## Overview

 Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000 year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places. At 4,400 feet in elevation, Hole-in-the-Wall Campground is surrounded by sculptured volcanic rock walls and makes a great base camp for hikers. 
## Recreation

 There are over 1.6 million acres to explore. The popular main attractions are accessible by paved and unpaved roads and more remote areas of the park will require a high clearance, 4WD vehicle. Check out the must see highlights: [Mojave National Preserve Must See Highlights][1] Explore the preserve off the beaten path! Take your street legal vehicle along the historic Mojave Road or visit the multitude of canyons and mining roads. Be sure to have high clearance and 4WD. Do not enter mines. [4WD Routes][2] Mojave offers many hikes to choose! [Hiking][3] Visit [Zzyzx][4] and learn about its history. It is also a great birding location due to its pond. 
## Facilities

 Hole-in-the-Wall has 38 campsites. Each campsite contains 1-2 vehicle parking spots, picnic table, fire ring, and tent area. Water spigots and vault toilets are available around the campground. Camp hosts are typically present in the peak season months. A dump station is available for campers. Free WiFi is available 24/7 at the Hole-in-the-Wall Information Center. 
## Natural Features

 Three of the four major North American deserts are found at Mojave National Preserve: the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran. Dozens of seeps and springs coupled with varied elevations and soil types create microhabitats that support a diversity of plant and animal life. Cactus gardens, relict plant communities of white fir and chaparral and the densest, largest Joshua tree forest are all found here. Geologically, the region is just as diverse as it is ecologically. Mountain ranges, dry riverbeds, great mesas, towering sand dunes, striking cinders cones, domes and lava flows define Mojave. Ancient rocks that date back to 2.5 billion years old have been discovered in the Clark Mountains. Set out to search for the blooms across the preserve: [Wildflowers][5] Visit the worlds largest Joshua Tree forest around the Cima Dome area. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Popular Hikes: Kelso Dunes - Hike to the top of our most popular sand dune! Rings Loop 1.5 miles, Discover how Hole-in-the-Wall got its name as you ascend narrow Banshee Canyon with the help of metal rings mounted in the rock. Barber Peak - This loop trail encircles Barber Peak just west of Hole-in-the-Wall Campground. Lava Tube - Explore an underground wonder! High clearance vehicle recommended. Teutonia Peak - A mixed Joshua tree forest and Joshua tree graveyard beckon en route to a rocky peak with expansive views of Cima Dome and beyond! This area burned in August 2020. 

[1]: https://www.nps.gov/tripideas/mojave-national-preserve-must-see-highlights.htm
[2]: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/4wdroutes.htm
[3]: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/hiking.htm
[4]: https://www.nps.gov/moja/learn/historyculture/zzyzx.htm
[5]: https://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/wildflowers.htm

Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

Join the fun near Cima. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Cima is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.

Cima

The Best Camping Near Cima, California

Was driving out late and need a place to crash found this campground and came in the dark didn't know what to expect. Woke up to a excellent sunrise and a great camp. Options for RVs all the way to pop up tents has water that's clean, clean toilets, and both garbage and recycling bins

Sunrise Suprise 

Pros: very quiet campground, with sites that are some distance apart. Absolutely breathtaking scenery - this campground is in the valley between hills and the undeveloped land around the campsites is covered in an amazing variety of cacti. The cost is also reasonable at $12/night. The tent sites are nicely designed with a large tent pad, a picnic table, and fire ring. The visitors' center is very close up the road, and they have flush toilets and water, as well as a very small gift shop, but not really anything else.

Cons: The only way to get to the campground is driving for about a 1-2 hours on unpaved roads, which are rough in some spots. Once you get there, there are only pit toilets and no sinks or showers. There is usually potable water in the campground, but that was also unavailable during my visit because of drought conditions (however that info was easily found on the website and I was prepared for that). But by far the worst thing about this campground was the wind. It was breezy all day, which was fine, but at about 9 or 10 pm at night the winds picked up to about 30-40 mph sustained through the whole night, with gusts of ~50 mph. It definitely caught myself off guard, and by the looks of the remaining tents the next morning it caught a lot of other campers off guard also.

If the conditions are like that most of the time (possible since it's in a valley?), I wouldn't tent camp there again because it wasn't relaxing at all. But if that was a fluke or I had an RV, I would consider another stay there. There were a lot of ORVs in the area, and I think anyone who enjoys doing that would love this campground.

