Owl Canyon Campground

We found Owl Canyon a few years back and became enchanted with this place. 
About three miles of washboarded (but maintained)  gravel road leads to a small campgroundwith exquisite rock formations and plenty of hiking trails leading off in all directions. 
The first time we were here, we were the only campers other than the adorable camp hosts who had taken the trouble to put small solar lights on the vault toilets and soap on a rope hanging from the water faucets. Unfortunately, they are no longer there and neither is the solitude. 
The camp had a wide range of campers from Coleman pup tents to Land Yachts. UCSB has a large research station where students come out and study geology and mapping. It was fun to chat with them and get infected with their enthusiasm. 
The weather was mild enough to sleep out under the stars. The night sky is stunning! Wind can be an issue as it was this last visit. Tents were challenged and I was woken up in the middle of the night by a levitated camp chair landing on me.
i will guess if you go sometime after spring break and mid-week, the campground won't be as crowded. Toilets are clean, water is limited and the price is right. Make sure to take extra tarps and rope to rig up a wind break or two and you are sure to have a nice stay.
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A slice of heaven if you sleep outside

Needed a place to stay on our way up to Tahoe and found this little gem. Isolated but easy to get to and recently upgraded. Each camping spot as a picnic table, firepit, garbage, and nice flat spot for our 4Wheel camper. Toilets, some water, and a playground if you have kids. Found some critters including a sidewinder but we are camping in their home so to be expected.

Desert Wasteland Remodeled

I needed to get some work done in Barstow while I was on the road and this was the closest decent looking campground I could find. Sights are big some could handle a RV but I can confirm no hook ups. There are 2 water faucets I found in camp but neither are working. Bonus the picnic tables have there own little gazebos so in summer you would get some shade, and each sight has a fire pit with grill and a separate grill pit that would be great for charcoal. I stayed for 4 nights and had some epic sunrises, sunset is nice and one day of significant wind gusts, like kick you to the side and throw you off stride wind gusts so I suspect it can get pretty windy. But over all great campground pretty secluded for how close it is for Barstow and there is no reason I would not recemoned it, espaiclly to tenters. Be warned there is a super tame fox that got brave and tried to steal food scraps a few times.

Doing some Work in Barstow Needed a Place to Kick It

It is a BLM campground in the Rainbow Basin right above Barstow, CA. Have to drive through washboard road for about five miles to get to the campground. Nice site with a trail head to Owl Canyon right by the campground. First come first serve site, but $6 per night. Each site has a picnic table with a shelter and a fire ring. Was very windy when we were there and had to put up tarp as wind shelter. Most pit toilets were clean, but it was an Easter weekend so very crowded with college field trips. No water (taps were not working) so bring your own water. There are some interesting playground structures at the campground towards the trail head. It was a full moon day so it was pretty bright that night and could not do stargazing. The view from our sites (first night #??, second night #22) were great. You can even see San Bernardino Mountains. A great place to camp if you are into geology. You can hike into Owl Canyon or drive a short distance to see colorful geological formations at Rainbow Basin. It was hot even in April so be prepared for the heat if you are not used to it.

BLM campground at the edge of Mojave

I stayed with a group here for 3 nights a few years ago in October. This is a beautiful campground. Very primitive, with pit toilets and one water faucet. Trash is carry in carry out. It is a small campground (Less than 25 sites). It was also extremely hot (I think above 110F during the day), but at night it was beautiful. We didn't even need a tent because of the mild temperatures and calm breeze. Our group site had plenty of room for everyone, and picnic tables that had a covering to provide some shade during the day. The area felt very remote and quiet, and we were able to hike right from our site each day.

beautiful views and very open

Owl Canyon Camp site is run by BLM. It’s in the dessert near Rainbow Basin. There are pit toilets that were clean and good condition. There approximately 20 campsites with fire ring, table, barbecue grill and a covering over table area. The views are nice for the dessert and their is wildlife in the area. Also BLM recommendations to bring water because the water provided runs out and is for washing.

