Rainbow Basin/Owl Canyon Campground

Fire pit, covered picnic tables, vaulted toilets, $6/night, on top of being a rockhounder’s paradise, Owl Canyon/Rainbow Basin definitely has my heart from here on out. The campsites themselves are well kept, bathrooms are clean enough, never ran out of toilet paper, and there’s no strong odor. There is a hiking trail attached to the campground and it starts at the very end of the drive through t... Fire pit, covered picnic tables, vaulted toilets, $6/night, on top of being a rockhounder’s paradise, Owl Canyon/Rainbow Basin definitely has my heart from here on out. The campsites themselves are well kept, bathrooms are clean enough, never ran out of toilet paper, and there’s no strong odor. There is a hiking trail attached to the campground and it starts at the very end of the drive through the grounds. I would also highly recommend taking a car and driving just a hop and a skip over to explore the Rainbow Basin scenic drive and also do the hike that has the slot canyon, it’s so much fun.

​If you're looking for a perfect, almost-free Mojave desert escape with jaw-dropping views and reasonable amenities, this is it. For the low nightly rate, this scenic camping experience offers unbeatable value. ​The Landscape: The rock formations are the star! Located right next to the Rainbow Basin Natural Area, the colored canyons and hills are spectacular. They offer fantastic hiking and photog... ​If you're looking for a perfect, almost-free Mojave desert escape with jaw-dropping views and reasonable amenities, this is it. For the low nightly rate, this scenic camping experience offers unbeatable value. ​The Landscape: The rock formations are the star! Located right next to the Rainbow Basin Natural Area, the colored canyons and hills are spectacular. They offer fantastic hiking and photography opportunities, especially at sunset. ​Access & Vibe: The access road is a washboarded dirt path (slow down and take it easy), but the trade-off is total peacefulness once you arrive. You are far enough off the highway for amazing quiet and dark skies, but still a short drive from Barstow if you need supplies. ​The Value: $6 PER NIGHT! First-come, first-served sites come with picnic tables, fire rings, vault toilets, and usually even water and trash disposal (check status before relying on it!). For six bucks, this is incredible value for a scenic, quiet spot near the colorful Rainbow Basin.

Loved this campground! $6 a night. Spacious spots. Stayed here with my truck and 27 foot trailer. No issues driving around and maneuvering. Plenty of places. It was quieter during the week and got busy on the weekends. I was here during October for 3 nights and weather was great except for 1 day/night, wind gusts got up to 50mph, some neighboring tents didn’t look so good so check the weather befo... Loved this campground! $6 a night. Spacious spots. Stayed here with my truck and 27 foot trailer. No issues driving around and maneuvering. Plenty of places. It was quieter during the week and got busy on the weekends. I was here during October for 3 nights and weather was great except for 1 day/night, wind gusts got up to 50mph, some neighboring tents didn’t look so good so check the weather before coming.