Sawtooth Canyon Campground
Sawtooth Canyon Campground, also know by its nickname “New Jack City,” is located approximately 3 miles west of California Highway 247 and 20 mile south of Barstow, California. In this “Limited” use area there are many different recreation activities: camping, wildlife viewing, hunting, rock climbing, and picnicking. The name "New Jack City" is the most widely used name and originates for the rock climbing community who use the area. However, the historic name for the canyon is “Traer Agua” which means “bring water’. "Sawtooth Canyon” is derived from the resemblance between the ridge line and the outline of a saw blade. There are not open routes of travel in this campground area.
More like this: first-come in California · free in California
Site map
14 campsite locations mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The site numbers are theirs and may not match the posts at the campground. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Amenities & rules
| Fees | No fees required. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
Sawtooth Canyon Campground, also know by it’s nick name “New Jack City,” is located approximately 3 miles west of California Highway 247 and 20 mile south of Barstow, California.
| Nearest town | Barstow, California |
| Coordinates | 34.6701° N, 116.9839° W · Directions ↗ |
Good to know
- OHV vehicles must be trailered in and trailered out, there is not a staging area.
Know before you go
- OHV riding is prohibited in Sawtooth, this is not a OHV Recreational riding area.
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Bring sufficient water, food, clothing, equipment, and first aid supplies for your activity.
- Weather extremes and poisonous snakes are desert hazards common to this area. Avoid low-lying areas during storms and remember that rain upstream can cause flooding even though it is not raining in the immediate area.
- Weather: The area is hot and arid, with summer high temperatures ranging from 100 to 120 degrees F. Winter low temperatures may drop below freezing with highs in the 70's. Typical of the desert, winds are frequent and strong, and humidity is generally low.
- Food, Fuel and Necessities: Food, fuel and most necessities are available in Barstow. Cellular phone service is not reliable in all locations.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 13.9 mi |
| RV sales & service | Affordable RV ↗ | 25.1 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Outdoor gear ↗ | 44.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 14.1 miBarstow Headquarters Information Desk ↗Visitor center
Public land it sits in
Newberry Mountains Wilderness begins about 11.3 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 11.3 miNewberry Mountains Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 26,102 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
On the National Register nearby
- Alf's Blacksmith ShopBuilding · Daggett · 14.5 mi
Guidebooks for California
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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 Sawtooth Canyon Campground?
No. Sawtooth Canyon Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: How first-come camping works
How much does it cost to camp at Sawtooth Canyon Campground?
Nothing. Sawtooth Canyon Campground is listed as free. No fees required.
Is there cell service at Sawtooth Canyon Campground?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is the nearest town to Sawtooth Canyon Campground?
Barstow, California.
Source: Getting there
What if Sawtooth Canyon Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Horse Springs Campground (22.5 mi, first-come), Rainbow Basin/Owl Canyon Campground (23.9 mi, first-come), and Big Pine Equestrian Group Campground (24.3 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby