Getting There: Take your favorite route to Interstate 15 and head north to Barstow. Exit Barstow Road (N 34 53.156’ W 117 1.376’) and turn left traveling north on Barstow Road. Go .88 miles and turn left on Main Street (N34 53.923’ W 117 1.378’). Go .24 miles and turn right onto 1st Avenue (N 34 53.927’ W 117 1.632’). Go .85 miles and turn left onto Irwin Road (not Fort Irwin Road) (turn off is just past a hill with a water tank on it – it’s easy to miss) (N34 54.473’ W 117 1.262’). Proceed out of town on Irwin Road for 5.95 miles until you see the sign for Rainbow Basin and turn left on Fossil Bed Road ( N 34 59.019’ W 116 59.972’). Go 2.89 miles and turn right on Rainbow Basin (N 35 0.480’ W 117 2.460’). Go .35 miles and turn right onto Owl Canyon Road (N 35 0.754’ W 117 2.303’). Go 1.4 miles to the campground.

GPS Coordinates at the campground: N 35 1.276’ W 117 1.299’

Emergency Contact: Your camping club trip leader this month is Lee Alexander (Pland) Cell Phone: 951-551-9993

Important Phone Numbers: BLM Ranger Station 760-252-6000

Nearest Hospital: BarstowCommunityHospital 555 S 7th Ave Barstow, CA 92311 760-256-1761

So Cal Camping Club

March 2013 Camping Trip

OwlCanyon Campground

March 15-17 , 2013

Latitude: N 35°1.276’

Longitude: W 117°1.299’

Elevation: 3000’

Introduction:

The general area contains several dry lake beds. During the Pleistocene epoch (2 million-11,000-years ago), Lake Harper, Lake Cuddeback, and Lake Superior, along with the streams feeding them, helped make today's desert a lush, tree-studded grassland, teeming with wildlife. Before that, during the Miocene epoch (12 to 16 million years ago), a much larger lake covered the area. At that time exotic creatures lived on the lake-shores, including three-toed horses, small camels, rhinos, mastodons, dog-bears, and incredible insects. Many specimens of these wonderful creatures were preserved in the lake sediments and you can see these colorful sedimentary layers when visiting Rainbow Basin. (Please leave all fossils in place for others to see.) Another interesting feature is the desert tortoises which are protected in this area. It’s quite common to spot them throughout the weekend!

There is plenty of hiking and exploring in the area including a hike that starts right in the campground up through the Owl Canyon Wash. Fossil Canyon Loop Road¸ a three mile¸ one-way¸ scenic drive¸ passes through some of the most spectacular and colorful badland areas of the Rainbow Basin area. The drive begins on Fossil Bed Road and features a parking area for those who wish to explore the badlands area on foot. Other activities in the area are a 65-mile 4WD loop trip into Inscription Canyon¸ geocaching¸ Route 66 Museum in Barstow¸ the Desert Discovery Center in Barstow featuring “The Old Woman Meteorite” (the second largest meteorite in the United States). Because Owl Canyon is located on the southern side of the Mud Hills¸ facing a broad alluvial plain to the south¸ it affords an excellent view of the southern sky. If the sky is clear¸ the location provides excellent opportunity for stargazing. Even saw some info on UFO sightings in that area too¸ that could be fun!

Campsite Amenities:

There are 31 sites with a max of 3 vehicles per site. We will try and grab 3-4 sites.

The cost is $6.00 per night per vehicle and you will be responsible for paying on your own with whomever you share the site with.

The campground features picnic tables with shade ramadas¸ fire rings¸ limited water (PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN) and chemical toilets.

All pets must be on a leash within the campground.

This campground is accessible to all vehicles.

As always we ask that you be self contained. This also includes checking the latest weather forecasts for updates not reported on brochures and asking for directions if you are uncertain of your location.

Every effort to verify the correct coordinates and directions has been made to assist your travel but it is up to each individual person to research and finalize their trip to their personal confidence level. Driving in primitive areas at night can be very difficult if one is not use to the wilderness roads.

Weather:

Friday March 15th

Sunrise 6:58 am Sunset 6:56 pm

High: 81°F

Low 45° F

Saturday March 16th

Sunrise 6:57 am Sunset 6:57 pm

High 79° F

Low 44° F

Sunday March 17th

Sunrise 6:55 am Sunset 6:58 pm

High 77° F

Low 41° F