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    Black Rock Canyon

    4.1 (76 reviews)
    Open Open 24 hours

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    Nature Center
    Travis T.

    Nice little nature center that is nestled within a bunch of Joshua Trees and next to Black Rock Campground. I like this area because it is one of the thicker areas of Joshua Trees. I felt like I got more of an up-close experience with them because there are so many of them around here. The ranger station has a gift shop, maps to help guide you and an area to stamp your national park passport book. The nearby campground has 99 sites with picnic tables and a fire ring at each spot. Campsites vary in size and can accommodate both tents and RVs. There are also several trails you can hike on at this location. This area was originally developed to be a Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Campground back in the 70's.

    Site 12
    Grace A.

    Not a terrible campground, but the spots were very close together compared to other national park campgrounds. The host was nice and the bathroom/grounds were generally clean.

    Black Rock camping grounds
    Love P.

    This is a great place to visit if you want to do a short hike at Joshua Tree, but don't want the full National Park experience. I was only going for an hour so a helpful park employee let me know about this option. There was free parking and satisfied my desire to hike a bit in the desert. This is not a substitute for anyone looking for the full Joshua Tree experience.

    Tina H.

    Awesome camping spot when visiting Joshua tree! All campsites have a fire pit and table. Campsites are pretty spacious. Campgrounds are well kept and rangers are very friendly.

    Trail map
    Gavin S.

    I decided I need some Joshua tree photos for Instagram but didn't want to deal with hassle/vastness of Joshua Tree National Park so I thought Black Rock Canyon would be the right place! The Black Rock Canyon Ranger station (or Black Rock Nature Center according to Google) is the perfect place to start your Black Rock adventure. Black Rock Canyon Overview * Small part of Joshua Tree National Park * Completely free to visit; unlike the main portion of the Joshua Tree park * Has spotty cellphone reception on parts of the trails * Features multiple short trails - High View Nature Loop, Panorama Loop, Short Loop, etc. * Has tons of Joshua trees So as you can see, Black Rock Canyon presents itself as an affordable (free), safer (cell reception), condensed alternative to the main Joshua Tree Park. The Black Rock station is where you will want to park for Black Rock Canyon trails. There is free parking on a paved lot. Google Maps may want to take you to other places for the trailhead; but, it may attempt to lead you on to closed/private roads. The Black Rock Canyon Ranger station is very well equipped as ranger stations go. There are clean restrooms, printed brochure maps (uncommon post pandemic), a gift shop, and even a small art exhibit! Unfortunately, the gift shop does not sell food. The reason I knocked off one star is because the road to Black Rock Canyon station is suboptimal. It is a maze of very narrow, pothole plagued roads. The roads are in a bad enough condition that I would prefer a dirt road and be concerned with tire damage. Overall, my experience with Black Rock Canyon station was good! The trails were fun, though, it didn't look exactly like the Joshua tree photos featured on social media. Black Rock Canyon is much more lively with dense fields of Joshua trees and shrubs than the barren, rocky desert-scape Joshua Tree is known for. Amenities: (Spotless!) Restrooms, Printed Maps, Art Exhibit, Gift Shop Parking: There is free parking available on a small, paved lot. The lot was nearly full on February Sunday morning.

    Christopher B.

    Awesome campsite. Bathrooms at this location are overall clean and well maintained. The campsites are a little tight and close to together, but luckily more than half the site was empty when I went. Some spots are definitely better than ours. #20 was a pretty good & large spot. For $25, I would definitely return to this spot in the future.

    Campsite (pre-set up).  Plenty of space and a very aggressive squirrel included!
    Craig W.

    Very nice campground located on the north end of Joshua Tree. Check-in at the ranger station was efficient. Rangers were pleasant. Campsite was decent-sized. No one was immediately around us because the campgrounds were definitely not full. Most of the campers kept it low-key at night, which was nice. Every campsite comes with concrete picnic table and a fire pit. There is very, very little shade so bring a canopy. Nice trails, ranging from 1-2 miles to much longer ones. We saw jackrabbits and tons of lizards and some great birds. We also heard plenty of coyotes at night. It can get really hot (and cold) out here but we got lucky and it only hit 80 at the highest. Restrooms were the cleanest I have seen in any campgrounds. Real, flush toilets. Bravo. This is a beautiful area and very relaxing. A very nice, well-kept campground will bring us back in the future.

