Rainbow Basin Natural Area

Rainbow Basin showcases layers of red, orange, yellow, and green sedimentary rock formations dating back 16 million years when this was a lakebed teeming with ancient life. The main loop drive winds through badlands carved by erosion, revealing fossil beds where saber-toothed cats, three-toed horses, and camels once roamed. Several pull-offs offer close looks at the striped rock layers and petrified wood scattered throughout the wash bottoms.

Access via Fossil Bed Road from Barstow requires high-clearance vehicles for the washboard dirt approach. The 4-mile loop road is rough dirt with some sandy washes but manageable for most 4WD rigs. Best visited in cooler months as shade is nonexistent and summer temperatures exceed 110°F regularly.

Painted badlands with ancient fossil beds