Tehachapi & Red Rock Canyon State Park

Red Rock Cliff in Red Rock Canyon State Park

It has been a while since I updated my travel blog. My travels continue, but an extra wet winter severely limited my trips to local spots already covered in previous posts. I finally had a chance to take some vacation and head to the desert for some photography and nature. First stop was to cross the Tehachapi Pass and pass through Red Rock Canyon State Park towards Death Valley.

Affogato from Moo Creamery

Anyone driving through central California has passed through Bakersfield and Tehachapi at least once. Highway 58 connects Barstow with the Pacific Coast, but is mostly used to cross the mountains between the San Joaquin Valley and the Mojave Desert. Bakersfield is a usual pit stop on the way since most travelers arrive here around lunchtime. My favorite place is Moo Creamery which is a modern soda fountain serving burgers and ice cream that is worth the drive. They were out of their iconic Bacon Love ice cream, but settling for their massive affogato may be my new favorite. Hopefully the new High Speed Rail will include a branch!

Burial Site of Cesar Chavez and Wife

As you climb out of Bakersfield, you quickly change from farm lands to mountain chaparral. Highway 58 is a freeway during most of this section, but exiting in Keene allows you to visit the Cesar Chavez National Monument and Tehachapi Loop. The Cesar Chavez National Monument honors the legacy of Chavez with a museum and garden including the burial grounds. Cesar played an important role advocating for human rights in the agricultural industry, and even today the monument holds naturalization ceremonies on March 31 in honor of the state holiday.

Tehachapi Loop

Before the highway, most of the traffic over the pass was done by rail. The Tehachapi Loop is an engineering landmark in which trains climb up the grade in a large loop. The train passes over itself in a unique and very photogenic way. Most of the route is still single track, and most freight rail now passes through Los Angeles, but there are still several trains that use this track. I was very fortunate to catch a train at the right time for a great shot.

Tehachapi Pastry at Red Rock Canyon

Taking the long and winding road into the town of Tehachapi takes a bit longer but really shows off the beauty of the pass. After hitting the monument and loop, the road drops you into the valley where you can stop at the famous Kohnen's Country Bakery for fresh pastries and bread or just stare at the many wind turbines using the abundant - and somewhat annoying - wind to provide clean electricity for the state. Tehachapi is a popular stop for locals and a nice place to pick up some treats for the rest of your journey. I snagged a delicious raspberry danish for an afternoon treat.

Red Rock Canyon State Park

Living near Sedona, I am used to spectacular red sandstone cliffs and canyons. Red Rock Canyon State Park is a much smaller, but still beautiful version between Mojave and Ridgecrest. Most of the desert southwestern United States was under the same large sea, so many of the formations are similar across the region. There are several picnic areas with spectacular views, but the best time to visit the park is in the morning hours when the light is shining directly on the walls. Fortunately, most of the features are close to the road making it easy to stop and enjoy.

Prime Rib Dinner in Ridgecrest

The end of my day's journey was in the city of Ridgecrest, CA. This is the largest city near Death Valley and is often used as a base camp for visitors - even though the park is 2 hours away. The city is surrounded by military bases and is home to a lot of active and retired personnel. For me, it was a nice hotel room, a great hot tub, and a perfect prime rib dinner before heading to the middle of nowhere to visit Death Valley. Please enjoy the rest of my photos below.

Cesar Chavez National Monument Entrance

Red Rock Canyon State Park

New Highway Rest Stop near Bakersfield, CA