    Wayne S.

    Black Rock Canyon Campground,located 5 miles north of Twenty Nine Palms Hwy is a scenic location with campsites for tents,campers,trailers and RV's near Joshua Tree National Park with plenty of hiking,biking,walking,day packing and back packing opportunities! This is a great,safe and comfortable camping location that features fire pits,benches and tables,a info center and plenty of open spaces for everyone who visits! Great for seasoned and first time campers as well! If you need or forgot something the city of Yucca Valley is only 5 miles away! In the evening the skies are filled with millions of beautiful stars! Perfect for an overniter,a few days or as a launch point camp for a california deserts camping adventure! We enjoyed our experience here very much! . . . . #blackrockcanyon #joshuatree #joshuatreenationalpark #californiadreamin #californiadreaming #camping #hiking #panoramatrail #yuccavalley #29palmshwy #29palms #jthavn #ilovejoshuatree #gocamping #waynesalvatti #seetheusa #photografxworldwide #nitesky #starsinthesky

    Campsite 97 nice and private
    Bobby C.

    Black Rock is great however outside Joshua Tree NP so you have to pay $15 more to enter on top of your camp reservation. That is one thing we were unaware of. However they take reservations and RVs and the site was lovely. I would stay again but I like being inside the park better if possible. They have ample bathrooms and a RV dump station with water fill ups.

    Sara L.

    I left my heart at Black Rock Canyon! :) It was a quiet, peaceful, beautiful area. Campsite have fire pits (favorite part). Short, but sweet hikes in the area. Not as populated as other camp sites, another plus! It was perfect! I can't wait to go back. Totally recommend it. Also, restrooms were clean. :)

    Kayla B.

    Not a terrible site... but it was miserably windy this past weekend. There are a bunch of wind mills in the area, so I'm not sure if the area is always windy? When my friends and I went into the actual park, it was easily 10 degrees warmer and there was no wind. The wind was honestly the game changer - our tents were flopping all over the place, and our food would go cold ~2 minutes after serving up. Mother Nature's attitude has nothing to do with the campsite experience though, I give the place 3 stars because the ranger was kindof a narc. Note to future campers: They're strict on the rules. No more than 6 people, 3 tents, and 2 cars - and the tents have to be within 25 feet of your fire pit or picnic bench. You've been warned!

    Coyote in the campground at dawn

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    Black Rock Canyon Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Black Rock Canyon

    Are the camp site first come first serve? Or do we have to book a spot in advance?

    They are first come first serve and reservable on line .

    Do they have a dump station there?

    Yes

    On the map, sites 95 & 97 are next to each other but seem some distance away? would it work to book both sites for a group?

    It's not terribly far, you'd be able to see each other and easily walk back and forth, but tents would still have to be within 20 or 25 feet of the fire pit, so you wouldn't be able to spread out between the two.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Black Rock Canyon

    In the future, we will just plan on staying at Black Rock campground and doing day hikes in Joshua Tree.

    Mentioned in 24 reviews

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    Indian Cove Campground

    Indian Cove Campground

    4.4(82 reviews)
    13.9 mi

    Indian Cove Campground is hands down one of the most unique and peaceful places to stay in Joshua…read moreTree National Park. Surrounded by massive rock formations, it feels secluded, quiet, and incredibly raw -- like you're camping inside a natural stone cathedral. The campsites are well spaced, giving you privacy and that true desert solitude. No RV hookups, no noise, no distractions -- just rocks, sky, wind, and silence. This is real camping, not a parking lot with tents. Sunsets here are unreal, and at night the stars are absolutely breathtaking. If you're into hiking, climbing, photography, or just disconnecting from everything, this place is perfect. You can step out of your tent and immediately feel like you're deep in the wilderness. Facilities are basic but clean and well maintained, which is exactly what you want in a place like this. Indian Cove isn't for everyone -- and that's why it's special. Highly recommended for anyone who wants an authentic Joshua Tree experience

