<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xml:lang="en-US"
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="crc-20210430.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001609253</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2021-04-30</startDate>
            <endDate>2021-04-30</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF80L2ZyYWc6MjMyODE2NDUwMGJkNDkwN2JjYTY5ZWFhN2RiZjM4YzIvdGFibGU6NWFjNGNhYzQwMzg3NGY2YWFkZjJiY2I0ZmNhYWRkNTkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1YWM0Y2FjNDAzODc0ZjZhYWRmMmJjYjRmY2FhZGQ1OV8yLTEtMS0xLTA_70c77b1a-5ae1-4f09-bc96-e09a9c465cd8">0001609253</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF80L2ZyYWc6MjMyODE2NDUwMGJkNDkwN2JjYTY5ZWFhN2RiZjM4YzIvdGFibGU6NWFjNGNhYzQwMzg3NGY2YWFkZjJiY2I0ZmNhYWRkNTkvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo1YWM0Y2FjNDAzODc0ZjZhYWRmMmJjYjRmY2FhZGQ1OV8zLTEtMS0xLTA_cd71cd98-c518-43e3-8dd6-de9aa09c3e46">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjcx_db3380c9-ad84-4b6f-8e8c-51692dff6f5e">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8yNzA_7fa4bb2a-1b3a-4410-8d12-a6de9569c04e">2021-04-30</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjc1_b59efb77-1486-44bb-a07b-b09395ddef47">California Resources Corp</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV8wLTAtMS0xLTA_4dfa53c5-ba9c-408c-a247-ed527dcbffac">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV8wLTEtMS0xLTA_edf53151-6d98-4527-a45a-3663882137a9">001-36478</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV8wLTMtMS0xLTA_929215ab-e712-418b-9c11-ebf282bf7648">46-5670947</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV8zLTAtMS0xLTA_38071f98-4076-4071-88c9-355a8e380f45">27200 Tourney Road</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV80LTAtMS0xLTA_6b6e93fb-bfe6-4d02-a582-514455820536">Suite 200</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine2>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV81LTAtMS0xLTA_cc09f72f-6066-4b4c-8482-3072efa2df1e">Santa Clarita</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV82LTAtMS0xLTA_5effdc99-0d83-4c6d-8042-89c3ce7b2c57">CA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6ZTQyMjFhZGYzNmFlNDg0NDgyOTA0NjhiNmZjZGJlNjUvdGFibGVyYW5nZTplNDIyMWFkZjM2YWU0ODQ0ODI5MDQ2OGI2ZmNkYmU2NV82LTItMS0xLTA_08f8e120-2f7d-4b99-b39e-7b88935db1a5">91355</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjcy_038ba08c-9e75-4c47-917a-9fa2dd198d4d">888</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjY3_830c855e-ff5d-4e7f-88cd-16312627b001">848-4754</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjcz_7babde61-cdfe-45b0-bded-8d46e854e664">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjY4_20a0d781-8627-40b3-9a55-eedbe6d64df2">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjc0_c5954341-8bb6-4dd0-bde1-4464b97f97bb">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjY5_40e8163d-9d29-47fe-9a79-d939077835dc">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6NmUxNWM3MWU4OGExNGQyNWEyMDFhOTQwNWMzMDcwZmQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2ZTE1YzcxZTg4YTE0ZDI1YTIwMWE5NDA1YzMwNzBmZF8xLTAtMS0xLTA_b0f5d91f-f9de-4b06-acc7-7498550c198b">Common Stock</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6NmUxNWM3MWU4OGExNGQyNWEyMDFhOTQwNWMzMDcwZmQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2ZTE1YzcxZTg4YTE0ZDI1YTIwMWE5NDA1YzMwNzBmZF8xLTEtMS0xLTA_f00a6c76-87cb-4c1e-999c-8c19421e54b6">CRC</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGFibGU6NmUxNWM3MWU4OGExNGQyNWEyMDFhOTQwNWMzMDcwZmQvdGFibGVyYW5nZTo2ZTE1YzcxZTg4YTE0ZDI1YTIwMWE5NDA1YzMwNzBmZF8xLTItMS0xLTA_a3c0f475-1213-4be6-910c-931f90cd32c3">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="i9fd9776fc7e84b85988b64d2df16b4e1_D20210430-20210430"
      id="id3VybDovL2RvY3MudjEvZG9jOmNhMTQzOGUyNzhkODQ1MGM4MTJjYjRhMWFjNzYwYzlkL3NlYzpjYTE0MzhlMjc4ZDg0NTBjODEyY2I0YTFhYzc2MGM5ZF8xL2ZyYWc6YWExZTE5MGYzZGI4NDI3Y2IwYWFhOTBkNDdmMTU2NzUvdGV4dHJlZ2lvbjphYTFlMTkwZjNkYjg0MjdjYjBhYWE5MGQ0N2YxNTY3NV8xNjcw_75cb89dd-3c43-4746-9a63-f19960f01611">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
