Extremely beautiful area!! Similar to the painted hills in Oregon, this rural wonder is a must if you're near Barstow. The road is a little ways off but there's helpful signage once you've typed in the location. The winding and rolling road has many spots to stop and get out of the car to look at the gorgeous rock formations. Peak sunset spot and view is right by the destroyed green piano and then the loop takes you back out to the main road. We came in December and we were all alone !! While it may not be as grand as the Grand Canyon the multi colored rocks and stacks are similarly beautiful here and the opportunity to get closer is even better. Practice leave no trace and be aware of your surroundings as the rocks can look quite precarious. read more

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A trip to Rainbow Basin will make you feel like you're on a different planet. It's a unique drive on a one-way unpaved road through some of the most striking geological formations I've ever seen. As other Yelpers have said, the photos don't do justice to the subtle variations in color that you'll see. Visiting in spring, lots of wildflowers and the Joshua trees were in bloom as well. Tips: Make sure your car is in good condition and take water. I made the drive in just a regular car with no 4-wheel drive and I was fine but check road conditions first. It's free! Don't forget to charge your phone and take your real camera. read more

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Really enjoyed this place! Drove here in a Hyundai Kona and made it through the one way drive with no issues. Stopped to look at the ground and way fwd at two sketchy looking spots but we cleared it. Be observant and move some rocks if your vehicle is low! Beautiful place for photography/ photo shoots. Honestly my photos don't do it justice. It's just so pretty and $6/night , you should totally pack a picnic +suncreen and plan a fun hike! The owl canyon hike is 9 miles I believe. I loved that it was empty when we visited and I had fun exploring with our dogs. Totally would return! Beautiful place!! read more

Excellent place to go hike and explore and if you're into camping, their facilities are well maintained. The location is just far enough to be a good day trip (from LA), but far enough to feel adventurous. Even if you're coming from nearby Barstow, it's isolated enough to block out the world. Some reviews of the trails online takes about trails that were non-existent in spots, but if you consider yourself a hiker those "nonexistent" trails will stick out to you like neon; if you're not an avid hiker, you can still easily find your way. The best way is to download the AllTrails app and use this "Rainbow Basin Loop" guide for a good 9-mile hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/rainbow-basin-loop Some people also complain about lack of colors, but if you go on a sunny day and use those eyeballs in your head, the colors are right their in front of you. I'm sure a light rain would POP them even more, but you don't want to be In these canyons during a rainstorm because of the obvious signs (and dangers) of flash floods. The slot canyons are cool and WIDE, definitely not a true slot canyon where you have to strategically contort your body through, but rugged and fun and beautiful. You'll enjoy your trip out to Rainbow Basin. read more

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Absolutely gorgeous drive through a beautiful canyon. The colors are stunning. Photos do not do them justice. Reminded me a bit of the drive through Artists Pallette at Death Valley. The rainbow in the name refers to 2 different areas where the rock is layered in arches. Hence the rainbow look. The entrance to Rainbow Basin is off Irwin Road. Irwin Road is a bit creepy - lots of crosses lining the road. A quick google search brings up lots of references to paranormal activity. It's a pretty long bumpy road, 5-6 miles, out to the Canyon. The Canyon drive is 3-1/2 miles. When you come off the one way stretch, it isn't signposted. You want to turn right to head back to the main road and exit There are quite a few places to pull over during the drive. And 1 official parking lot half way through the drive. So ample opportunities to get out of the car, walk around, take pictures. read more

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Gorgeous basin, well worth the stop on a road trip up Hwy 395. And dog friendly! Just beware, the terrain is a little rocky (nothing too extreme) although my hiking companion scratched the insides of her paws from scrambling on the rocks. Getting there required driving on a dirt road for about 3-4 miles, narrow at some parts, but we were able to do it just fine with a Honda Accord. Once you reach the camp ground, park all the way to the end of the site (past the playground equipment) as the trailhead starts at the end. I loved it there, so quiet and away from the city, you couldn't hear ANYTHING except the wind. You can also camp here if you wish. Very interesting rock formations, and it's fun walking down a narrow former riverbed, surrounded by rocks. We stopped at about 1.7 miles, because after that we would have had to do some minor rock climbing (which just seemed too difficult to do with the dog). Definitely worth the stop if you are a hiker/nature lover/have dog traveling companion. No Pokestops, not that you will find a cell signal here anyway. read more

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BE FOREWARNED- The drive to the owl campground and rainbow basin is a VERY bumpy dirt road. The drive through the canyon is even dumpier. But no need to panic. You actually dont need 4-wheel drive (although I recommend). Just make sure you have gas and most inportantly, CHECK YOUR TIRES. Make sure you have no leaks and plenty of tread. We were dumb. Went out on a bald tear tire. I believe it was punctured. Luckily it didn't actually go flat until we reached Barstow. Other than that its an absolutely beautiful drive through the canyon with some awesome rock formations. Truly a must-see if youre going to be staying at Owl Canyon campground, or even a side road trip excursion. The time was reasonable. its about a 3.5 mile drive and takes approximately 45 mins. Please drive slow. One other important note: This is a ONE-WAY road. No making U-turns back. As you make your out of the canyon (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AS THERE ARE NO POSTED SIGNS)- Make a LEFT at the dirt road intersection. This will take you back to Owl Canyon campground and Irwin Hwy. I dont know where the other roads lead. (Options straight and right) Hope this helps! Happy touring! read more

We drove out to Calico to spend some time & left there very disappointed. We saw that this was close, so we drove over. It was amazing & an easy drive in my SUV. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that drives through the Barstow area. There were so many things to look at & you can do the drive through the preserve in about an hour. Will definitely be back read more

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A short drive from town takes you to the striking and colorful geological feature called Rainbow Basin, home of the "Barstow Incline". There are places to park and get out along the way, though the road seems pretty narrow in places. Not for long/large vehicles. Owl Canyon Campground is adjacent to Rainbow Basin if you want to stay the night and explore the slot canyons (as of this writing no potable water is available). Would also avoid the Basin after a recent rain; I drove through a few puddles that could have been a problem if I'd gone a day earlier. Fantastic photo opportunities and great for rockhounds. There are fossils around, but mostly in areas where people aren't encouraged to explore. The Mojave River Valley Museum in town has lots of samples to look at; there's also a descriptive slideshow on the San Bernardino Museum website. Finally, visit the Bureau of Land Management website for additional details and maps. read more

Neat place to visit on your way to Vegas. Be prepared for a bumpy road in, but if you like nature and rock formations, it's worth the trip. It's a one way entry through the scenic drive and there's a parking place for pictures. Look out for two 'rainbows'. read more