Red Rock Canyon State Park: California’s Secret Stretch of Desert
If you’re yearning to see some striking red rock formations but don’t feel like braving the crowds at popular National Parks like Zion, consider visiting Red Rock Canyon State Park in Cantil, California instead. California may be the most populated state in the US, but there are still a few hidden natural wonders that don’t attract throngs of visitors. Red Rock Canyon State Park is small yet stunning.
Located roughly 2 hours away from bustling Los Angeles, remote Red Rock Canyon State Park offers visitors a serene sense of peace and quiet. Stately red, white, and orange rock formations create a sense of seclusion. Red Rock Canyon State Park features several trails which offer a scenic view of the rust-colored desert landscape which is lined with spiky Joshua trees.
The beauty of Red Rock Canyon State Park is that it still appears fairly rustic and untouched. There are few facilities, signs, and others markers of modern civilization inside of the park. If you hike the Red Cliffs Trail, you will most likely not spot many other people. It is not surprising that several classic movies and TV shows have been filmed in the area, including the 1932 movie The Mummy, and a few notable episodes of the original Twilight Zone.
Red Rock Canyon State Park is home to a small campsite. Visitors can camp in the shadow of an enormous pilar of red rock. Be warned that there are no showers. If you’re willing to bring your own supplies and rough it under the stars, a night spent camping at Red Rock Canyon State Park will truly transport you back to the Old West.
The town of Cantil—which is Spanish for stone cliff—neighbors an eerie ghost town called Saltdale. In the early 20th century, Saltdale was home to a thriving salt extraction business. By the mid-20th century, Saltdale fell on hard times and workers began to abandon the small desert town. Surveying the desolate remnants of Saltdale after spending a day exploring the uncanny rock formations of Red Rock Canyon State Park will leave you with a solid appreciation of the Mojave Desert’s vivid sense of mystery.
Red Rock Canyon State Park should top your list of places to visit if you’re searching for some true desert solitude. Parts of the Mojave Desert have become super sleek tourist magnets, but Red Rock Canyon State Park remains relatively pristine and unspoiled by crowds.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Red Rock Canyon State Park visitor entrance, Highway 14 near Abbott Drive, Cantil, California, USA
- Coordinates
- 35.361109, -117.979882
- Access
- Day-use entry is by Highway 14 and Abbott Drive. Dogs are allowed in picnic areas, campground and primitive roads, but not on trails. Bring extra water and watch for posted trail/road closures. Nightmare Gulch is closed to all entry February–June; July–January access is on foot or horseback only, and vehicle entry remains temporarily closed.
- Admission
- Day-use parking: $6 per vehicle; senior $5; eligible disabled rate $3. Campground fees are separate.
- Best season
- California State Parks says moderate temperatures in spring and autumn make those seasons favored by most campers; after wet winters, the park’s floral displays can be especially striking. Wildflower timing and abundance vary with rainfall and weather, and this is camping guidance rather than a guarantee for all activities.
- Opening hours
- Day use sunrise–sunset; campground open 24 hours
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-30
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