    This is a very nice Campground places to book up and weekends to fully book up so try to plan early…read morelike really early different spots have different benefits some are shady and some are not some are more roomy and some are not some have parking for more than one person While others the parking is extremely tight also need to look at the proximity to the pit toilets pit toilets meaning that it's just a hole in the ground but it isn't closed with the door overall the Ambiance and the environment is amazing and well maintained frequently I see that there are Ranger Patrol vehicles that drive by to check and the many times that we have visited we have always been very impressed with the cleanliness and the order and how well the park is maintained many people come here over and over again because of the amazing Ambience and the environment it is so quiet here and unclear nights you can definitely see all the stars and you are one with them this is far enough to be away from the daily hustle and bustle but close enough to be able to do a weekend trip

    Photos
    Indian Cove Campground
    Indian Cove Campground
    Indian Cove Campground

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    Lake Hemet - Lake Hemet, Ca. 1-16-26

    Lake Hemet

    4.4(1.1k reviews)
    32.3 mi

    We went from the 10th of May to the 12th we just went out there to just relax and get away…read more So we got there and got everything unpacked. And found out that the bottom of the refrigerator did not get very cold so I was actually worried about all of our food going bad so we called the front and let them know that the refrigerator was not working. The freezer worked fine so they sent somebody down to check it out. And he brought us a small refrigerator that he put on a table outside. So we could put some of our food in it so we did that, but notice that the refrigerator did not work very well. Either. But anyways, we just kind of dealt with it.. Then the maintenance guy came back and told us that they are giving us a free 2 hours on a pontoon boat for the inconvenience. I truly highly recommend this place, they truly make sure that you are comfortable. And they do try their best.I give these guys five stars.. A few things in their trailer should actually be updated. But we made things work. We will all definitely be going back there.Hopefully, they can get that trailer updated on the mattresses. The refrigerator. And just overall, the cleanliness of the trailer actually was not up to my standards, maybe they could do better, but other than that, it was awesome, very relaxing, enjoyed the nature and most definitely enjoyed the pontoon. Thank you again so much , and we definitely will be returning

    I just completed My second year of fishing and camping here with my grandson. I love this place…read moresimply because of the staff. its camping, so things sometimes dont go as planned but the staff are always extremely helpful! Ed is the person who stands out for me. That guy goes out of his way to do what ever he can to make my visit enjoy for me and my grand-dude. The residents of the lake are also very helpful, welcoming to guest. There was a 8 yr old kid name Tauren who with his father's ok, walked up and down the shore to assist visitors in catching fish by offering his extensive knowledge of the lake and fish habits. Im already scheduling another trip. The water was low for the 2nd year in a row but I cant blame the lake for that! My one complaint is really trivial but the pillows and beds in the cottage were too hard and very difficult to sleep on. Also, the cottage I was in had two uncovered windows in the kitchen and the neighbors can look directly into the cottage at any hour.

    Photos
    Lake Hemet - Our campsite from another campground, across the lake

    Our campsite from another campground, across the lake

    Lake Hemet - Sunset from the shoreline

    Sunset from the shoreline

    Lake Hemet - Dylan approves

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    Dylan approves

    Serrano Campground - Site #87

    Serrano Campground

    4.2(252 reviews)
    32.7 mi

    Review 63/365 day challenge…read more Updating my review, 2nd time staying at this campground. We enjoyed it a lot 2 years/2 summers ago and returning 08.13-15.25 for another family summer camping trip. We're at Campground # 28 Campground # 27 is accommodating for disabilities. Which was right across from our campground # 28. #27 had majority all pavement in the campsite. Around the picnic table along they have their own water spout for water use. Also located closest to the restroom/showers, has a pavement road leading up to it for easy access. REMINDER there is no washing dishes sink available on these campgrounds nor can you use the restroom sinks to wash anything. There is a sign that it isn't allowed. So make sure to bring your own water! This time around downfall is the electrical plugs in both of the restrooms, weren't working the 2 nights stay we were there. I asked the associates that were driving around daily regards to the power. They told me it's a hit or miss. Sometimes the power isn't working and there's nothing that can be done to fix it. The downfall. Love the Serrano campground since it's not far from the actual Big Bear village. Still definitely recommend it. Really clean & everyone is respecting each other especially at night.

