The Mud Hills, looking north, from Fossil Bed Rd. These
hills are remnants of the area's much wetter past. The dirt
heading off into the hills is the trail that takes one to the Rainbow-
Basin Scenic Drive. The Scenic Drive is a 4-mile loop through
spectacular rock-formations.
Photo By Scott Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Roughly ten miles north of Barstow, CA, there is a time capsule. Here, the fossil remains of animals that have been extinct in North America for aeons have been found. Camels, primitive horses, rhinoceroses, mastodons - and flamingos- lived here during the region's swampy past, millions of years ago.
This is the well-known Rainbow Basin Syncline.
Photo by Scott Schwartz. All rights reserved.
There are no services whatsoever in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area. You should bring plenty of water and food. Sturdy shoes- preferably hiking boots- are a must, as climbing on foot is necessary to view many of the sights here.
Clearly-defined sedimentary layers.
Photo by Scott Schwartz.
All rights reserved.
Photo by Scott Schwartz.
All rights reserved.
The loop trail allows for some spectacular views. Toward the end of the trail, there's a parking area. From there, one can climb (on foot) to a marked observation point, which affords some panoramic views of the area.
Photo by Scott Schwartz.
All rights reserved.
