Spent the night here in a Dirtbag Y site. Tad, the host, is very easy to work with and very…read morehelpful. He promptly met us and reviewed everything we needed to know and all the things provided in the yurt setup. All we brought was food and drink, everything else provided. Definitely recommend. Check reviews on hipcamp.com - 4.6 star rating from 1,344 reviews

Stayed here a couple of days ago cause everything was booked up in Joshua Tree. We reserved a spot…read morea couple of days before, but when we got there, there weren't any spots available. I texted the owner, and in about 1 minute, Tad came out and guided us to a spot we could camp for the night. It was right next to the other spots but had not fire ring. So what does Tad do? Goes and brings us a portable fire pit! Awesome service! Anyways, the place is really just a part of the owners property right by there house. But it is nice, for a few nights of camping when you can't get a spot in the park. I would totally stay here again. They'll even cook you breakfast if you order it the night before. It is an extra charge though, I think $12. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the bathroom situation. It was just a bucket behind a wall, no door even! But Tad told us they were getting a port-a-potty very soon. I definitely recommend Dirtbag Campground!

First-come, first-serve. No showers at campgrounds within the park. Brush up on bird baths before…read moreyou go. Weekend campsites are tough to score during spring peak season (March-April). Get there on a Thursday if you can swing it. If you can't, get there at the crack of dawn on Friday. Campsites will probably be full, but if you have faith and perfect timing, you'll whine/pout in the car for awhile until you snag one as someone else is leaving. This ended up being the case around 6:30 am, when we tested our luck at Ryan Campground after Jumbo Rocks was full. Ryan Campground has 31 campsites. If a post has an orange envelope clipped to it, the site's taken. Otherwise, it's yours. Sites are fairly spacious and surround a cluster of boulders. We snagged #16 for $15/night. If it's a weekend, it's a guarantee people will be circling the grounds each day in search of a site and asking if you plan to leave. They will also approach you at night and ask for advice on a place to camp. If you're feeling altruistic, keep in mind it's 2 vehicles per site. Make sure to consult the weather forecast beforehand--what we thought would be a little breeze ended up being 30 MPH gusts of hell. We took the ominous warning from the state park ranger lightly, who devilishly giggled after saying "no, you won't blow away." We didn't, but our tent collapsed, as did 80% of the tents surrounding us. Amidst our elemental battle, a couple pulled up to ask if we were leaving. We weren't, but invited them to share our site with us. The 4 of us combined couldn't keep our tent upright against the wind. An hour later, a torrential downpour forced us to throw everything into the car and sleep in a hotel. We returned the next morning when the wind died down. The weather didn't deter anyone, the sites were still full. Our tent dried out during the day and we were able to have a great experience. Highly advise a night hike to Ryan Ranch, but bear in mind you may encounter desert stragglers who've ingested hallucinogenics. It's entertaining. No matter your experience of Ryan Campground, you're sure to come away from it with a good story.

Review is for the hike, the payoff is an abandoned adobe homestead with the main structure still…read morestanding and old parts strewn around the base of Ryan Mountain. Joshua Tree will always have a special place in my memory. I came camping here for the first time as an elementary school kid and my friend's father taught me how to pitch a tent, spot constellations, and different types of rocks. Luckily, my kids seem to have inherited the same feelings and loved their time at Ryan's Ranch. Hike is an easy 1.1 miles out and back but you can spend much more time scrambling on the rocks which we did. There are Joshua Trees everywhere you can walk right up to. My favorite part was total freedom to explore. It's not like many hikes that have a set path and barriers to stay in, a lot for the rock scrambles are very close to the trail and there is easy visibility so you won't get lost if you don't wander too far.

Please read rules and all info to camp safely. December…read more2022 Christmas Camping Site was a great pick many rock formations to explore, folks ever so friendly. Bring plenty firewood when you think you do You don't trust Me. Vault Toilets highly maintained Frequent site visits by patrol cars Hiking with dogs can be challenging however manageable. There is a pet resort before entering Joshua I used them for the day made reservations in advance. There are 124 individual/family sites in Jumbo Rocks Campground. Reservations are required during the busy season, September to May. The campground is centrally located and offers great views of rock formations. A maximum of six people, three tents, and two vehicles may occupy an individual campsite, if there is space. A vehicle towing a trailer, popup, tent trailer, or fifth wheel, or a motorhome towing a vehicle, is considered two vehicles. Some sites can accommodate an overall combined RV length (including a towed vehicle) of up to 35 feet. For details about specific sites and availability, look at the Jumbo Rocks Campground page. Camping fees must be paid within one hour of selecting a campsite. Check in and check out are at noon. There is a 30-day camping limit each year. Only 14 of these nights may take place from October-May. All tents, tarps, and other camping equipment must be set up within 25 feet (7.6 m) of the picnic table or fire grate. Food must be stored securely where wildlife cannot get to it. Any scented or odorous items, including sunscreen and toiletries, must be secured as if they were food. Campsites left vacant for 24 hours will be treated as vacant. Holding or reserving campsites for persons not present is not allowed.

