Red Rock Canyon State Park
Also known as Red Rock Canyon SP
- Status
- Open (per official listing)Open 24 hours
- Entrance fee
- $6 per dayAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- Not requiredCan reach capacity
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed, with restrictions
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.ca.gov(661) 946-6092
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
Red Rock Canyon State Park is a 25,350-acre park in Kern County, about 16 miles northwest of California City.
Popular activities here are off-highway vehicle riding, horseback riding, historic sites, ranger programs, and wildlife watching. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites and tent sites.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park | Daily | sunrise – sunset | — |
Official wording
The park is open from sunrise to sunset for day use. The campground is open 24 hours.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Regular Day Use | $6 |
| Senior Day Use | $5 |
| Disabled Day Use | $3 |
| Small Bus (9-24 Passengers) | $50 |
| Large Bus (25+ Passengers) | $100 |
Official wording
Special rates may apply for peak season, high demand holiday periods, and during weekends. Prices are subject to change without notice. • Regular Day Use: $6.00 • Senior Day Use: $5.00 • Disabled Day Use: $3.00 • Small Bus (9-24 Passengers): $50.00 • Large Bus (25+ Passengers): $100.00
California park passes
- California Explorer Annual Pass — $195. Vehicle day-use entry to 134 state parks incl. high-demand Southern California beaches Details
- Golden Poppy Annual Pass — $125. Vehicle day-use entry to 112 state parks Details
- Historian Passport — $50. Admission for up to four people at per-person-fee State Historic Parks Details
- Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Annual Pass — $50. Entry to State Vehicular Recreation Areas that collect day-use fees Details
- SNO-Park Pass — $40 season / $15 day. 18 SNO-PARK winter recreation areas Details
From the California state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- Not required
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveCalifornia
- Phone
- (800) 444-7275
Shaded picnic tables are available on a first-come, first served basis in the day-use area adjacent to the Visitor Center.
Camping is first-come, first served; there is no reservation system.
The campground can fill up on weekends in the spring and fall, especially if the weather is nice or on holiday weekends, so arriving on a Thursday evening or Friday morning is recommended.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed, with restrictions
Not allowed in or on: trails.
Are dogs allowed? Yes: Dogs allowed only in picnic area, campground, and primitive roads. Dogs not allowed on trails.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Camping
Camping is available in developed campsites only in the Ricardo Campground. The campground is tucked against the base of dramatic desert cliffs, with 50 primitive campsites, potable water, pit toilets, fire rings, and tables. Bring your own firewood, or purchase it at the visitor center. There are no RV hook-ups or showers. A maximum of 8 people are allowed per site (there are no group sites).
Camping is first-come, first served; there is no reservation system. The campground can fill up on weekends in the spring and fall, especially if the weather is nice or on holiday weekends, so arriving on a Thursday evening or Friday morning is recommended.
Camping is $25 per night per site, which includes parking for one vehicle per site, or $23 per night for seniors (62 years old or older). Additional vehicles are $6 each. There is a 30 foot maximum for RVs. Self-registration/payment is required before setting up camp or parking. Vehicles (including OHV) must be parked within the rock lined areas provided at each campsite. No horses or livestock are allowed in the campground. Quiet hours are 10 pm to 6 am; generators must be off from 8 pm to 10 am.
Read more from the park
Ricardo Campground Map
Horses are allowed on all roads in the park, with the exception of seasonally closed areas (see side bar). Horses are not allowed in the campgrounds, however equestrian day use from the Red Cliffs parking area is still allowed, but no overnight camping in the Red Cliffs day-use area.
Overnight facilities: En route Campsites, Tent Camping, Remote Camping, RV Access
Max trailer: 30 feet
Max camper/motorhome: 30 feet
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Historic sites and toursPicnickingRanger and interpretive programsOff-highway vehiclesWildlife viewing and birdingGeocachingHikingHorseback ridingCamping
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Parking
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
Overview
Red Rock Canyon State Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes, spectacular rock formations and protects significant paleontology sites and the remains of a 1890s-era mining operations. Located 25 miles northeast of Mojave on Highway 14, phone (661) 942-6092 for more information.
Camping
The Ricardo Campground has 4 accessible campsites: #1, #2, #6, and #45. Sites #1 and #2 have a shade Ramada over the picnic table. The restrooms near the accessible campsites are accessible. Please note that the route to the restrooms from campsite #45 utilizes the campground road. Linear and cross slopes in the road may be difficult for some users with mobility limitations.
Parking: The parking lot at the Visitor Center includes two van accessible spaces that visitors with disabilities may use while they are staying in the campground or touring the Visitor Center. The routes of travel from campsites to restrooms to parking are usable in dry weather.
Read more from the park
Picnic Area
The Red Cliffs day use area has 2 accessible picnic sites and an accessible restroom.
Exhibits/Programs
Campfire Center: There are 3 open spaces designated for wheelchair seating. Nearby parking is accessible, but assistance may be needed with slopes on the path of travel from parking to the campfire center.
The Red Rock Visitor Center entry door may require some assistance. The patio surrounding the visitor center is extended and accessible. Exterior restrooms are generally accessible and accessible parking is available.
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Getting there
- Address
- Abbott Dr
Cantil, CA 93519 - Nearest town
- California City — about 16 mi northwest (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 35.3611, -117.9799
- Phone
- (661) 946-6092
Entrances
- Directions point
Google Maps directionsApple MapsOfficial park map (PDF)
Directions from the park
The park is 25 miles northeast of Mojave on Highway 14.
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- California State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- California State Parks Listing page (one link per unit, page_id = officialId), unioned with the CSP Enterprise GIS 'ParkEntryPoints' ArcGIS layer (coords, address, county, unit number, management status) and the 'CSPParkUnit_CurrentStatus' layer (open/partial/full closure)
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: California - Red Rock Canyon - NARA - 23934961.jpg — Public domain (US federal government work), Unknown author Unknown author or not provided
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology