! There's museums, camping at the scene of filming locations, world class golfing on the Navy Base, hiking our trails, rock climbing, off road vehcile trails and much more! We're also just a couple of hours away from snow skiing, casinos, wine country, Disneyland, stargazing and both the lowest and highest points in the continental United States!

Off Roading: Ridgecrest hosts several off-road races and events throughout the year. Jawbone Canyon, Spangler Hills, Dove Hills, El Paso Wilderness, and the Rand Mountains are criss-crossed with popular trails and off-road camping sites.

Hiking: The mountains surrounding the China Lake basin are full of trails to challenge every skill level. Popular trails include the nearby Rademacher Hills, Short Canyon, and Five Fingers. Test your hiking skills on Owens Peak, or join up with the Pacific Crest Trail at Walker Pass just North of town.

Stargazing: Cosmic enthusiasts seek out our high elevation and protected horizon for some of the best star gazing in California. The best viewing can easily be found a few miles South of town on Brown Road or in Red Rock Canyon. Check out the China Lake Astronomical Society for star-viewing events and field trips.

Rock Climbing/Bouldering: Conveniently located at the half-way point between Los Angeles and Yosemite, Ridgecrest is surrounded by epic rock-climbing and bouldering challenges. From the boulders at Wagon Wheel to the smooth lava walls at Fossil Falls, climbers can diversify their climbing skills within a short drive of premium hotels and restaurants.

The above information was copied from the 2016 Visitor's Guide provided by the Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Whiskey Flat Days

Kernville - Annually on President's Day Weekend in February

Kernville's Whiskey Flat Days is held annually every Presidents Day Weekend. It is a leap back to the good ol' wild west days when the area was settled by gold miners, cattle ranchers and trappers. Join us when Kernville reverts to its old name "Whiskey Flat" for four nostalgic days of fun for the entire family. Parade, Wild West Daze Rodeo, Wild West Encampment, Carnival Rides, Frog Jumping Contests, Whiskey Flat Mayor Contest, Food & Craft Booths, Epitaph, Costume & Whiskerino Contests, Line Dancing, Clowns, Gold Panning, Wood Carving, Pet Parade, Blue Grass & Country Western Music, Art Show, Gunfighter Skits, Melodramas, Kids Activities, Tours, Games, & much more!

Wildflower Festival

Ridgecrest - Annually on 2nd weekend in April

Ridgecrest's Annual Wildflower Festival It is a valued tradition beginning years ago on the Base and continuing in its present location since 1986! The event exhibits wildflowers collected with a special BLM Permit from within a fifty mile radius of the Indian Wells Valley.

Visitors coming from throughout California and beyond, as well as our own community, will find a gallery full of beautiful blooms, possibly more than two hundred different species. Each will be identified by its common and scientific name and exhibited within its plant family classification.

Old West Days

Randsburg - Annually on 3rd Saturday of September

Randsburg's Old West Days is sponsored by the Rand Desert Museum. This event is a street fair with country western and bluegrass bands, food booths, antiques, collectibles, and other vendors. Gunfighters, Mounted Posse, Vintage Car Show, and other Entertainment.

The *OLD WEST DAYS* is held on the 3rd Saturday of September from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. It starts off with an all you can eat Pancake Breakfast at the Opera House ($5.00 donation). This is a fundraiser for the museum.

Film Festival

Lone Pine - Annually on Columus Day Weekend in October

Lone Pine Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Lone Pine, California, which celebrates the hundreds of films and television episodes that used Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills, and the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range as film locations. Since the early years of filmmaking, directors and their production units have used the Lone Pine area to represent the iconic American West.

The festival at Lone Pine was held for the first time in 1990, then called the Sierra Film Festival. Held annually over the Columbus Day weekend, the Lone Pine Film Festival is one of the most important Western film festivals in the United States.

Gem & Mineral Society GEM-O-RAMA

Trona - Annually on Columus Day Weekend in October

Trona Gem & Mineral Society GEM-O-RAMA For more than seventy years, countless thousands of visitors have come to Trona during the second weekend in October for the annual Gem-O-Rama. And each year more collectors converge for the 36 hours of frantic, non-stop activity to collect some of the best and most desirable evaporite mineral specimens in the world.

Since the first show, the Searles Lake Gem and Mineral Society has worked closely with the management and employees of the owner/operator on Searles Lake to provide one of the most exciting mineral collecting field trips available in the world. These field trips and your experiences would be impossible without their co-operation, dedication and vision.

Petroglyph Festival & Inter-Tribal Pow Wow

Ridgecrest - Annually on 1st Weekend in November

Petroglyph Festival & Inter-Tribal Pow Wow Join over 15,000 people who will enjoy the spectacle and wonder of ancient petroglyphs in all their glory! With tours of magnificent Native American rock art dating back 10,000 years, traditional Native American celebrations including an authentic Inter-Tribal Pow Wow, an educational lecture series, as well as the Balsam Street Fair, the Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival has something for everyone! Bring the whole family and experience the magic of the desert!

At the Cherokee Hog Fry and Inter-Tribal Pow Wow the community at large is invited to witness this sacred tradition that Native Americans have used to celebrate its past and honor the culture that has been an integral part of the region.