Badlands area with multi-colored rock formations, deep canyons & campgrounds near hiking trails.
At a glance
#1 of 8 Tourist attractions in BarstowLocalGuideWorld score: 4.77
Rating breakdown
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5 ★88%
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4 ★9%
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3 ★3%
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2 ★0%
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1 ★0%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Rainbow Basin Natural Area?
- Rainbow Basin Natural Area is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 231 reviews.
- How does Rainbow Basin Natural Area rank in Barstow?
- Rainbow Basin Natural Area is #1 of 8 Tourist attractions in Barstow by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Rainbow Basin Natural Area located?
- Fossil Bed Rd, Barstow, CA 92311, United States — 13.7 km from the center of Barstow.
- How can I contact Rainbow Basin Natural Area?
- Phone: +1 760-252-6000
Expertly maintained off-the-beaten-path natural beauty. The type of destination that reminds me of the immense beauty this country has to offer. Do not miss this chance to take it all in. Sunset viewing highly recommended!
A great side trip from the main road to see some cool rock formations. The off-road trail was easy to drive, and the colors and scenery were amazing. It's a nice, quiet place to explore and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Fantastic area resembling more a Martian planet and less Earth. Stunning colors and scenery. Great place to wander about, quiet and peaceful. Roads not bad, might get sketchy after rain though.
We drove the loop yesterday, 4/15/23. Had not been graded recently. An interesting area with bizarre landscapes. Well worth the adventure.
Read the origins on it before you go. You’ll appreciate it more. At one time there camels, flamingos etc. there. We drove a Cadillac XT5 and only had a couple of short spots to go slow. No ground clearance issues. I got out once to remove a football sized rock with a sharp top. No big deal. The picture is the worst little curve.
Read the origins on it before you go. You’ll appreciate it more. At one time there camels, flamingos etc. there. We drove a Cadillac XT5 and only had a couple of short spots to go slow. No ground clearance issues. I got out once to remove a football sized rock with a sharp top. No big deal. The picture is the worst little curve.
This is a free experience to visit, however it is a bit of a drive back. This is off of the main road about 7 miles on all dirt. We were able to complete the drive in a small sedan, but obviously this would be easier in a truck or other vehicle with greater ground clearance. There is no "main" parking, there IS VERY limited cell service, and once you are in the hills (old mine tailings) it is VERY quiet; so plan ahead for optimum safety. There is a ton of OHV trails and hiking and the views are amazing.
A perfect little detour off the main highway to experience some pretty neat geological formations. We were the only people there and the silence was possibly the best part. The "off road" trail to drive through was very easy to navigate. There were a couple detours off the main road for the more off road worthy vehicles but my stock GMC terrain had no issues going through the regular trail. The worst part of it was the dirt road leading up to rainbow basis which had the nice washboard texture which made for a bumpy and slow ride. High recommend stopping by!
Went here the past two weekends to camp and map the basin with my UCLA geology class. Amazing place to learn to map, as there are many examples of synforms, faults, and the geologic rule of V’s present in the basin. Good parking and hiking available, though no restrooms or amenities nearby. Make sure to bring lots of water!
Nice place very sunny. No amenities whatsoever. So must bring food/water. Any vehicle with some ground clearance can make it no need for 4wd or 4x4. Just stick to the main road no trailers or motor homes due to some tight turns. Best time for pictures is sunrise/sunset and night.
Incredible and bizarre formations, no brilliant colors but fascinating. The 5 mile loop drive is rough in spots and very narrow in a couple of places but most 4x4s will be ok if you go slow... and you will want to go slow to look at all textures and colors.
Rainbow Basin Natural Area is similar to the Artist's Palette scenic drive in Death Valley but not as vibrant or as crowded. A great pit stop location about 20 minutes off the highway. There is about 3 miles of dirt road to reach the main scenic drive. The short roughly two mile loop through the basin and canyon area is a great sight to see. There is also a short slot canyon hiking trail that you can hike as well.
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