Gorgeous scenery and quiet, SUPER windy

This is a great little campground. Especially since it's so close to a really awesome hike the Rings Trail and others in the area. Each campsite was clean and flat, the bathrooms were basic pit toilets but they were very clean also and there were water spigots through out the area.

Clean and Beautiful

Very limited shade, but sites are very close to some really neat hiking spots like one where you have to climb down a small canyon by holding metal rings that were attached to the rocks. Since there's no city lights to pollute the sky, there's amazing views of the night sky.

Amazing views

This campground is an excelent place if you like basic and secluded campgrounds. Each campsite is just the perfect size for 1 tent/RV. With the site you will get a picnic table and a fire pit. The fire pit also has a gril bar so you can use it for cooking/bbq if neded. Campground is super peacful and relaxing. Situated at the botom of a clif with desert views on other three sides. It can be pretty windy, so do look at the weather channel before comming and plan accordingly. You can still stay there even in the windy nights, just be ready for a lot of noise as the wind bangs on your tent pretty loudly. We were here at the end of May, just before the temperature started climbing too much and even though it was Memorial Day weekend there was enough empty sites. The campgroud is First Come First Serve, but it seems like it's never fully packed, and it's been pretty easy to find a spot everytime.

Kelso Depot, Mojave Cross and the largest Joshua Tree Forest, as well as Kelso Dunes are all within an hour ride from the campground.

Excelant and Peaceful Campground  

We wanted to check out ZZYZX but there was no camping there so we had to explore other options. Really wanting to be as close to the dried salt lake area where you can literally yell out and hear your voice echo for miles we discovered Hole-In-The-Wall. It sounded a bit funny considered it was in the middle of the desert and everything is like a hole in the wall as you pass through miles and miles of nothingness, but we gave it a shot and were very pleased.

It is a first come first serve campsite but when we were there that wasn't an issue there were only a few campers. It made for a quiet night in the desert where we were surrounded by low laying vegetation and views of the mountains around. It looked like a pretty large campground overall with lots of sites each with a picnic table and fire ring.

There was no potable water when we were there and only pit toilets. Pretty basic, no hook ups and no showers.

It was pleasant though and I would say it made us happy that we had stumbled upon it. It was $12 fo the night for our site and I did notice that those having the senior card could get a discount, so something to look forward to when I get older!!

It was pretty no frills camping. But since we always come prepared we had firewood ready to go and were able to enjoy setting up then venturing over to ZZYZX to check out the "abandoned" site, which is actually partially used as a research facility and partially a ruin of times passed. Really unique experience from every angle.

TIPS:

* Pack extra water since there is none available and if you are interested in a shower make sure you have an outdoor shower bag already filled before you arrive.

* While you can have a generator they do have a quiet hours policy for other guest. The campground is so quiet at night and everything echoes in the canyon.

* Do not camp in washes because even though it seems dry when rain comes it quickly moves across the desert and will flood these areas and create very scary conditions.

Great Place To Camp In The Desert

Had plenty of room for multiple tents on one campsite. The campsite was well maintained and was great if you like to do some plain and simple camping. Very close to several good hiking trails and not far from several other desirable locations within the national park. 

Nice campground

This was a last minute decision while driving from CA to IN. It’s a 35 site campground, no reservations accepted. We had a back up plan in case it was full, but that wasn’t necessary, there was only one other person there. We chose a campsite on the opposite side from where he was. We stayed on the west side, which was beautiful, as we looked directly at the canyon walls. There are pit toilets and trash receptacles at frequent intervals. There is non drinkable water available. No firewood on site, and you can’t collect. You are roughing it here, but if you are okay with that, you can’t beat this experience!  We paid $6 for the night with our ATB pass, it’s $12 normally. It was crazy windy through the night, I don’t know if that’s normal or not. So windy we left the pop up trailer hitched to our Jeep because the gusts were incredibly strong and we were worried about the trailer being tossed. All kinds of critters about, including in the restrooms, so be aware. 

Unbelievable Experience!

Loved the quiet.  There a couple of hikes available that are worth your time.  Just make sure to drink plenty of water.  After the sun settles behind the hills quite a bit of wild life comes out, including the giant jackrabbits.  Make sure you situate your tent to face the wind as it kicks up for a couple hours after the sunset.  The desert breathes freely while cooling down.  There were no fees in early September for camping. 

