Trona Pinnacles Camp

The Trona Pinnacles are always a stunning and otherworldly place to camp—there’s truly nowhere else like it. The tufa formations look like something straight out of a movie set or a moon landing, and they never disappoint.

That said, road conditions are something to seriously consider, especially after rain. When we visited, recent rainfall made the dirt road leading to the pinnacles very rough in several spots. High clearance is absolutely required, and 4x4 is strongly recommended. We saw two trucks towing trailers that ended up camping earlier along the road because the conditions ahead were too poor to continue safely.

We were able to reach our campsite in a 4x4 Sprinter and definitely needed the four-wheel drive in a few sections. Because of the road conditions, it wasn’t surprising that we only saw two other vehicles camping far off in the distance, which made for a quiet and remote experience.

Despite the challenging access, the reward is worth it. The tufa formations are breathtaking, especially at sunrise and sunset, and the vast, open landscape feels completely unreal. If you’re properly equipped and prepared for rough roads, Trona Pinnacles offers a truly unforgettable dispersed camping experience.