A Rainbow Connection

Hiking Owl Canyon Trail in Rainbow Basin Natural Area

A place called Rainbow Basin Natural Area certainly suggests a glorious radiance of color, and this remarkable desert area north of Barstow doesn’t disappoint. A hike on Owl Canyon Trail takes you on a journey through the sunburnt oranges and deep reds of its sandstone formations, coupled with the green and turquoise shades of its siltstones and ghostly white limestones. They combine in a pageant of sedimentary layers folded diagonally over each other known as the Barstow Syncline. Owl Canyon’s grand open spaces, towering canyon walls, and curvaceous slots are definitely a high-desert highlight.

Officially, Owl Canyon Trail is a 2-mile (round-trip) outing whose terminus is marked by an orange flag with the words “The End.” But if you climb a five-foot dry fall and rock-bound your way into the slot canyon to the left of that flag, you’ll find a whole new leg of the trail that leads another mile into the basin. Call it a rainbow connection! This is where the colors really become vibrant as you enter into an open red canyon that concludes at a turquoise cliff face. Continue past the cliff face and you’ll see an open space of rolling hills and cliffs hanging above where the Barstow Syncline is prominently displayed.

Two miles into the hike you’ll exit the canyon, and the landscape quickly shifts back into standard-issue Mojave Desert rolling hills. Marking this spot is a single Joshua tree on a hill standing above a fork in the trail. Turn back here for a fulfilling 4-mile trek, or continue exploring the vast network of paths in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area.

TIP: At the 0.7-mile mark is a small cave that acts as a secret passageway into another area of the canyon with a cool view of a jutting cliff face. It’s a short distance from end to end, but it’s definitely worth bringing a flashlight to enjoy this nifty detour.

Rainbow Basin Natural Area is about 8 miles north of Barstow. From I-15 in Barstow, exit on L Ave. and head north. Turn right on Main St. and then left on 1st Ave. From there it’s a left on Irwin Rd., and another left on Fossil Bed Rd. From here on, it’s all smooth dirt. Turn right on Rainbow Basin Rd. and right again on Owl Canyon Rd. These roads are clearly marked. Take Owl Canyon Rd. through Owl Canyon Campground to its end, where you can park at the signed trailhead. No fee unless you’re camping overnight. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View