Tom B.
Yelp
RIDGECREST, CA is a small city with a population of about 28,000. To the southwest is Red Rock Canyon State Park, located nearby on Route 14, and to the northeast is Trona Pinnacles, located nearby on Route 178. Red Rock Canyon has more things to see, and the astonishing "gothic cathedral" geologic formations can be found at the west edge of Route 14 and also at the east edge of Route 14.
COMPARISON WITH DEATH VALLEY. Death Valley National Park also has similar "gothic cathedral" geologic formations, and these are located at the end of Golden Canyon Trail, and this geological formation is called, "Red Cathedral." But the gothic cathedral formations at Red Rock Canyon are much, much, much, much better. During my three years in southern California, I made 6 trips to Death Valley, and soon found that the only interesting things (to me) were Mesquite Dunes and Badwater. Unfortunately, Red Rock Canyon State Park is unfairly under-appreciated. But on the plus side, you will not find hoards of mindless tourists tromping around (as is the case in Death Valley). Why do I say, "mindless"? Because they romp and frolic all over the western half of Mesquite Dunes, creating countless footprints and totally ruining any chance for landscape photography. Fortunately, this does not make my 8-hour drive to DVNP a total waste, because tourists almost never go to the eastern half of this dune field.
THE WEST SIDE OF ROUTE 14. The pay gate at Red Rock provides access to the camping area and to a little nature trail. But in the pay area, you will not find any of the glorious gothic cathedrals. To see the gothic cathedrals, you just park (for free) just inside of the west entrance, and you can look at the red-colored gothic cathedrals lining the dirt road, and then you can walk to the south and spend a couple of hours exploring a broad, shallow valley called HAGEN CANYON.
SIGHTS IN THE FREE PARKING AREA AT THE EAST SIDE OF ROUTE 14. At the east side Route 14 is a large parking area that is free. There are plenty of glorious and unusual stone formations within a five minute walk of the large parking area, and any person devoted to photography can easily spend an hour taking pictures in this area. In this area, I've used by 21 mm lens, 50 mm lens, and 300 mm lens, with my camera and a sturdy tripod. The 300 mm lens enables me to capture panoramic photographs of the red and gray-colored gothic cathedrals, but without having to tilt the camera upwards. I just stand 300 feet away from the gothic cathedrals, and the panoramic view looks more natural and not tilted.
OTHER SIGHTS AT THE EAST SIDE OF ROUTE 14. After you park, you can walk north along the edge of Route 14, and after ten minutes you will reach a huge clearing, and at the far north border of this huge flat clearing are many glorious gothic cathedrals, plus some Joshua trees suitable for jazzing up your photos.