    You like camping, but don't want to drive 3 to 4 hours away. This campsite is located in the north…read moreshore area of Big Bear Lake. Approximately a 1hour, 40 minutes drive from West Covina. Campsite was very nice, clean & very well kept. Campsite host on site. Our campsite was a double site, #32/33, and was wonderfully beautiful. Restrooms & showers located nearby, plenty of shade spots for tent setup. Numerous hiking trails available, short walk to lake for fishing, (purchase fishing license before you arrive) bike riding, and boat rentals are also offered, but kind of expensive. Must reserve sites, 6 months ahead. We'll definitely come back, maybe annually.

    Photos
    Serrano Campground - Site #90

    Site #90

    Serrano Campground - Campground # 28 08.22.25

    Campground # 28 08.22.25

    Serrano Campground - Site #86

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    Site #86

    Sam's Family Spa & Hot Water Resort - motel bathrooms

    Sam's Family Spa & Hot Water Resort

    3.5(216 reviews)
    10.6 mi

    Me and my family have been coming to Sam's for over 40 years. It's a tradition started by my…read moregrandparents and us as grandchildren continue to carry this tradition. This was my first time coming here since I was 10 years old. Wow. The nostalgia hit so hard. The snack shop, hot pools, duck feeding, friendly staff etc. Only thing I would change though is the 1 tent per site. Other than that, Sam's will always be a place to come to for a family vacation.

    This was a disappointing experience. The parking lot is very inconvenient for a new visiter with a…read morelarger RV. It's confusing and small. I had picked an RV site but it was scratched out and replaced with another site number. it was two sites away so I didn't mention it. My site was next to a permanent resident fifth wheel in horrible condition. Little did I know it was one of the better permanent RVs there. When you see all the "rules" for campers there you assume this is a nice place. I think they even wanted to know the year of our RV, like they have standards. HA! Went on a walk around and there were junky RVs everywhere that are old, broken RVs surrounded by hoards and hanging laundry (NOT allowed! LOL) Seeing all the permanent septic hoses on the ground and with the "p trap" dip showing they are open 24-7 was awful. Speaking of laundry, after a week in Mexico we had two loads to run. Our friends had one. Luckily there were three working - because only about 30% of the washing machines/dryers were actually functioning. They only had coin operated washers and no change machine. The pool area was older but clean and nice. The pool was cold! There is a separate, covered area with four hot pools of various temperatures. These were well used and I should point out there can be children present - just pointing this out as it can be less then relaxing to have a child playing with dolls in the spa with you. Unfortunately the sauna was not working when I was there. It had some very pretty grounds around the pool for games and barbecue. Nice pond with turtles, too. When we went to leave, we tried to hook up to empty the grey and black tanks. Our septic hook up was modified for a smaller hose size and there was no way for us to be able to use it. Very frustrating and we didn't want find an alternate there since it was quite early in the morning. The guy banging on metal and running equipment behind us hadn't even showed up to make noise yet that morning. After we left we reached out to the management via email and it has been over a week with NO response. We had asked for a partial refund due to the issues mentioned. With no reply, I feel compelled to warn others, since you will have no recourse once they get your money apparently. While we enjoyed the pool for a couple hours and felt like I was pretty safe there, the amenities and services were otherwise lacking and not worth, in my opinion, what we paid. It felt very, "bait and switch." The location was ok for decompressing from our Mexico trip, but next time we will go back the way we came (a hidden gem by Salton Sea)

    Photos
    Sam's Family Spa & Hot Water Resort
    Sam's Family Spa & Hot Water Resort
    Sam's Family Spa & Hot Water Resort

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    Black Rock Canyon - hiking - Updated May 2026

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