Desert camping

Very windy when I went but good. Tent spots have sand on ground so be prepared to weigh down tent rather than use stakes

Good

First come first serve

Definitely would advise getting here early if camping during a holiday weekend. Great spots, spaced out. Wonderful desert views all around! Rangers host an astronomy night and guiding hike! Running water and vaulted clean toilets

Desert treasure 

Hole in The Wall has plenty to offer with hikes and views all around. The ring trail is interesting. Basic facility with pit toilets, tables, fire rings and water. But water may be seasonal. No hookups available for RV's. Gets windy at night with down canyon flows after sunset. $12 a night, passes are accepted. Nice area for star gazing.

Quiet in the Mojave Preserve

We stayed one night here and enjoyed the beautiful sunset and sunrise. Nice, big campsites and well maintained facility. We made the mistake of taking the dirt road through the preserve from the North- we do not recommend! It was such bad washboard it took 2 hours to go 15 miles. Save yourself and your vehicles the pain and go around. The wind was also very strong the night we were there. So much so that the gusts shook our camper and made it hard to sleep. We enjoyed ourselves but may not be back for just a stop over. 

Nice desert camping

We stayed here in mid-March. It was beautiful. Good hiking nearby, great star gazing and over all very peaceful and relaxing. It was cold in March at night so be prepared. Zero cell service so you are certainly unplugged!! Don’t miss other hikes near this camp spot, Kelso Depot is great along with some Lava tunnels and sand dunes. 

Beautiful and Serene

Fantastic, rustic, sweeping views of the area. Bathrooms &amp; water pumps are readily supplied throughout the park. We were surprised to find out they turn off the water in early December each year. 

Great boondocking 

We stayed here for two nights both of which were quite windy so stake down your tent extra tight. The views here are definitely what make this place worth it to camp at. The Ring Loop trail is also a blast. Theres potable water available and we payed a total of $24 for two nights here. I would definitely visit again.

Such a cool place to camp

Stayed: 6/2/2022

Cost: $12 (exact change)

Site: 16

Vehicle: GMC Terrain

Equipment: Tent

AT&amp;T and T-Mobile: Slow but usable

  

We made the trek out to Hole-in-the-Wall at Mojave National Preserve for one night. It was a much longer dirt road than I had imagined and you go up in elevation. It took almost a half-hour to get to the campground from Cedar Canyon Road.

  

This is a First Come, First Served NPS campground. We started the loop a little worried because every site was tagged, but by the time we got back over to the first loop, we had our pick of sites. We chose 16 because of the great view and it being directly next to the pit toilet. (The cleanest pit toilet I’ve ever seen)! The campground also has potable water, plenty of dumpsters and a dump station.

  

We wanted to stay here because we were finishing off our trip the next morning at the Hole-in-the-Wall Visitor Center. It is directly next door, you can even see the lot from the campground.

  

This was a great place to stay, but maybe it would have been more worth it to stay at least a couple nights. I definitely didn’t realize the trek it was to get here, from the main part of the park. Everything is super spread out at Mojave.

  

#DareToEverywhere

Really nice campground, LONG dirt road to reach.

Paved road into campsite (about 20miles). Campground itself is smooth gravel. Well spaced and mostly level sites with beautiful desert vegetation between sites. First come, first serve. Almost empty in late Oct. $12/night. No hookups but access to potable water and a sanidump. Very clean pit toilets. Friendly and informative host. Access to trails right from campground, and information center within sight.

Easy access to Majove Desert

Loved it. Some big pull through sites and back in sites for 30+ ft trailers.  Water stations spread out through the campground and a Dump station.  Camp sites are spaced out with some good distance between.  Awesome views of the local mountains and hiking trails are close. 

Great place

We have camped here twice because it is a convenient location on our way from California to other states. But it is also a pretty area. Even though it is first come, first serve, there were plenty of sites available both times we stayed. ￼ There are relatively clean toilets with toilet paper,a waste basket, and hand sanitizer. We were OK in our trailer, but we had to pull down our awning because the wind was extremely strong overnight. We noticed a few of the tent campers left in the middle of the night.￼ A warning to tent campers to check the weather before camping there.

Quiet and convenient 

Great location with opportunities for nice hiking. Wonderful surroundings. Our 3 boys had a blast calming and hiking. I would no stay more than two nights if you are looking for something new every day. 

Family Two days Stay

Great camping spots.  You feel somewhat close to your neighbors but the are angled where you don't feel on top of eachother.  We never saw the host so just bring exactly $12 in cash with you to pay at the stand.  Bathrooms are pit toilets but didn't smell and were as clean as the could be.  Portable water and the rings loop trail was amazing!!

