Why Ridgecrest
Ridgecrest is a city in northeastern Kern County, California, situated along U.S. Route 395 in the Indian Wells Valley. It is surrounded by four distinct mountain ranges: the Sierra Nevada to the west, the Coso Range to the north, the Argus Range to the east, and the El Paso Mountains to the south. Geographically, the valley forms a southern extension of Owens Valley, separated by the volcanic Coso Range. Located adjacent to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Ridgecrest serves as the central residential and commercial hub for the base and high-tech defense testing programs, which provide the majority of local employment.
The history of the region traces back to Indigenous tribes, including the Paiute, Shoshone, and Kawaiisu, who inhabited the valley and created thousands of petroglyphs depicting wildlife such as bighorn sheep, deer, and antelope. Mid-nineteenth-century trappers and explorers opened routes through the area, followed by mining activity and Chinese railroad workers in the 1880s, after whom China Lake was named. The permanent settlement originated as a farming community named Crumville in 1912, gaining stability through the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and the founding of the Naval Ordnance Test Station in 1943. Ridgecrest formally incorporated as a city in 1963.
Visitors to Ridgecrest can explore the area's rich cultural and natural heritage at the Maturango Museum, which showcases exhibits on Northern Mojave Desert flora, fauna, geology, and Native American artifacts. The museum also conducts guided tours to Little Petroglyph Canyon within the Coso Rock Art District, a designated National Historic Landmark containing over 20,000 historic petroglyphs. The city also hosts the annual Ridgecrest Petroglyph Festival to celebrate this ancient rock art and Native culture.
Set in a high desert environment, Ridgecrest experiences arid conditions, low annual rainfall averaging under five inches, hot summers, and cool winter nights. Temperatures vary widely throughout the year, with July peak daytime temperatures routinely exceeding 100 °F (38 °C) and winter minimums dropping to freezing in December. As the most isolated urban center in Kern County, Ridgecrest is located about 82 miles from Lancaster and Palmdale, 110 miles from Bakersfield, and 120 miles from San Bernardino. General aviation is accommodated through the local Inyokern Airport, though there are no scheduled commercial flights.
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