Such a memorable, comfortable and fun experience!! I'm happy that a campsite opened up last minute…read moreon Saturday night before the week of Thanksgiving. I added myself to the waitlist on reserve California and just happened to see the email as soon as a spot opened up! This campground feels like camping on the moon or that we were living next to the Flintstones. Honestly it couldn't have been a better experience and I'll remember it forever. The spots are super spread out you can't even tell if anyone else Is near by and we were right up against the rocks in a little cove. Each site has its own picnic bench, grill and fire pit this was all incredibly helpful and made packing easier! The hikes and views are amazing. You can hike so many well known hikes just walking around the corner. The sunshine was perfect and the stars felt like we could touch them. We woke up for the sunrise! Looking forward to next trip!

This was probably my favorite hike of the whole trip. Hidden Valley Nature trail was so beautiful…read more Great for beginner hikers as it wasn't too long. We came during sunset time and it was breathtaking. There's an awesome amount of rocks, joshua trees, beautiful views, and you can lay to see the stars. I will definitely be back!

Cool campground located within beautiful Hidden Valley in Joshua Tree National Park. This are was…read moreone of my favorite places to explore while I was here in the park. There are 44 sites with pit toilets, fire pits, but no water. The sites are are first-come, first-served and require pre-payment at an entrance station. The area is surround by large boulders and Joshua Trees. Just remember that it is prohibited to tie a hammock to any of the trees here. Definitely make some time to walk the Hidden Valley nature trail while you are here. There are picnic tables near the trailhead that you can eat at.

Belle Campground is, in my opinion, the best little campground in all of Joshua Tree National Park…read more Since there are no addresses inside Joshua Tree National Park, the closest point of reference is Twentynine Palms Visitor Center. From there, take Hwy 62 (Twentynine Palms Highway) east to Utah Trail and take a right. Once you enter the park, Utah Trail turns into Park Blvd. Then turn left on Pinto Basin Rd. Belle campground is located about one mile south of Park Blvd. on Pinto Basin Rd. The nightly fee is typical; $15.00 a night. There are 18 sites, each site equipped with a picnic table, barbecue and a fire pit. As with most campgrounds at JTNP, you will need to bring your own water; and bring plenty of it. There are only two vault toilets available throughout the entire campground, which are usually well stocked with toilet paper, but I always bring my own... just in case. Most of the camp sites are located within a couple of large boulder piles. There are several other large boulder piles nearby which are open for exploration. A short trail (about 400 ft. long) on the eastern edge of the campground leads to the California Riding and Hiking Trail, which winds about 38 miles from one end of the park to the other. This portion of the trail is fairly flat, so long hikes are fairly easy. Arch Rock Nature Trail is just over a mile away from the campground. From the CRHT, go south. Before long, the trail will curve right and you'll be heading southwest. Just before you cross the road (Pinto Basin Rd.) turn left and head for White Tank campground. From there you can locate the Arch Rock Nature Trail trail head. Before the sun sets, find yourself a perch high atop a boulder (preferably near your camp) and have a look around. Now you can fully appreciate the vastness of this unique and otherworldly desert as the sun's light floods over the earth below. But as the sun's light falters and darkness falls... the vastness of the desert is dwarfed by the infinite expanse of the heavens above, and the sky slowly comes to life. Before long the Milky Way flows like a glistening river across the night sky. Ataraxia: "an untroubled and tranquil condition of the soul." "I want to run, I want to hide, I want to tear down the walls, That hold me inside, I want to reach out, and touch the flame, Where the streets have no name." - U2

Hit and miss here to find a spot. No reservations. Came for spring break and it was packed. Luckily…read morewe found one open spot on a Monday. Gorgeous at this site though.

Very basic dry camping. If there's a picnic table, and the spot is open, you can take it. For my…read moreMercedes sprinter and my dog it cost me $35 for one night. It's in walking distance of the bars/ restaurants and shopping. Fun little town to walk around and check out. It is LITERALLY in the little pioneer town so you'll get noise from the concerts/ bands/ bars. So if you're looking for quiet ... This isbt the place to go. If you don't mind the noise/ partying...this place puta you smack dab in the middle of the fun.

