Hiking the Slot at Owl Canyon - Barstow, CA

Barstow, CA
Owl Canyon, BLM

The Owl Canyon hike is about 2.2 miles out and back.  We added another mile or so by going further at each end of the hike.  This is a beautiful, fairly easy hike.  It starts out at the wash at the end of the first campground loop.

With only a very minor chance of rain later in the afternoon we were good to go.  It's not a place you'd want to be in a flash flood.

It's a good workout as you're hiking through a sandy bottom most of the way.  The colors of the canyon are so beautiful and ever changing.  The geography changes around every corner too.

We started bundled up as it was quite cold and windy in the morning.  Once the canyon walls narrowed we were protected from the winds and the temperature warmed up.  Off went the layers.

There are some parts where there is some rock scrambling involved but not bad.

We came across the cave about 1/2 way down the canyon.

It went through a good ways and then opened up to a dead end.  You could actually climb up, over and around any parts of the canyon if you wanted.

The flowers were still blooming throughout the canyon hike.

Odd looking rocks and boulders all about.

Arches here and there.

This spot was a tight squeeze.  Steve decided to stay back but I really wanted to see what was on the other side.  This is where most people turn back for the 2 miles.  There are some boulders stacked to use as a ladder, sort of.

First try, a big nope!  I slid back down.

Second try, Success!!

This is looking back down once I made it up.

The canyon just kept on going. 

Some areas to crawl through.

I went on a bit more then decided to turn back around to meet up with Steve.  The clouds were getting darker and thicker so it was a good time to head back anyway.

Steve noticed a tiny bird eggshell on the ground.

Surfing on a rock wave.

Getting close to the trailhead.

It's starting to sprinkle now.

We decide to go a bit further back at the trailhead to hike down some more tiny slots to find a geocache.  I found it and on the way back I came upon this guy trying to get the last bit of the heat off the rock I guess.  I never moved or made a sound.  Probably was too cold.  He wasn't there about 15 minutes previous though when I first came by.  Glad I noticed him.  I walked waaaaay around him.

This is a gorgeous hike and it was a great way to end our time here.  This was definitely a great place to visit.  We highly recommend staying here if you pass by often.