Out in the Middle of Nowhere 

Campsite with 30 something spots. Potable water and a hose to refill your freshwater (non potable). Graywater disposal available. Dry toilets clean. Amazing views! Visitor centre and walks nearby. Almost empty when we went in early May. Enjoy!!

Beautiful setting 

Stayed here for one night in July. We were afraid that it will be extremely hot, but the night was surprisingly cold. Only a free other campgrounds we have been on our trip could beat the stars at night. Even though the site is in the middle of the desert, everything is perfectly clean and you even have water.

Epic spot directly in the Mojave desert

I love this campground. The scenery is gorgeous and there are several interesting hiking trails. The campsites are spread out. A great place to enjoy the desert, especially in the winter.

Great Area

This is one of my favorite campgrounds.  It's easy to get to and is in the middle of the beautiful Mojave Preserve.  All camp sites now must be reserved on Recreation.Gov.  Luckily, we had enough bars on Verizon to do it on the spot when we arrived.  We found plenty of sites available that were large enough for our 30 foot travel trailer.  The campground was only about a quarter full.

  

Although the campground is dry camping, there is a dump site and water is available to top off your tank.  They also provide trash receptacles.  

  

The nearby visitor center closes at 1500, and there is no store or fuel in Mojave.  Most people drive to Baker, CA for fuel, or over to AZ, about an hour away.  I would come next time with a fuller tank of fuel.

Quiet and Beautiful Campground!

Stayed here two nights, nicely spread out sites, with a variety of types.  Walk in, drive in, pull through etc.  Nice area away from traffic and noise.  NPS staff a nearby visitor friendly.  we did a few nearby hikes.  Was a bit windy and rained a bit, but that’s what happens in April.

A nice campground

This campground lies within the most populous state in our union, but feels like it’s a million miles from nowhere. The only thing that might remind you of civilization is the distant glow of interstate trucks moving along the highway which cuts through the Mojave National Preserve some 30 miles distant. 

  

Situated on a high vantage point the sites offer options to observe the vastness of this desert plain. The sites are mostly small with only a few offering room for larger rigs but lots of space in between sites. The campground loop road is dirt and narrow, so maybe scout ahead if you need more clearance for turns. The picnic table, tent pad, and fire ring are cool, and the vault toilets are super clean, at least when we were there. 

  

Fresh water is available at the Visitor’s Center just down the road. You can hike, road bike or mountain bike right out of the campsite. In fact, one of the coolest hikes we’ve been on is the famous “hole in the wall” which makes you twist through these beautiful marble canyon walls. While it’s not for the faint of heart, it is easy enough for anyone who can climb a ladder. Other, less committing hikes are all around, including some longer distance trails. 

  

Access to the campground and visitor’s center is easy and paved, but north of the campground the road is 4 wheel drive access only. This makes it great for mountain or cyclocross bikes, with fewer cars and traffic. Driving through the park can be an adventure in and of itself. There’s not much nearby at all so come prepared to be self-sufficient. The nearest towns with restaurants are to the east or west along the interstate.

Off-Grid & Out There...PERFECT!

This campground lies within the most populous state in our union, but feels like it’s a million miles from nowhere. The only thing that might remind you of civilization is the distant glow of interstate trucks moving along the highway which cuts through the Mojave National Preserve some 30 miles distant. 

  

Situated on a high vantage point the sites offer options to observe the vastness of this desert plain. The sites are mostly small with only a few offering room for larger rigs but lots of space in between sites. The campground loop road is dirt and narrow, so maybe scout ahead if you need more clearance for turns. 

  

The picnic table, tent pad, and fire ring are cool, and the vault toilets are super clean, at least when we were there. Fresh water is available at the Visitor’s Center just down the road. 

  

You can hike, road bike or mountain bike right out of the campsite. In fact, one of the coolest hikes we’ve been on is the famous “hole in the wall” which makes you twist through these beautiful marble canyon walls. While it’s not for the faint of heart, it is easy enough for anyone who can climb a ladder. Other, less committing hikes are all around, including some longer distance trails. 

  

Access to the campground and visitor’s center is easy and paved, but north of the campground the road is 4 wheel drive access only. This makes it great for mountain or cyclocross bikes, with fewer cars and traffic. Driving through the park can be an adventure in and of itself -- defnitely go see the Joshua Tree forest and the lava caves on the north side of the preserve.  

  

There’s not much nearby at all so come prepared to be self-sufficient. The nearest towns with restaurants are to the east or west along the interstate.

Photos of Hole In The Wall Campground — Mojave National Preserve

Real photos from real campers