Black Rock Campground
Download the NPS app prior to visiting the park – trail maps and more! Black Rock Campground lies among one of the thickest Joshua tree forests in Joshua Tree National Park. Its location on the park's northern perimeter makes it a popular rest stop for hikers, birders, horseback riders and RV campers. Black Rock is one of four campgrounds in the national park that requires reservations year-round. To get the most out of your visit, Plan Like a Park Ranger Travelers who enjoy warm, dry winters flock to Joshua Tree from October through May, when temperatures hover between 70 to 90 degrees during the day and drop anywhere between 40 to 60 degrees at night.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · dark sky in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 54 |
| Standard, no hookups | 40 |
| Host/management | 5 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
94 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Tent only | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 002 | Tent only | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 003 | Tent only | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 004 | Standard | Back-in | 18 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 006 | Standard | Back-in | 24 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 007 | Standard | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 008 | Tent only | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 009 | Standard | Pull-through | 35 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | Tent only | Back-in | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Dark sky | Inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park |
| Accessibility | Site 061 is listed accessible |
The facility is convenient for RV camping, complete with flush toilets and a dump station. There are no hookups. Black Rock is one of two campgrounds in the national park that provides drinking water. There are 99 individual sites in the facility. Showers, laundry and other amenities are available in the town of Yucca Valley five miles away.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Take Interstate 10 to Route 62 into the town of Yucca Valley. Turn south on Joshua Lane and follow signs to campground, about five miles from the turn. If coming south on Highway 247, go straight across Highway 62 and continue onto Joshua Lane. There will be no sign for the park as you cross Route 62.
| Nearest town | Yucca Valley, California |
| Coordinates | 34.0717° N, 116.3892° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation. Depending on when you cancel in relation to your arrival day, it may be considered a late cancellation (see below). Changing an Existing Reservation: When changes are made prior to the cut-off window: If a customer wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee. There is no change fee if a customer extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. If they choose to depart early, they may forfeit the recreation fee for the day of departure. There is no change fee if the customer wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility. If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 0.2 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Joshua Tree Outfitters ↗ | 6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗ | 32.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
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Public land it sits in
Sand to Snow National Monument begins about 7.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 7.9 miSand to Snow National Monument ↗National Monument · Bureau of Land Management · 174,844 acres
- 12 miSan Bernardino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 805,483 acres
- 13.1 miSan Gorgonio Wilderness ↗Wilderness · BLM/FS · 101,574 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
The unique shape of Joshua trees and the huge rocks that surround them draw tourists and scientists alike to the national park. Within the Black Rock facility, the surrounding trees form silhouettes against the landscape during sunrise and sunset and display bunches of blooming white flowers in early spring. Campers staying at Black Rock may have the chance to view the elusive desert tortoise, found only in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Visitors may also want to keep their eyes out for more typical desert inhabitants such as lizards, rattlesnakes, scorpions, coyotes, ravens and desert tarantulas during the cooler months of the year. Bobcats and mountain lions do live in the park, however they are rarely seen near humans. Birders may also be pleasantly surprised at the variety of species found around the campground.
Recreation
There are many great hiking trails around Black Rock, including some with spectacular views of the low desert and high peaks around Palm Springs. Popular rock climbing sites are within a half-hour drive from the campground.
Guidebooks for Joshua Tree National Park
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Black Rock Campground?
Sites at Black Rock Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Black Rock Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Black Rock Campground?
A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Black Rock Campground have?
99 sites, including 54 tent-only sites and 40 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Black Rock Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Black Rock Campground?
The facility is convenient for RV camping, complete with flush toilets and a dump station.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Black Rock Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Black Rock Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Black Rock Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Black Rock Campground?
Site 061 is listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Black Rock Campground good for stargazing?
Yes. Black Rock Campground sits inside Joshua Tree National Park, a certified International Dark Sky Park.
Source: DarkSky International
Is there cell service at Black Rock Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 5G and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Black Rock Campground?
There are many great hiking trails around Black Rock, including some with spectacular views of the low desert and high peaks around Palm Springs. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation