Rainbow Canyon (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rainbow Canyon |
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 Rainbow Canyon
Location in California
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| Floor elevation | 1,854 feet (565 m) |
| Length | 5.5 miles (8.9 km) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Death Valley National Park, Inyo County, California, U.S. |
Rainbow Canyon is a special place located inside Death Valley National Park in California. It's on the park's western edge, about 130 miles (210 km) west of Las Vegas and 160 miles (260 km) north of Los Angeles. This canyon is also known as Star Wars Canyon or Jedi Transition.
It's a popular spot for the United States Air Force and Navy to train their fighter jets. Many photographers also visit the canyon. They stand on the canyon's edge and can take amazing pictures of jets flying far below them! You can reach the canyon's edge from Father Crowley Overlook, which is off California State Route 190.
How Rainbow Canyon Was Formed
Rainbow Canyon was carved out of basalt (a dark volcanic rock) and lava flows. These came from volcanoes in the Darwin Hills that erupted millions of years ago. In the deepest parts of the canyon, you can also see older rocks like granite and marble. Marble is a metamorphosed (changed by heat and pressure) form of Paleozoic limestone.
All these different types of rocks create the canyon walls, which are colored red, gray, and pink. These colors reminded people of the fictional planet Tatooine from the Star Wars movies. That's why the canyon got its famous nickname, Star Wars Canyon.
Long ago, the Coso people lived in this area. You can still find hundreds of their ancient rock carvings, called petroglyphs, inside the canyon. Rainbow Canyon helps drain water from the west side of the Santa Rosa Hills and the east side of the Inyo Mountains into the Panamint Valley. The canyon walls are very steep and can be up to 1,000 feet (300 m) tall.
Jets in the Canyon: Flight Training
Rainbow Canyon is one of the few places in the world where you can see military planes flying below you. Another famous spot like this is the Mach Loop in Wales. Military pilots have been using this canyon for training flights since World War II.
Planes fly through the canyon at speeds between 200 to 300 miles per hour (320 to 480 km/h). They can fly as low as 200 feet (61 m) above the canyon floor. Even then, they are still hundreds of feet below the people watching from the rim. Observers are so close that they can sometimes see the pilots' faces! The pilots often know people are watching and might even wave or give a signal.
Many types of planes train here, including fast fighter jets like the F-15, F-18, and F-22. You might also see larger bombers or even a C-17 Globemaster cargo plane. Sometimes, planes from other countries, like the Israeli F-16I Sufa, Eurofighter Typhoon, or even the Russian Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, have been seen flying through.
Several air bases use Rainbow Canyon for low-altitude training. These include Nellis Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Lemoore, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Fresno Air National Guard Base, and Edwards Air Force Base. The sky above this area is a special "restricted" zone just for military training. This training helps pilots practice flying low and fast. This skill is important for avoiding enemy radar and anti-aircraft fire. The path through the canyon is even called the "Jedi Transition" by the military.
Taking Pictures at Rainbow Canyon
Because Rainbow Canyon offers such a unique chance to see military jets up close, the National Park Service is thinking about making it an even better place for visitors. They might add signs and a parking lot. However, the military training schedules are not shared with the public, so planes don't fly every day.
If you visit, remember that the closest store and gas station are at Panamint Springs Resort, which is a bit of a drive. Also, mobile phone service usually doesn't work in this area, so your phone's navigation might not either. It's a good idea to plan ahead!
