Great campground in Joshua Tree NP, rustic - just put toilets & drinking water available but some sites are tucked right up amongst the red rocks. Great for bouldering, desert night sky spectacular too.
If you want to get great views of the night sky without the City Light pollution that we are all so used to, head to Joshua Tree and pick any of the campsites. Both Indian Cove and jumbo rocks campsites have plenty of large Rock outcroppings 2 search and explore. The campsites are well laid out with plenty of room. Some are more set for large RVs. The facilities in this Campground are nice.
This is a primitive campground if you don't like to get dirty then you shouldn't camp here. But if you don't mind then you will have a great time. Especially at nighttme . It's a stargazers delight.
Many people don't realize Indian Cove campground is an option in Joshua Tree- mostly because it is accessed from outside the park (can't drive there from the park loop). Although it is a bit remote from the other main attractions in the park, Indian Cove has some real merits 1) Typically less of a zoo than the rest of the park 2) more protected and slightly lower elevation can make it significantly warmer on the cool/windy days 3) some solid climbs (yes they tend to be shorter than the other spots, but still worth a visit!). Rattlesnake Canyon provides hiking access to the northern side of Wonderland of Rocks, an incredible alien landscape of monzogranite boulders and other funky formations. Another plus here is that they take reservations, so if you plan ahead you can lock something in and not have to leave it to chance.
You'll want a fierce amount of water with you and good sunscreen during the day, but with the low humidity the heat isn't too punishing. The park is beautiful with lots of good stopping points, and plenty of privacy. Gets cold enough to have a fire at night, and is incredibly peaceful. The vegetation is all so brittle the desert becomes incredibly quiet at times which makes for a unique experience.
Camped at Indian Cove Campground in April of 2017. Close to Highway 62, it is located in the north part of Joshua Tree National Park. Surrounded by big rocks, our site was right by the boulders. Though we are not climbers, we had fun climbing up those rocks to catch the sunset from above. Pit toilet and picnic table available. Would be nice for large groups if you book consecutive sites.
Joshua Tree is pretty hot around this time but we had a great time! We reserved a spot in the Indian Cove Campground for $40 a night, there’s several trails to explore & rocks to climb. At night you have a great view of the stars!!
Pros: each site has a bathroom + pretty spacious spot
cons: no running water
Once we arrived on the outskirts of JT, I immediately noticed how calm I felt, and all of the tension in my shoulders begin to disappear. I had my first weekend of being stress free and happy.
This campsite is located outside the park proper and is great for families, school groups, or camps to stay together in a larger area isolated from some of the other craziness that occurs within the park. Access to the rest of the park is available via hiking trails or by driving out and around through to the entrance in Joshua Tree the town.
Pros: Boulders to scramble on, great roped climbing within minutes of the campsites, Water just at the end of the road at the ranger station (no water is in the national park), close to 29 Palms and Joshua Tree the town. These sites are easily accessible and close to everything.
Cons: there are no actual Joshua Trees growing here, but there are a great variety of other desert plants to learn about and see (silver cholla, pencil cholla, yucca plants, etc. )
Get there early because it’s first come, first served with respect to getting a great camping location—especially over a holiday weekend. I’d also recommend enjoying the park HQs during the day if seeking an air conditioned reprieve from the summer heat. Evenings can get chilly though, so plan for firewood (if approved in your particular spot).
