Your nature year
Ridgecrest, Californiathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Ridgecrest?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 3 and first bloom around Mar 6. At the China Lake Naf weather station (4.3 mi), the average first fall frost is Nov 12 and the last spring frost Mar 11, which leaves Ridgecrest some 246 growing days. Across California, fall color is usually well under way by late October. We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Ridgecrest; the nearest lies 66 miles to the northeast. For a day trip, Death Valley is 66 miles off; its desert superbloom is usually at its best Feb 11–Apr 10. Kaiser Pass Road (139 mi) is the pick for fall foliage, Sep 25–Nov 30 (local timing).
Updated Sep 28. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Ridgecrest's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 11 to ~Nov 12
- First leaf ~Feb 3
- First bloom ~Mar 6
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near Ridgecrest right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in CaliforniaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 12 · last spring frost around Mar 11NOAA 1991–2020 normals, China Lake Naf (4.3 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Kaiser Pass Road · 139 mi · Local timing: Sep 25–Nov 30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Desert superbloom · Death Valley · 66 miusually Feb 11–Apr 10~4 months
Ridgecrest's nature year
- Desert superbloom · Death ValleyFeb–Apr
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostMar
- Fall color (CA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Kaiser Pass Road · 139 miLocal timing: Sep 25–Nov 30
Desert superbloom
- Death Valley · 66 miusually Feb 11–Apr 10~4 months
- Carrizo Plain · 117 miusually Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 11
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 12
About 246 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 3
First bloom around Mar 6
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at China Lake Naf (4.3 mi from Ridgecrest), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Ridgecrest?
On average around Nov 12, and the last spring frost around Mar 11: about 246 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at China Lake Naf, 4.3 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Ridgecrest?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 3 and first bloom around Mar 6, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Ridgecrest?
Kaiser Pass Road, 139 miles (local timing: Sep 25–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see desert superbloom near Ridgecrest?
Death Valley, 66 miles (usually Feb 11–Apr 10); Carrizo Plain, 117 miles (usually Mar 21–Apr 10). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)