20 Attractions to Explore Near Trona Pinnacles

This is a former mining and recreational property from the 1940s to the 1960s, it is infamous due to its association with Charles Manson and his "family". It is located inside Death Valley National Park in eastern California. There is a small one-room guest house located to the side of the main house. There is also a five-thousand-gallon "swimming pool" made from cement and rock boulders towards the back of the property.

Mengel Pass is a long and moderately difficult trail located in the Death Valley area. This Pass, is unpaved. It’s called Coyote Canyon Road. Road conditions are always changing. Experienced 4WD drivers only. Section over both sides of Mengel Pass is challenging, steep and rutted. Its harsh weather and terrain can be challenging, but its reward of solitude and spectacular scenery warrants the trip.

A unique geological feature created by the volcanic activity in the mountain range, along with meltwater from glaciers in the nearby Sierra Nevada.

Telescope Peak is the highest point within Death Valley National Park. From atop this desert mountain one can see for over one hundred miles in many directions, including west to Mount Whitney, and east to Charleston Peak. It is also notable for having one of the greatest vertical rises above local terrain of any mountain in the contiguous United States. Hiking Telescope Peak by the normal route involves a 14 miles round trip hike.

Rainbow Basin is a geological formation in the Calico Peaks range, located approximately 8 miles north of Barstow in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino. It has been designated a National Natural Landmark and is in the Bureau of Land Management. The basin is notable for: the fantastic and beautiful shapes of its rock formations: its fossil beds, which have provided scientists with valuable information about life during the middle Miocene epoch.

Inyo National Forest is a hidden gem waiting to be explored. With over two million acres of land, this forest is home to some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes in the state. From snow-capped mountains to lush green forests, Inyo has something for everyone. If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life or just looking for a weekend adventure, this forest is the perfect place. And let me tell you, the hiking trails here are not for the faint of heart.

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns would probably be one of the most visited attractions in Death Valley if they were not in such a remote location.The kilns were built 7 miles out on Wildrose Rd which is mostly paved with a well maintained gravel stretch at the end of this adventurous trip. These kilns produced charcoal for the Modock Mine smelter about 20 miles to the west.The kilns closed after only three years of use. This may be the best-preserved examples of charcoal kilns in the West.

Sidewinder Canyon is located at the base of the Black Mountains on the east side of Death Valley National Park south of Badwater Basin. The canyon is fairly wide with a gravel bottom and forty-foot stone walls on both side. The trailhead is unmarked and the trail only has occasional cairns along the way for guidance, creating a remote trek in a Death Valley canyon. The mouth of the canyon is difficult to spot from the trailhead. Begin hiking south toward the gravel fan exiting the canyon.

Wildrose Peak is located in the Panamint Range which serves as the western border to Death Valley National Park. Wildrose Peak is an excellent peak to climb in the summer when the heat of the valley is extreme.The 9,064-foot peak is about seven miles north of Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park at 11,049 feet. Wildrose sports an expansive view of the Panamint Mountains, Badwater Basin, and the surrounding desert landscape.

A beautiful waterfall of greenery located on the west edge of the Death Valley desert.The falls are located in a small, narrow valley near Panamint Valley. Access to the trail to Darwin Falls is a dirt road located on the south side of State Route 190, approximately .25 miles west of Panamint Springs. Darwin Falls and Creek are fed by the Darwin Wash, which is in turn fed by the volcanic tableland of the Darwin Bench between the Inyo Mountains and the Argus Range.

The Panamint Valley is a north-south, 65 mile long and 10 mile wide basin formed between the Argus and Slate ranges along the west, and the Panamint Range on the eastern side. The valley is approximately 65 miles in length, and is more than 10 miles wide in the Hall Canyon area.

Rainbow Canyon is a valley in Inyo County and has an elevation of 1854 feet. It is commonly used by the United States Air Force and Navy for fighter jet training and is frequented by photographers who, from the canyon rim, are able to photograph jets flying beneath them.

The Western America Railroad Museum is a fun visit if you are in Barstow. The Museum is dedicated to sharing the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest. It features both indoor and outdoor displays and is popular with railroad enthusiasts. Indoor displays include timetables, uniforms and other railroad memorabilia. Several locomotives and rail cars are located outside.

An endorheic basin noted as the lowest point in North America, with a depth of 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. Consisists of a small spring-fed pool of "bad water" next to the road in a sink; the accumulated salts of the surrounding basin make it undrinkable, thus giving it the name. Significant rainstorms flood the valley bottom periodically, covering the salt pan with a thin sheet of standing water. When the basin is flooded, some of the salt is dissolved; it is redeposited as clean crystals w

Aguereberry Point is a 6,300 foot peak, similar to Dantes View on the far side, 20 miles away in a direct line but 77 miles by road. Because of its westerly setting, this place is one of the best locations to photograph the valley in afternoon and around sunset. The promontory is actually 1,000 feet higher than the more famous Dante’s View vista point and provides a stunning 360 degree view of Death Valley.

Calico is a ghost town and former mining town in San Bernardino county. it was founded in 1881 as a silver mining town, and today has been converted into a county park named Calico Ghost Town.

Dante's View offers a dramatic panoramic view of Death Valley from a very brink of an edge. It is also an excellent venue for night time star viewing with telescopes.

Peggy Sue's is an original roadside Diner, built in 1954 with 9 counter stools and 3 booths. It sets in on the shadow of the Calico Mountains and was built from railroad ties and mortar from the nearby Union Pacific Rail yard.

Devils Golf Course is a scenic viewpoint in Inyo County. It is a large salt pan on the floor of the Death Valley, located in the Mojave Desert, within the Death Valley National Park in eastern California. Although its exact boundaries are poorly defined, it extends from the vicinity of the Ashford Mill site to the Salt Creek Hills, covering a distance of about 40 miles.

The Panamint Dunes are described as the least visited and most isolated series of sand dunes in Death Valley National Park. Getting to the dunes requires a little work, but your efforts are likely to be paid off by having the breathtaking area entirely to yourself! With epic views and ever-elusive solitude, backpacking to the the Panamint Sand Dunes is truly an unforgettable experience.