Featured Highlights:

TRONA PINNACLES
The Trona Pinnacles are some of the most unique geological features in the California desert Conservation area. The unusual landscape consists of more than 500 tufa spires, some as high as 140 feet, rising from the bed of the Searles Dry Lake basin. The pinnacles vary in size and shape, from short and squat, to tall and thin, and are composed primarily of calcium carbonate (tufa). The Trona Pinnacles have been featured in many commercials, films, and still-photo shoots.

MATURANGO MUSEUM
The Maturango Museum is a museum of the cultural history, natural history and geology of the Northern Mojave Desert, emphasizing Indian Wells Valley.

178 Corridor Highlights

World Class White Water Rafting (Class V's) Wild & Scenic - Ken North Fork

Greatest Number of Planet's Largest Trees - Giant Sequoia National Monument

Highest Plant Diversity (2000+species) - Southern Sierra Nevada

Tallest Mountain in Lower 48 States (14,494 feet) - Mt. Whitney

Lowest Elevation in Western Hemisphere - Badwater, Death Valley

Hottest Temperature - 134 ever recorded - (1913) Furnace Creek, Death Valley

Longest Trail - (2,625 miles, Mexico to Canada) - Pacific Crest Trail

Greatest Elevation Change - Badwater - Telescope Peak

Greatest Variety of Sport Fishing in California - Kern River & Lake Isabella

World's Most Beautiful Fish - Golden Trout, Wild & Scenic - Kearn South Fork

World Class Rock Climbing - Among Earth's Best - Kern River Canyon

Most Dry Lakes - Owens, Searles, China, Panamint, and Lake Manly

Biggest Beach (just kidding!)

Largest Fresh Water Lake in Southern California - Lake Isabella

Best Windsurfing - Lake Isabella

Largest Cottonwood & Willow Riparian Forest in California - Lake Isabella

Best Joshua Tree Forest - Walker Pass Area

World's Largest Red Willow Tree - Audubon's Kern River Preserve

Oldest Store in California - Onyx General Store (1851)

World Class Birding - Globally Important Bird Area - Kern River Valley

Over 300 Bird Species Recorded - Kern River Valley

Greatest Number Nesting Bird Species (200) - Kern River Valley

World Class Butterfly Spot - Kern River Valley

Steepest Highway - Wofford Heights to Greenhorn Summit via CA Hwy. 155 (3500' in 8 miles!)

Steepest Road Grade - Town Pass (elev. 5000') 3625' at average 8% grade

Earth's Oldest Living Plant - Walker Pass Creosote Rings off Hwy. 178 at Hwy. 14

5 Top Birding Spots in the U.S. - All Accessed from 178 Corridor

Highest Mammal Diversity (115 species) in U.S./Canada - Souther Sierra Nevada

China Lake Naval Weapons Museum - China Lake

4th Largest Burro Adoption Facility in the U.S. - BLM Wild Horse & Burro Adoption Facility - Ridgecrest

Largest Public Gem and Mineral Collection - Trona Gem-O-Rama

Lowest Golf Course in the World - Death Valley

Greatest Concentration of Petroglyphs (14,000) - China Lake's Coso Range

Sunniest Spot in the U.S. - Inyoken

Only Place Where Five Major Bio-Regions Meet & Mix - Kern River Watershed. Sierran, Mohave Desert, Great Basin, California Chaparral and Central Valley Grasslands.

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