Afton Canyon Natural Area

Afton Canyon slices through the Mojave Desert like a miniature Grand Canyon, its layered walls revealing millions of years of geological history in rust, cream, and purple bands. The Mojave River flows here year-round (one of the few places it surfaces), creating a surprising riparian oasis with cottonwoods and cattails amid the stark desert landscape. Railroad tracks run through the canyon floor, and you’ll often hear freight trains echoing off the walls.

Access is via rough dirt roads from Afton Road off I-15, about 3 miles to the rim viewpoints. The canyon floor requires high-clearance vehicles and can be impassable after flash floods. Spring and fall offer the best light for photography, while summer temperatures can exceed 115°F. No facilities or shade at the viewpoints.

Mojave Desert's hidden grand canyon with year-round river