Exploration of the Hagen Discovery Trail | Red Rock Canyon State Park | Cantil, California

Once known as "the canyon with rocks on fire", Red Rock Canyon State Park is a worthy stop for day hikes, camping, and stargazing. Located just off California 14, this geological wonderland is accessible to all who pass by.
▬▬ C A C T U S A T L A S . C O M ▬▬
⚪ Read our review - cactusatlas.com/adventures/re...
⚪ Get more information - cactusatlas.com/information/r...
Red Rock Canyon, located in the El Paso Mountains of California, has been a natural pass for generations, attracting Native Americans and wagon caravans to local springs and its natural beauty. Even further back in history, evidence of prehistoric animals such as mammoths, bison, and mastodons have been found in the area. The Kawaiisu tribe referred to the land as “the canyon with rocks on fire”.
A German immigrant by the name of Rudolph Hagen moved into the canyon in 1895. Hagen quickly set out mining claims and water rights to gold mining operations in the area and established a community named Ricardo, after his son.
Hagen acquired much of the land and created a map of the area, naming many of the unique features he found. As the route through the El Paso Mountains from Bishop to Los Angeles became paved and tourism out west expanded, many found interest in the landscape of Red Rock Canyon and used the map Hagen created for exploration.
Eventually, by 1969, the Hagen family turned over the land to become part of the state park system in order to preserve the land and prevent further damage.
Today the park offers plentiful hiking, camping, and views of spectacular rock formations. One of the easiest trails to experience is the Hagen Discovery Trail.
Some of the more well-known formations are the Turk’s Turban, a rock with what appears to be a red cap on top, Camel Rock, named for the animal it resembles, and Window Rock, a wall of rock with a hole perfect for photo opportunities.
Located right off California State Route 14, this quick stop could not be a simpler way to take in some phenomenal sights and stretch the legs.
DATE FILMED: 07/05/2021
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ Red Rock Canyon State Park - www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=631
⚪ Directions to Red Rock Canyon State Park - goo.gl/maps/cYVooNLPcqJGUVX26
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
⚪ Gear we use - www.amazon.com/shop/thecactus...
⚪ See where we've been - www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi...
⚪ Music from Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
(As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.)
_____________________________________________________________
✅ Find us on Instagram, Twitter & Facebook - @cactusatlas.
✅ Check out our website - cactusatlas.com
Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking and day trips as well as campground reviews, and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!

[@carpy1252]

Very beautiful, I wonder why no cactus grow here.

[@craiggossmer6525]

😎 💥 👋

[@SidetrackAdventures]

I went to Red Rock Canyon as a kid and they were filming The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Because of the filming it was a mess and we ended up not staying, but I remember it looking so otherworldly. Great video, thanks for showing me what I missed as a kid!

[@CactusAtlas]

Oh wow! I saw that that show was filmed there but admittedly never watched it when it was airing. Happy to share the location with you though! 😀

[@DovieRuthAuthor]

This looks really intriguing. I can just imagine those movie space ships sitting out there. And the cowboys!!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Same! It's such an intriguing landscape that it's easy to see why filmmakers have been drawn to it.

[@SomeplaceOrAnother]

That was a neat hike 😎🤩👍

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks so much!

[@sueanna_banana]

We camped there at Ricardo Campground for 2 nights in March of this year and explored the trails and canyons. There are a lot more Joshua Trees around the campground area. We also saw the fantastic Joshua Tree Forest on the highway 178 on our way to Kernville. It was only about 60° tops and sometimes the wind was howling! There was no cell coverage in the campground and the Ranger Station let you use there wifi! And it was far away and we streamed movies way out in the boonies.

[@CactusAtlas]

Sounds like a fantastic time! I think we drove through those Joshua trees in our last video on the way to the Trail of 100 Giants. Actually just got back from Joshua Tree National Park too. 😂

[@JillianCampsArizona]

Looks beautiful there!

[@CactusAtlas]

It very much is. Thanks for watching! 😄

[@SwiftyTravels]

5:30 thats a type of yucca. Thats the state flower in NM!

[@tinabeane]

So glad you were able to check it out. I went on the same hike but it was cooler in March. Took my photo in that hole too!! Didn't know about all those movies filmed there. It is a place I will go back to. The State Park campground is very nice spot to camp. Well done, hope this inspires people to check it out.

[@CactusAtlas]

Probably a lot cooler in March than summer. 😂 We keep hearing that the campground is nice. Might have to go back to camp there some day!

[@gosiarhomecooking5123]

Hello, very beautiful park , excellent hiking spot:)

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks for visiting

[@SwiftyTravels]

I never knew about this park until I visited Red Rock Canyon in NV and started googling and found there was another!! Is pretty!! Just a little too hot for me in the heat of the summer!!

[@CactusAtlas]

Haha... Every time I was researching facts about the park I kept landing on the Nevada one. Funny how each state has one with the same name.

[@loufigueroa304]

It is better if you go back during late fall or the beginning of winter. You missed the real camel by not continuing on the trail. Next time follow the trail all around and you will see such wonderful sites. I’ve been a park volunteer for the past 28 years and it still ceases to amaze me. If you visit during the spring mostly in April, you’ll be rewarded with the beautiful color of the desert.

[@CactusAtlas]

Thanks for the tips! Hopefully, we will be able to return one day. 👍

[@perutunis]

We passed by on our way from from Death Valley back to LA. We wanted to check it out but had no time. It’s definitely on our list now! Hopefully you can camp there soon and check it out

[@CactusAtlas]

Would love to camp there too and explore more of the park. Hopefully we can make that happen! 😄

[@perutunis]

@@CactusAtlas yes!!

[@robertallen6710]

There is a cool tunnel to see and I think you can walk thru about 20 miles from there...took a guy almost 40 years to dig it by hand...lol

[@CactusAtlas]

Aw man! Well... as always... a reason to go back. LOL. Thanks for the tip!

[@robertallen6710]

@@CactusAtlas Yw sir...and thx for another great vid!

[@cheycasters]

Noahs flood!!!!