Rainbow Basin Loop

Total Miles
7.3

Elevation

969.33 ft

Duration

1 Hours

Technical Rating

2

Easy

Best Time

Spring, Fall, Winter

Trail Overview

This trail begins off a nice paved highway and can be somewhat easy to miss at first glance. There is an established campground a couple of miles off this trail with pit toilets, pergolas for shade, cement picnic tables, and metal fire rings. There is also a large group sight that doubles as an equine campsite. The first couple miles of this trail up to the turn-off for the campground is very wide, with a little bit of sand here and there. The turn for the campground is on the right, and to begin, the main section of the Rainbow Basin Trail continues straight, noting the oneway sign. At this point, the route narrows, and there is no turning around; it truly is one-way. The trail twists through a beautiful scenic canyon with colorful jagged rock formations rising to the sky at sideways angles. This is a nice easy dirt trail that any crossover vehicle would enjoy getting its tires dirty on. About halfway in, a hiking trail leads up to a famous rock structure. The parking area can only accommodate 2-3 vehicles. The best time of day to enjoy this area would be around sunset when the colors in the rocks really pop. There is no Team mobile cell service up at the highway, and none once on the trail.

Difficulty

Mostly easy, dirt, narrow in some spots and in the canyon. But with the oneway travel direction, there should be no need to encounter oncoming.

Technical Rating

2

Status Reports

Gavin Centeno
Mar 10, 2024
4x4
Open
Normal
It seemed to be graded/or fixed since February. Any stock height AWD can do it. Went on jeep during this day. RAV4 can do it with ease stock height and regular tires. But if it rains again there might be uneven/washed areas.
Kevin Daxon
Mar 09, 2024
Open
Normal
Great loop trail! Very scenic, a nice drive for Rock Hounds. First three miles are easy, graded dirt road suitable for any street-legal vehicles (no OHV’s allowed in the Rainbow Basin). Watch for faded signs which will direct you towards Owl Canyon Campground and Rainbow Basin. Once trail enters canyon it becomes one-way, though is generally wide enough to allow space for passing. Trail has limited sight-lines around some bends. Watch for stopped traffic in areas where people like to take pictures. Some small climbs in places. We did the trail on a Saturday afternoon and only saw one other vehicle. A newer Toyota Camry. Road/trail was freshly-graded.
Paul Paguio
Feb 11, 2024
2021 Toyota RAV4
Open
Muddy/Wet
Washboard
Went here with a group on 2/11/24. some washed out areas but nothing too crazy. most of us are AWD vehicles.
Robert Clarkson
Jan 17, 2024
4x4
Open
Normal
Beautiful rocks

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