A Fossil Falls Detour
Fossil Falls is a little-known yet incredibly adventure-worthy stop located just two and a half hours from Los Angeles, and 35 miles northwest of Ridgecrest, California. You’re not likely to find traditional fossils or water-flowing falls here, but don’t let that detour you from visiting this fascinating area on your next trip up the 395.
Origins
Sculpted over time by water and wind, this is a marvelous fossil formed by nature. The giant shiny chasm of Swiss-cheese looking black lava formations were created when raging water from the Owens River met poured out lava from the nearby Coso Volcanic Field. The falls originally started downstream from its current location and it moved up stream. Water falling over the edge of the waterfall undercut the falls causing them to move upstream and grow taller, which is a process called plunge-pool erosion. If you look close you can even see fossilized algae on some of the rocks. While the area has long since gone dry, on rare occasion of extreme rains the falls come back to life from the current dry conditions to form an actual flowing waterfall.
Native Americans
The Fossil Falls archaeological district is on the National Register of Historic Places. Bands of Native Americans lived here for thousands of years through the 19th century, and Native American artifacts may still be found in the area. However, any artifact seen here is protected by the Bureau of Land Management and may not be removed…so please be respectful and leave any artifacts or petroglyphs where you find them.
Visiting the Falls
To reach the falls, exit from the 395 onto Cinder Road (which is unpaved). After a short drive, you’ll find the free daytime parking area, primitive pit toilets, and the main trail head. From here it’s a short .21 mile hike to the magnificent chasm, or a .12 mile walk to the small campground area, which includes about a dozen spots offering overnight camping on a first come first serve basis for a small fee.
The path to the falls is fairly well defined, but a few parts of the trail split off…so look for bright orange lichen markings on the rocks, which let you know you’re on the right path, and make sure to stay on the main trail that looks the most traveled. The flat terrain abruptly opens revealing the spectacular lava falls. I recommend starting your hike by exploring around the rim of this massive chasm. Just be careful as you reach the end of the upper falls because there is a steep 60+ foot drop into the canyon below. If you enjoy a good scramble, then follow the trail and descend down into the falls and the lower canyon’s widening ravine to truly feel the size of these falls.
This area offers bouldering, top rocking, and traditional climbing on 50+ documented routes up to 100 feet in length. Finger friendly rock climbing routes have ratings ranging from 5.1 to 5.9 here. There is another falls about 300 yards east of the main falls as well…it’s smaller, but still worth the walk if time allows. Just north of the falls is Red Cinder Mountain. Often referred to as Red Hill (for obvious reasons), this is actually a cinder cone volcano that erupted as recently as 10,000 years ago.
Know Before You Go
• This is a wonderful place to enjoy an unobstructed view of the night sky as planets and stars put on a spectacular light show. However, Summer wind storms and swirling sand can affect the viewing during Summer months, so Winter through Spring is the best time for night viewing.
• If you can arrive for sunrise or stay for golden hour, the way the sun reflects off the obsidian fields to the south of the main falls is uniquely beautiful.
• Shade is scarce here, and Summer heat can be brutal, so I would consider a trip here in the Fall, Winter, or Spring months…and avoid Summer if you want to spend extended time exploring.
• The rocks can be slippery and are continually moving, giving way over time…so be careful exploring close to the edge, and plan your footwear accordingly.
• Red Rock Canyon State Park is another fantastic stop located less than 40 miles away.
• Please be considerate of the Leave no Trace Principles to help keep this place wild and beautiful.
In Summary & Behind the Blog Video
Thanks for joining me to explore this hidden gem. For more information, enjoy my Behind the Blog video below. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
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