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Strolling in the desert

Motel 6 Ridgecrest, CA -China Lake

Filet and lobster were both cooked perfectly with very good flavor. Server was attentive and polite. Oysters were fresh and good quality. Fairly priced.

Every staff member I met was absolutely great. Very helpful and courteous. From the hostess that greeted me to the person taking my order and even the bartender was extremely friendly. This was on a fairly busy night as well.
The food was on point. My steak had a perfect, exactly the temperature I asked for.
They have excellent, homemade mashed potatoes and even the salad was perfect and crispy.
I will definitely be visiting again.

What stood out the most to me was the quality in each item. Everything is cooked the way it is supposed to be and it shows; baked potato that is easy to pull apart, fries that are golden with the perfect texture as well as a steak that was cooked to my preference & seasoned appropriately. The margarita was very well balanced with enough alcohol to get you a little tipsy. Combined with an extremely friendly staff, I will definitely be coming back here again!

Ale's Steakhouse & Bar

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Being 5 miles offroad the main route, it's never overcrowded and the atmosphere is really magic. 

We didn't plan to detour of the highway but glad we did. It was early March and we had the place to our selves. One other car in the car park and an RV in the far distance. Loved it.

Absolutely loved it here, was on a four-wheeler, if you have a Tesla charge up. The road was a little bumping but doable. A lot of dust as you drive. The area is huge so we just found a place away from everyone, there are people riding dune buggies but very quiet at night. When you are at the campground there is no service amazing place to stargaze! Highly recommend it if you need a place to stay the night, camp out and stargaze, or roast some marshmallows!

One of my favorite places to visit, especially during a full moon. Bring plenty of photo space, it’s beautiful. Any vehicle can make the trip as long as there hasn’t been any recent rains. Otherwise use mud whomping vehicle. Dirt road lots of bumps, it’s a Wash Board PATH TO PINNACLES.

1st time advice. There are no maps or assigned route once you venture off the 178.
Go during day light hours.

No.143, skinny road signage, is the main route to Pinnacles and back to 178. There are more numbered signs once you arrive and trip around the many roads, but 178 will always get you back to where you started.

Heading there from Ridgecrest, you will see a sign posted stating Trona Pinnacles on right.
Dirt entrance will take you past 2 cement landmark markers with info.
Drive down the washboard dirt road and
Turn Right @ 1st Fork in road, not left!
You should see trains, at your left till you cross over tracks and again, that train should be on your left, if not you accidentally turned left at 1st fork…go back!
4ish miles till next sign stating “Trona Pinnacles Natl Land”
60+feet till 1st Cluster of Info Signage at the over-look, go left after those and keep the ledge close to your right as you drive for a minute or two.
Look for a row of rocks that lead you down the hill. This will take you past another cluster of Info signs like you just saw above.

You’ve just entered into the valley of the Pinnacles…Welcome, yay!

Drive past that 2nd cluster of Signs and make a Right, not left, at the next fork…

Bathroom
Park here if you want, sign-in for BLM Rangers if you wish and don’t forget to check out the cave across from the bathroom, foot access only.

Use the bathroom as a visual land marker for remembering where that hill (cluster of signs) is to get back up and out of the valley again.

It’s breath taking beautiful!

NO CELL PHONE SERVICE/WATER/ELECTRIC/LIGHTS, TRASH OR GAS. BE KIND,LEAVE NO TRACE OF YOUR VISIT BEHIND. Take it all out of the desert Protect wildlife. #BOONDOCKING #OFFHIGHWAY  #WILDLANDSCAPE  #NOSHADE #NOPICNICTABLES  #BIRDS #COYOTES #JACKRABBITS #DESERTTORTOISE #WASHBOARDDIRTROAD

Pinnacles all look the same after a bit so getting lost is Easy.
Seriously use video footage to record self-made rock formation designs at cross roads to avoid walking in circles.
Been here a hundred times and still manage to get lost during black moons, fog and cloudy nights when I can’t see the stars.

It still looks like it did a million years ago. Minus the Public Toilet Building.
Check out my “Public Toilet” for nicer photos of the pinnacles around the…Public Toilet lol.

I love it!

Trona Pinnacles

What an incredible place! The lunar landscape, the colors, the sand dunes and the extreme climate make this place an unforgettable experience. Drive to Water Basin, the lower point which is -83m under the sea level, and then to Zabriskie Point for a majestic view of the whole valley.

When you cross the desert road for a long time, all you see are the ever-changing clods and stones, and some simple vegetation, but when you stand on the top of the mountain and have a bird's eye view of the peaks with gullies  , I suddenly felt amazing, and the fatigue of crossing the desert disappeared completely. It is really worth visiting here, and you can also experience the wonders of nature on foot at the bottom of the valley!

This place lives up to it’s reputation of being the hottest place on the earth. mind blowing landscapes and great hiking, driving and biking activities in the park. Each viewpoint has a different terrain and interesting patterns. Must visit park even if you’re not into Hiking. You can drive around the park from one spot to the other to enjoy great views. Kids and pet friendly trails. Don’t forget to bring as much water while visiting. The Furnace creek visitor center is easily accessible and has bathrooms, water and a gift shop inside.

Such a beautiful place.   So much to do and see for any level of activity.   You can see so much from your car. You can get out and take a nice short path.  You can hike a few miles. Best of all you can take your shoes off walk across the sand or boulders and connect with life.
Highly recommended

Motel 6 Ridgecrest, CA -China Lake

Claude

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