Fossil Falls

Super cool volcanic rock formations. You can still find lava. This is an ancient area and weather has changed its face continuously. It's BLM protected land so don't take any fossils you find. I recommend going when it's sunny, and not too windy as it really whips through this valley. If you plan on trying to climb then have someone with you. Wear the right shoes, hand grips and what not. You can't legally climb so maybe you aren't a dumb dumb and you don't so you don't fall down and go boom boom. Stay safe. Enjoy, respect the nature by taking whatever you brought in back out again. Don't ruin it with graffiti or trash. Stay beautiful.Desert Safety PSA: And for the love of God stay away from the desert if you don't know where you're at. There are old mine shafts out there from digging. Some covered - a lot not. They are deep. People have died falling not paying attention because who expects a friggin narrow but super deep hole to be there all random like? I'm talking miles and miles from streets and cities you may see one. DONT GET CLOSE TO LOOK! You can fall by slipping on the now uneven earth around it. You fall down. Your head goes boom. And then you don't come out alive. So stay out and stay on the trails.

A neat little spot to stop off and explore while driving down highway 395. Fossil Falls is a unique rock formation that was created by volcanic activity in the Sierras along with melting water from glaciers. These activities were said to have taken place between 10,000-20,000 years ago! That's a long time in the making. Getting to the entrance of the trailhead requires that you drive down a dirt road for a few miles, but it's not too long of a drive. Once you reach the parking lot, they'll be a sign with some information posted on the trail and a few restrooms on site. The "trail" isn't clearly marked but it's hard to get lost here. You'll basically be walking through desert foliage until you reach Fossil Falls. You'll know that you've reached it because there's a literal split right in between the rocks. The geological features are so interesting and the mountainous backdrop makes for some seriously stunning viewpoints. I saw a few campsites nearby so apparently people camp here (there are no amenities nearby though). Although the trail is pretty short, it's super rocky and rough on your feet. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes with good traction. Also, it can get extremely hot during the middle of the day and also very windy if you're coming when the sun is going down, so dress accordingly. All in all, it's a great place to stop for some exploring and to take a break from the road. It's a really neat geological landmark that more people should know about in my opinion.

Located only a stone's throw (pun intended) off the 395, you'll find hoards of volcanic rock in the middle of nowhere.Directions: Take the exit for Fossil Falls off the 395 and follow signs. You'll enter a dirt road. Proceed VERY slowly as the dips and park in the lot. Prior to the lot there will be a fork, take a right to the lot. From there you'll have a very short hike on foot. If you're bringing a pet, follow the path and watch their feet. Tips: -Wear hiking shoes with lots of grip. Do not attempt this in tennis/running shoes. -If you like repelling, have the proper equipment. -Don't do this at night-Expect little rocks to hit your car on the dirt road-If you try to go down the rocks, you may or may not have grip. Be careful. -If you fall you're done for, so this is all at your risk. -Look out for holes which may have small vermin or snakes. Don't mess with nature when it comes to this aspect. On the other hand, look out for small creatures. They can be hidden in plain sight (see photo).Have fun checking out the two or more falls, and the amazing landscape the ancient volcanic eruption laid out. You'll find it to be a few minutes walk through one of two paths, which basically form a loop to the falls. Take a moment to appreciate what caused the smooth rock from the ones with holes, and attempt to surmise what these formations have gone though in their existence. It's an amazing and undervalued place. I would definitely be back just to check it out on a drive down Highway 395.

Yes! Perfect stop along the 395 to break up the drive & see some trippy geological history. Fossil Falls is a string of crazy rock formations made 440,000 years ago through a period of very active volcanism & melting glacial ice.Ancient Native American tribes also had a thriving community here about 12,000 years ago, so keep your eyes peeled for some obsidian flakes & metates.The Yelp address is accurate, and there's a sizable parking lot right at the trailhead. It's a short & mostly easy walk to the dry falls & back.We stayed less than an hour, but there's also primitive campsites available for $5 with restrooms & water.We dropped in around New Years - it's chilly so wear a jacket! You'll want to climb the rocks a bit too, so skip the sandals & wear something sturdier.**TIP FOR THE ANIMAL LOVER** The landscape looks pretty barren, but keep an eye out for tiny cute squirrels and huge fast jackrabbits.

My husband and I decided to stop by after seeing the Fossil Falls sign on highway 395 during past Mammoth road trips. There are no waterfalls, but they were around thousands of years ago. There's cool rock formations from old volcanos that looked so different from the typical California landscape. From the parking lot, you don't have to walk too far to see the volcanic rocks or what's left of the river and waterfalls. Although it's not a must see nature landmark, it's cool if you want a quick rest stop when you are road tripping.

