California / San Bernardino County

Rainbow Basin/owl Canyon Campground

Open — Open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations accepted. Potable water may not be available; bring adequate drinking water.

About

Owl Canyon Campground sits within the Rainbow Basin Natural Area, an Area of Critical Environmental Concern managed by the Bureau of Land Management's Barstow Field Office. The campground features 22 primitive campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis, each equipped with a picnic table and fire ring. Rainbow Basin is renowned for its dramatic multicolored rock formations, created by geological forces that folded sedimentary layers into striking anticlines and synclines. The changing desert light creates exceptional photographic opportunities throughout the day. The campground serves as a base for exploring the area's diverse landscape of hills, canyons, and washes. The Owl Canyon Trail begins at the back of the campground and ascends through a scenic slot canyon, offering intimate views of vibrant geological layers. Visitors can also drive the Fossil Canyon Loop Road, a one-way narrow dirt route best suited for high clearance or four-wheel drive vehicles. The area is home to desert-adapted wildlife including the threatened desert tortoise, with the best viewing opportunities during early morning and evening hours. Important considerations include the prohibition of off-road vehicle staging at the campground, vehicle travel restrictions to designated open routes only, and the area's mix of public and private lands. The campground has no hookups or dump station, and potable water availability is unreliable. Flash flooding is a risk during storms, and visitors should be prepared for desert hazards including extreme temperatures and venomous snakes.

Directions

Located 8 miles north of Barstow off Irwin Road (not Fort Irwin Road). The main access route is Fossil Bed Road.

Nearby Campgrounds