Red Rock Canyon State Park (California)

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (April 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Red Rock Canyon State Park
Show map of California Show map of the United States
Location	Kern County, California, United States
Nearest city	Cantil, California
Coordinates	35°22′22.75″N 117°59′26.47″W / 35.3729861°N 117.9906861°W / 35.3729861; -117.9906861
Area	27,000 acres (110 km2)
Elevation	2,600 feet (790 m)
Established	1968
Governing body	California Department of Parks and Recreation

Red Rock Canyon State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of California which features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. The park consists of approximately 27,000 acres (110 km²) within the Mojave Sector of the Tehachapi District of the California State Park System, and is located along State Highway 14 in Kern County, about 80 miles (129 km) east of Bakersfield and 25 miles (40 km) north of Mojave, where the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada converges with the El Paso Mountains.

Each tributary canyon is unique, with vivid colors due to alternate layers of white clay and red sandstone, further accented by pink volcanic rocks and brown lava formations. The canyon was formed 3 million years ago.^[1] After wet winters, the park's floral displays are notable. Three overlapping desert ecosystems provide for the wildlife that includes eagles, falcons, roadrunners, hawks, coyotes, kit foxes, bobcats, lizards, mice and squirrels. Red Rock Canyon provides magnificent views of the pristine desert landscape, includes two natural preserves, and offers, among other recreational activities, camping, sightseeing, equestrian activities, hiking, and opportunities for solitude.