Outstanding views and geological and paleontological features including exciting multi-colored rock formations and walks through the scenic canyons with a variety of desert adapted wildlife
From Los Angeles (125mi) Get on US-101 S. Take I-10 E, CA-210 and I-15 N to L St in Barstow. Take exit 181 from I-15 N. Take Irwin Rd and Fossil Bed Rd to Rainbow-Basin.
Overview
Rainbow Basin is a geological formation in the Calico Peaks range, located approximately 8 miles north of Barstow in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California. The Rainbow Basin has been designated a Natural Landmark and is in the Bureau of Land Management managed Rainbow Basin Natural Area. It is accessible to the public via Irwin Road from Barstow to an unpaved loop road through the colorful basin. The basin is notable for: the fantastic and beautiful shapes of its rock formations: its fossil beds, which have provided scientists with valuable information about life during the middle Miocene epoch, between 12 and 16 million years ago; and to the northeast the Calico Early Man Site.
Rainbow Basin (West) Rainbow Basin has a diverse landscape of hills, canyons and washes. Activities include hiking, camping, photography, sightseeing and horseback riding. Multicolored rock walls and mesas are accented by changing light conditions, making for many photographic opportunities. The washes are good hiking trails for experiencing the area's natural beauty.
Rainbow Basin is open to the public by means of a one-way dirt road that loops through the basin. There is no camping within Rainbow Basin itself, but the Owl Canyon Campground is nearby. Fossils cannot be collected without a permit. Anyone planning a trip to this natural landmark should keep in mind that it is a desert area, and take appropriate safety precautions.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rainbow Basin", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.