If you're headed up to Bishop and it's still daylight, rather than stopping at the bland rest stop a couple of miles up ahead, visit Fossil Falls. There's a good-sized parking lot, a pit toilet (bring your own wet wipes and antibacterial gel for hand washing), and beautiful views in every direction. If you have the time to go on a very short hike, you'll be rewarded by seeing some amazing lava formations. I've seen lots of people mention how clear the trails are marked and that might be the case if you're someone with hiking experience. As a nearsighted middle-aged lady whose hiking experience consists mainly of glorified walks, I had about 80% confidence I was on the trail heading to the falls but when I turned around to head back to the parking lot, I couldn't find the trail at all. It was as if all signs of it had vanished. At that point, I started imagining myself falling into a ravine and having to saw off a limb with a pocket knife like the guy from that movie or having search and rescue find my body ten feet from my vehicle and then winning a Darwin Award. Obviously I did find my way back to the parking lot but I wanted to mention this so no one gets overconfident and bounds off into a lava field with improper shoes, no water, etc.The road leading to the Falls did become dirt/gravel but it was well maintained and my Jeep had no issues with it though I think a lower vehicle would have been fine as well. I was the only person there when I arrived and when I left there was a couple pulling up in a truck so it's a very quiet, serene, low traffic spot. I'd definitely recommend checking out Fossil Falls to anyone headed up or down highway 395.

A very unique stop. As you drive on Hwy 395 pay attention to the cinder cone aka Cinder Hill, once you're really close you will notice turn for the falls. I found sign to be properly displayed and visible on both sides of the hwy. After the short ride you will arrive to the parking lot with a restroom. At the end of the parking lot there is an info about the area itself and the creation of the falls. To sum it up..basalt lava from the volcanic field and cinder hill (you passed by on your turn towards the falls) during the eruption between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago mixed with some water from the river passing through the valley formed these gorgeous polished rocks of extinguished shape. Due to the shape they were named fossil, and due to some water that sometimes can be seen slowly flowing they were named fossil falls. Anyway, 10 min walk on a marked path (look for yellow markings, somewhat washed out) and to your right you'll notice shine black stones. We walked around for 10-15 min and decided to climb down. It wasn't very hard since rocks were dry, but still wouldn't recommend it if you have any joint issues. I'm happy we got to visit them, I found it to be very distinct geological feature.

If you are driving north on the 395 from Los Angeles, the entrance will be on your right. But keep an eye out because it's very easy for your to miss the sign indicating that you should exit very soon. Best to put this place in your navigation so that you won't miss it.After the turn of from 395, you will be driving on a short paved road that will eventually be unpaved for about 1 mile. It wasn't too rough on my car though. There is a small parking lot with 2 picnic tables on opposite ends of each other with a camping style fire ring. So if you want to have a picnic and bbq, you could. Or you could come out here and enjoy the night sky by a bonfire. There is also a vaulted toilet that, surprisingly, didn't smell bad at all considering the heat was in the 100's. Right off of the parking lot, you will see some information about the area. Follow that trail to the first sign pointing to the falls in .21 mile. You will notice that it's pointing straight ahead, but don't follow that as I don't think it's a real trail. There is a trail to the right that will loop around and a lot more feet friendly. Even though the walk is pretty short, it's still a good idea to bring some water with you if you are here in the summer time. Once at the falls, be super careful as the rocks are smooth and if it's wet, it can get very slippery and you can fall down.It's so amazing how all of this if formed from lava flows. And you can even climb down into the canyon. Very unique and I don't know where else you can find something like this.

We enjoyed our short visit and hike to Fossil Falls. Just a quick 1-2 miles off the road on the way to Bishop. RVers beware: it is a dirt road and not rv friendly. If you are towing do not take the exit and attempt this. We ended up unhooking our tow vehicle and driving down the dirt road in our Jeep. It was a bit stressful, however the experience was worth it and we enjoyed the unique rock formations and the view.

We were here 4 years ago on our way to Mammoth, and it is a hidden gem. We couldn't remember where it was exactly and found a small sign leading us to it. Glad we could stop by on our way home."The Fossil Falls is a unique geological feature, located in the Coso Range of California in the United States. Volcanic activity in the mountain range, along with meltwater from glaciers in the nearby Sierra Nevada, played a role in the creation of the falls. They are located near the community of Little Lake, 1.0 mi (1.6 km) off US 395 (at a red cinder cone called "Red Hill") on Cinder Road to Red Hill, with signs to Fossil Falls.[3][4"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_Falls