Campgrounds

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Camping: May through September

During the summer, some sites in certain campgrounds may close. All group campsites will be closed during the summer of 2020 due to guidance from the local county health office to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 

Camping: September through May

Campgrounds usually fill on the weekends from October to May. In the springtime, and on all holidays, campgrounds usually fill up during the whole week. To improve your chances of getting a campsite and avoid disappointment, reserve a site or visit during the off-season (June to September).

Can't find a campsite inside the park? Learn more about Camping Outside of the Park.

During the quieter summer months, all campsites are first-come, first-served and reservations are not available. Some campgrounds may close in summer.

 

Reservation Camping

The majority of the 500 campsites in the park are available by reservation only from September to May. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance, and can be booked on recreation.gov. Reserving a site is highly recommended if you are planning to camp on a holiday, a weekend, or anyday of the week in the spring. Our busy spring season runs from from February to May.

 

Reservations Required: September-May

• 

  Black Rock

  99 sites. $20 per night. 4,000 feet in elevation. Water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.

• 

  Cottonwood

  62 sites. $20 per night. 3,000 feet in elevation. Water, flush toilets, tables, fire grates, and a dump station.

• 

  Indian Cove

  101 sites. $20 per night. 3,200 feet in elevation. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

• 

  Jumbo Rocks

  124 sites. $15 per night. 4,400 feet in elevation. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

 

First-Come, First-Serve Camping

Our four smallest campgrounds are first-come, first-serve. If you show up to a first-come, first-serve campground and there is an open site, you can self-register and pay at the kiosk. The fee is $15 per night by cash or check only.

First-come, first-serve campsites are highly competitive on holidays, most weekends, and the springtime. They are full nearly every weekend from Sept-May and most weeknights during our busy spring season from mid-February to mid-May. On the weekends, they are typically full by Friday afternoon. The earlier you arrive in a week, the better chance you will have to secure a site.

 

First-come: September-May

• 

  Belle

  18 sites. $15 per night. 3,800 feet in elevation. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

• 

  Hidden Valley

  44 sites. $15 per night. 4,200 feet. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

• 

  Ryan

  31 sites. $15 per night. 4,300 feet in elevation. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

• 

  White Tank

  15 sites. $15 per night. 3,800 feet in elevation. Pit toilets, tables, and fire grates. No water.

 

Can't Find A Campsite?

The park has become an extremely popular destination in recent years. Due to this popularity, all park campgrounds are usually full on weekends October through May.

If you arrive too late to get a site in a designated campground, you have the following options:

• Camp on Bureau of Land Management land outside the park.
• Go to a private campground or stay in lodging in gateway communities. Please contact area chambers of commerce for information.

Sleeping in your vehicle overnight along the roadside or at a roadside pull off is not allowed, and violators may be subject to a citation.

For more information, visit our Camping Outside of the Park page.

 

Group Sites

There are three areas that have group campsites: Cottonwood, Indian Cove, and Sheep Pass.

• Group sites can accommodate 10-60 people.
• Reservations for group sites may be made up to 6 months in advance.
• Cottonwood and Sheep Pass Group Campgrounds are for tents only. Indian Cove Group Campground can accommodate small RVs or trailers, with a maximum combined length of 25 feet.

 

Equestrian Camping

Black Rock and Ryan Campgrounds have designated horse camps. Ryan is closed in the summer months. See the horseback riding page for more information.

 

Regulations

Visit our Camping Regulations page to learn more about general rules, pets, quiet hours, and fires/firewood. Attaching lines to vegetation, including Joshua trees and junipers, is prohibited. Hammocks, slacklines, and other horizontal ropes must be tied to rocks and climbing bolts, and are not permitted in campgrounds.

 

Permitted Camping Guides

W.O.L.F.
Student Recreation and Wellness Center
Outdoor Outreach
Hidden Treasure Trex
Colorado Outward Bound School
Arizona Outback Adventures
Joshua Tree Guides
Anamis Valley Institute
Wildland Trekking Company, LLC
Kalamazoo College Outdoor Program