Off-road Afton Canyon, California

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Within the Mojave Trails National National Monument -- the Mojave River flows through scenic Afton Canyon east of Barstow. Water still flows most of the year through this Canyon. Sheer walls in every imaginable shade of pink tower 300 feet above the Mojave River. Four major trails of varying lengths take visitors past these varicolored cliffs and through nooks and crannies visited long ago by Native American people, Spanish missionaries and explorers, and mountain men. This rare ribbon of greenery in a unique geological setting also harbors an abundance of wildlife and birds. Known as the "Grand Canyon of the Mojave," Afton Canyon contains spectacular scenery. Not only does the Canyon exhibit beautiful examples of wind and water erosion, but the colors in the side walls look as if someone poured various shades of red and green paint over them. Popular activities include rockhounding, hiking, photography, horseback riding, and touring along the historic Mojave Road which runs through the canyon. It is located 37 miles northeast of Barstow along Interstate 15 between the Afton Road and Basin Road exits. Afton Canyon is designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern to protect plant and wildlife habitat, and to preserve scenic values of the Mojave River's riparian area within the canyon. The Rasor Off-Highway Vehicle Area boundary enforcement has begun to reverse the heavy off-road vehicles use and damage that occurred in the riverbed and canyon. Restoration projects are ongoing, and have already brought the river's "proper functioning condition" from a "non-functioning" to a "functioning at risk" status.

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