Quiet camp site 

We were heading from Newport Beach CA to Lake Havasu AZ and were wanting to split up the drive by camping with our 1987 VW Westfalia somewhere in Barstow. 

Did lots of research and landed here at Owl Canyon on BLM land. We weren’t disappointed. It was perfect. We went in late December so spots were easy to come by. Weather was great. Woke up with mild snow on the car. 

Campgrounds about 12 miles off interstate 15 and is about 5+ miles is on dirt roads but roads are well kept and easy to drive. Campground is in the middle of nowhere but AMAZING. 

We did the main hike at the end of the site. It’s about 3.3 miles there and back. 

This place will stay on our GO BACK list. 

ONE OF THE BEST!

Nice level spots with reasonable distance from other campers.  The horse campground has no water and is about 1/2 mile from the main campground which has a handful of water stations. Vault toilets which are well maintained. I stayed 14 days alone in a travel trailer and felt very safe. The BLM personal are incredibly helpful and kind.
I dont have anything negative to say about this location.

I spent 14 days here over the Christmas Holiday, not very busy and has beautiful vistas. Bathrooms are vault but well maintained.  There is only a handful of water sources and none at the horse camp which is approx 1/2 mile from the major campground. For $6 a day you can't beat it.

This is a large campground with many vault toilets throughout (approx one building with one-two unisex toilets for every 3 campsites). There are smooth paved pathways to most of the toilets. 

  

There are also 3 basic playgrounds in this campground, as well as several water faucets (non threaded spigots). Signs on water faucets request minimal use of water as it is a scarce resource in this area. 

  

There is a hiking trail beginning at the northern end of the campground so be aware if you choose one of these sites you will have a lot of day use traffic in and out for hikers. 

  

This campground was almost deserted when we stayed here in early Feb. There were only about 2-3 other campers besides us. Not sure when the busy season for this campground is, but if all the sites were taken I think the lack of privacy and lack of space and barriers between sites would make for a much different experience. With almost nobody here we relished the absolute quiet and rare sight of anybody else. 

  

Each site has a metal covered shade structure, a concrete picnic table, metal fire pit, and concrete raised grill. 

  

There are small trash bins throughout (no recycling). 

  

We heard a few loud booms (shook our RV) while here, likely from the nearby military bases. 

  

Did not see or hear any wildlife. 

  

ATVs and shooting are banned here. 

  

Good Verizon, ATT, and T-Mobile here. 

  

Fee is $6/night, self pay, first come first served. No host on site when we were here. 

  

Road in was heavily washboarded, doable in any vehicle but take it slow. 

  

Rainbow basin scenic loop on the way in had signs that the road is narrow and motorhomes and trailers not allowed. The land there is BLM so if you can make it in there are dispersed camping areas in the Rainbow Basin.

Peaceful and quiet

Road in is all washboard. Just before campground there is a dry creek where road could be a challenge for low clearance rigs. Pulled in around noon on a Saturday and there were plenty of sites. By Sunday every site was taken. Hiking trail was cool. Stayed 1 night. Cost is $6/night 

Windy 3/13/21

We are on our honeymoon and traveling by camper van. So we needed a spot that we could park right at the site. We found this campsite and we’re pleasantly surprised by its seclusion and beautiful views. The dirt road to access was a bit rough but worth it. We hiked Owl Canyon in the morning before heading out and it’s an easy, cool beautiful trek. Only downsides were that the water spigots were capped and there was no toilet paper in the bathrooms. 

Enjoyed this pit stop! 

Nearly 5 miles of either hard washboard dirt road (Shaking parts of the vehicle loose) or loose sand that you can get stuck in.

After driving 4 miles down the track there was a huge ditch across the middle of the road, which was uncrossable in a vehicle and lead to us turning around.

Didn’t get to stay at the site as it was unreachable, had to book a motel as it was late in the day to book another site.