Details
Features
About this place
Expect neither fossils nor a waterfall, but instead a geologic remnant of the last ice age. Fossil Falls is a basalt chasm carved into the otherwise flat desert landscape.
Fossil Falls is located east of Highway 395, a few miles south of Coso Junction, 45 min north of Ridgecrest. There is Bureau of Land Management sign pointing the way, but it is small, faded, and easy to miss, so be on the lookout.
After about a mile drive on a marked dirt road, you'll reach the small parking lot, bathrooms, and the trailhead.
The Falls are about a half-mile (round-trip) hike from the parking lot. The trail is well worn and marked with orange blazes. It is flat, but rugged.
Fossil Falls is what is left behind from when a long-ago waterfall met a long-ago lava flow. The polished basalt and obsidian formations and chasm stand in stark contrast to the surrounding desert landscape.
The Falls are fun to explore, but be sure to wear shoes with good traction. The polished rocks are smooth and slippery.
A few basic camp sites are available near the parking lot.
Leave No Trace
