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. Click to visit Maturango Museum online

U.S. NAVAL MUSEUM OF ARMAMENT & TECHNOLOGY

Through displays and education, the Museum explains to the public the extraordinary heritage of the Navy's achievements in air warfare and other areas, with a pecial focus on China Lake and its military-civilian-industry teamwork, which has continued to lead the nation's defense and technological excellence for nearly six decades. To view more information, go to www.chinalakemuseum.org

178 Corridor Highlights

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1. World Class White Water Rafting (Class V's) Wild & Scenic - Ken North Fork
2. Greatest Number of Planet's Largest Trees - Giant Sequoia National Monument
3. Highest Plant Diversity (2000+species) - Southern Sierra Nevada
4. Tallest Mountain in Lower 48 States (14,494 feet) - Mt. Whitney
5. Lowest Elevation in Western Hemisphere - Badwater, Death Valley
6. Hottest Temperature - 134 ever recorded - (1913) Furnace Creek, Death Valley
7. Longest Trail - (2,625 miles, Mexico to Canada) - Pacific Crest Trail
8. Greatest Elevation Change - Badwater - Telescope Peak
9. Greatest Variety of Sport Fishing in California - Kern River & Lake Isabella
10. World's Most Beautiful Fish - Golden Trout, Wild & Scenic - Kearn South Fork
11. World Class Rock Climbing - Among Earth's Best - Kern River Canyon
12. Most Dry Lakes - Owens, Searles, China, Panamint, and Lake Manly
13. Biggest Beach (just kidding!)
14. Largest Fresh Water Lake in Southern California - Lake Isabella
15. Best Windsurfing - Lake Isabella
16. Largest Cottonwood & Willow Riparian Forest in California - Lake Isabella
17. Best Joshua Tree Forest - Walker Pass Area
18. World's Largest Red Willow Tree - Audubon's Kern River Preserve
19. Oldest Store in California - Onyx General Store (1851)
20. World Class Birding - Globally Important Bird Area - Kern River Valley
21. Over 300 Bird Species Recorded - Kern River Valley
22. Greatest Number Nesting Bird Species (200) - Kern River Valley
23. World Class Butterfly Spot - Kern River Valley
24. Steepest Highway - Wofford Heights to Greenhorn Summit via CA Hwy. 155 (3500' in 8 miles!)
25. Steepest Road Grade - Town Pass (elev. 5000') 3625' at average 8% grade
26. Earth's Oldest Living Plant - Walker Pass Creosote Rings off Hwy. 178 at Hwy. 14
27. 5 Top Birding Spots in the U.S. - All Accessed from 178 Corridor
28. Highest Mammal Diversity (115 species) in U.S./Canada - Souther Sierra Nevada
29. China Lake Naval Weapons Museum - China Lake
30. 4th Largest Burro Adoption Facility in the U.S. - BLM Wild Horse & Burro Adoption Facility - Ridgecrest
31. Largest Public Gem and Mineral Collection - Trona Gem-O-Rama
32. Lowest Golf Course in the World - Death Valley
33. Greatest Concentration of Petroglyphs (14,000) - China Lake's Coso Range
34. Sunniest Spot in the U.S. - Inyoken
35. Only Place Where Five Major Bio-Regions Meet & Mix - Kern River Watershed. Sierran, Mohave Desert, Great Basin, California Chaparral and Central Valley Grasslands.