Rainbow Canyon

It's been a few years and many, many trips undocumented. We find ourselves coming to this space as an archive, a family journal, going through memory after memory. Now we are a family of five, THREE boys: Jackson 8, Arlo 5, and Townes 1 1/2. Time is going by so fast and we are having such a great time. I'm constantly trying to catch up on the documenting, or trying to find new ways to organize the memories. In December we hiked around Rainbow Canyon in Barstow. The wind was whipping and it was cold, but the views were out of this world. We even came across a tarantula! 

Devils Punch Bowl County Park:: Angles National Forest

We have been meaning to go here for years (SIX YEARS!), and we finally did!

A beautiful area of high-desert-goodness on the northern-side of the Angles Nation Forest. There are a couple of short hiking options (1/2 mile and 1 mile trails), and other long trails that can connect you to the high-country of the Angles. We took JW on his first mile long hike and he did pretty good considering he is a year and a half. A good rule we learned is for every year of age that's how many miles is a decent distance for them. There is no way he could have walked the whole thing himself, and he wouldn't let us hold him the whole time - because seriously, there was too much to explore! So, the loop took us a while to get through. We had a great time and it doesn't get much better then watching JW blaze his own trail trying to clamor up the hillside with a hugh smile on his face.

The mile long trail drops down 300 feet into Devil's Punchbowl creek. Its pretty easy going for the most part, a little steep and rocky here and there. The rock formations are what give the park the appeal that is has.

The desert, especially the high desert has a special little place in our hearts.

Be sure to check out their nature center!