Beam Me Up, Scotty

300 S Richmond RdRidgecrest, CA 93555-4436 Phone: (760) 384-5400

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 A surreal Mojave Desert geological formation is popular with filmmakers. For a place in the middle of nowhere, the Trona Pinnacles sure get a lot of attention. Formed underwater when the area was part of a chain of desert lakes, the calcium carbonate tufa spires, some as tall as 140 feet, were formed between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968, the pinnacles have an otherworldly quality that has led to their role in a number of movies, especially science fiction. And so the Trona Pinnacles have appeared as backdrops in movies ranging from Star Trek V to Planet of the Apes. Check on conditions before heading out because you'll have to drive a 5-mile dirt road. And it's best to visit in cooler months because summer temperatures can easily reach 115 degrees.   less lessA surreal Mojave Desert geological formation is popular with filmmakers. For a place in the middle of nowhere, the Trona Pinnacles sure get a lot of attention. Formed underwater when the area was part of a chain of desert lakes, the calcium carbonate tufa spires, some as tall as 140 feet, were formed between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968, the p...moreA surreal Mojave Desert geological formation is popular with filmmakers. For a place in the middle of nowhere, the Trona Pinnacles sure get a lot of attention. Formed underwater when the area was part of a chain of desert lakes, the calcium carbonate tufa spires, some as tall as 140 feet, were formed between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1968, the p...more