We camp at Jumbo Rocks every year and it never gets old. The rock formations are just stunning like…read morenature's playground. You do need to book in advance though, this place fills up quick. Restrooms? Meh. Not the best, but we bring our own setup so it's not a dealbreaker. Just a heads-up: double-check how many vehicles your campsite allows. Last year we showed up with two cars but only had one parking spot such a rookie mistake! Thankfully our neighbors were cool and let us use their extra. There are tons of trails around here, with different levels depending on how much you feel like sweating. No water on-site though, so come prepared. Especially if you're visiting in the summer please bring a pack, hydrate often, and avoid turning your hike into a heat stroke story. Also, bees! They're not aggressive, but if you're allergic, bring your EpiPen or maybe rethink the trip. And the sunset? Unreal. Watching the sun bounce off those rocks is something else. If you're not staying overnight, you can still swing by and do the Skull Rock Trail it's short, sweet, and perfect for a day trip.

Jumbo Rocks Campground has 124 campsites and is one of the more popular campgrounds at Joshua Tree…read moreNational Park. Because of that, they require reservations year-round for $30 per site. Next to the campground has massive rock formations. If you're not staying at the campground there are only four parking spots but you can park on the side of the road just outside the entrance. The campground is in a central location with other campgrounds and attractions nearby. Even if you're not staying there it's nice to walk around and check out the rocks.

Buttercup is one of ten group campsites in the Big Bear Lake Recreation Area. It is located on the…read moresouth side of Big Bear Lake near Pineknot Family Campground and Snow Summit Ski Resort. It accommodates up to 40 people and 8 vehicles. Access is via dirt road, which we still managed to access in a BMW sedan (drive really slow and watch out for ditches). Amenities include 5 picnic tables, 1 double pedestal grill, 1 group fire ring and vault toilets (it wasn't too bad...even had toilet paper!). Drinking water is available (one spigot). I didn't know these types of campgrounds existed! Your group is the ONLY group on this campsite. Hence, these campgrounds book fast. They are pricier than your typical campgrounds at $120 a night. It is near Pineknot campgrounds, so we did see people occasionally exploring the forest. But, for the most part, we were pretty isolated. There was no sharing of the water spigots or vault toilets with any other group. We had a group of 20 people and it was perfect for us. Lots of places to set up a tent. Lots of shade...but I still recommend a canopy for during the day when hanging out near the campfire and picnic tables. I don't recall ever seeing the camp host. We had four dogs and they were pretty content on the site. There were mosquitoes, so bring your bug spray. There was no storage box for the food which seemed odd. But, we did try to store all the food at night in coolers, bags, or our cars. We had an open trash can which didn't even attract a furry critter during the night to our surprise. Overall, we really enjoyed our stay here!

Recently came here with a large group for a few nights. Nice campground, reasonably clean. Large…read morefire pit. Only thing of note that happened: on our first morning at the site, a ranger stopped by to check up on us. He threatened us repeatedly, for several minutes, with a $10,000 fine because the fire pit was "half dry." Not hot or warm. Not unattended. Dry. With people in camp. We had poured gallons of water on it and stirred it repeatedly the night before. We turned our headlamps on and off to ensure that there were no remaining embers, and kept pouring water into the pit until it ran out of all four corners. I poked around the pit at 8am with my bare hands, hours before the inspection, and could find zero discernible hot spots. The ash was still thoroughly soaked at the time. Some of the ash apparently dried out before ~11 am, when he stopped by. Not at all surprising, given that the fire pit is on a slope. And we were threatened, at length, with a $10,000 fine. I still don't understand it. Hell, if we'd had a fire going when he showed up, it would have been "dry." Fires were permitted. Dry fire pits apparently weren't? Still confused. Forest fires are no joke, but the ranger here can be very unpleasant about it. If you plan to camp here, you need to go above and beyond the posted fire regulations to keep the ranger off your back. Soak the embers and pile ice onto the pit if you have it. That will keep the ash wet until late morning, when he makes his rounds. Other things to note: all but one or two tent sites were on a slope. The trash can mentioned in the 2014 review is gone: trash must be disposed of at dumpsters in the nearby Pine Knot campground. There are still no bear boxes, so food must be stored ~in vehicles. This seemed odd, since all of the individual sites at the Pine Knot campground had bear boxes. Everything else mentioned in that review (double pedestal grill, 5 tables, vault toilets) is still operational. No mosquitoes by September -- too cold.