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
How to Get There
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 Natural Area north of Barstow is a colorful badlands of tilted, banded hills and canyons in the Calico Mountains, a National Natural Landmark with fossil beds from the Miocene epoch (12 to 16 million years ago). It is public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern, set aside to protect its geology, fossils and desert wildlife. Layers of red, orange, pink, green and white sediment were folded and tilted over millions of years, and erosion has carved them into narrow canyons and rock walls. Visitors come to drive the scenic loop, walk the washes and canyons, camp and photograph the formations, especially in the soft light of early morning and late afternoon. The Calico Early Man Site is nearby.
Access
Rainbow Basin is about 8 miles north of Barstow, reached by taking Irwin Road north from Barstow and then Fossil Bed Road to the area. The Fossil Canyon Loop Road through the basin is a one-way, narrow dirt road, and high-clearance or four-wheel-drive vehicles are best. The BLM advises against driving the loop in an RV or with a trailer, and vehicles should use only routes signed open, as washes and unsigned routes are closed to vehicles. There are no services in the area, so bring water, food and fuel from Barstow. Cell service is unreliable, so tell someone your plans and carry a map.
Seasons
Winter, spring and fall are the best seasons for visiting, when days are mild and walking in the canyons is comfortable. Summers are extremely hot and exposed, with little shade, so the area is best avoided from late spring through early fall except at dawn or dusk. Winter nights can be cold, and storms can bring flash floods, so avoid washes and low-lying areas when rain is forecast, even if it is not raining where you are, since storms upstream can send water into the canyons. Early morning and evening are also the best times to see wildlife.
Things to Do
Drive the Fossil Canyon Loop
The one-way dirt loop winds through the brightly colored badlands and is the main way to see the area, with pullouts for photos and short walks.
Hike the Washes and Canyons
The BLM notes that the washes are good hiking routes, and walking up the canyons gives a close view of the folded rock layers. There are no marked trails in the basin, so carry water and watch the weather.
Look for Fossils (but Leave Them)
The basin is known for Miocene fossil beds. Collecting is not allowed without a permit, so if you find a fossil, leave it in place and notify the BLM Barstow Field Office at (760) 252-6000.
Visitor Centers
Rainbow Basin has no visitor center or staffed contact station. Information is available from the BLM Barstow Field Office at (760) 252-6000 and on the BLM website.
Camping and Lodging
Owl Canyon Campground, near the entrance to the basin, has 22 first-come, first-served sites with a picnic table and fire ring at each, vault toilets and no hookups, and the BLM lists a nightly fee of $6. There is no water at the campground. Hotels and motels, restaurants and gas are in Barstow, about 8 miles south, and more lodging is available in Baker and Victorville, roughly an hour or more away. Yermo and Calico are also close.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rainbow Basin", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. Additional information from the Bureau of Land Management.
