Desert camping near Calico, California offers unique experiences within the Mojave ecosystem at elevations between 2,000-3,000 feet. Temperature swings of 30-40 degrees between day and night aren't uncommon, with winter nighttime temperatures frequently dropping below freezing. Road conditions to dispersed camping areas vary seasonally, with many desert roads becoming rutted after rain events.
What to do
Explore mining history: At Calico Ghost Town Regional Park, camping fees include access to the historic attractions. "You can't beat having a campsite AND you can enter the ghost town either by foot or drive to the ghost town's parking lot. Your camping fees include all that. Very cute little town and lots to see," notes camper D T.
Rock climbing: The unique rock formations at Sawtooth Canyon Campground attract climbers year-round. "This canyon is great for a couple of days of climbing. The area is unique from the Mojave topography. Plus, it is free to camp," reports Tommy B. The camping area features multiple established climbing routes within walking distance of camp.
Scenic hiking: The colorful geological formations create distinctive hiking experiences. "The hikes through the colored rocks are so pretty. It can get pretty windy and trash just gets blown all over so part of our daily activities when we stay here is walking around with our trash pickers and picking up trash that's blown into the washes," shares Laura M. about Owl Canyon Campground.
What campers like
Desert night skies: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional stargazing opportunities from October through April when skies are typically clearest. "Dark nights. Very quiet. Clean," mentions Michele H. about the Rainbow Basin area, highlighting the unobstructed celestial views.
Proximity to attractions: Owl Canyon Campground provides a less crowded alternative to campgrounds directly in Calico. "We ended up choosing to spend more of our time at Owl Canyon because it was much more secluded, had better views, and offered shade," explains Hannah O.
Free dispersed options: BLM land provides no-cost camping alternatives. "This is a popular camping site for OHV riders during the winter. There are several sites at this location that each can hold 5-7 RVs. Each of the sites has a primitive fire ring, but there is no wood in the area, so bring your own," explains Mark W. about BLM Barstow dispersed camping areas.
What you should know
Road conditions: Many dispersed camping areas require careful driving. "The road in is pretty washboard, but worth the shaking and rattling for this beautiful spot," says Kathy B. about Sawtooth Canyon. Some visitors report turning around rather than risking vehicle damage.
Limited shade: Desert camping typically offers minimal natural protection from the sun. "The sites have absolutely no shade or cover, and are just lined up in a row next to each other with no privacy," warns Hannah O. about Calico Ghost Town Regional Park.
Seasonal considerations: Avoid summer camping due to extreme heat. "Good fall to spring. Way to hot in summer. No shade. Dusty but that's expected in an OHV Campground," advises Aaron S. about Calico Ghost Town Regional Park.
Wildlife awareness: Desert wildlife becomes more active in cooler seasons. "I stayed with a group here for 3 nights a few years ago in October. This is a beautiful campground. Very primitive, with pit toilets and one water faucet. Trash is carry in carry out," notes Hannah O.
Tips for camping with families
Playground options: Some campgrounds offer basic play structures. "This is a nice campground, it has limited water that has to be trucked in to fill the holding tanks. Pit toilets, and playground equipment for those camping with younger kids," notes Robert A. about Owl Canyon.
Educational opportunities: Mining history provides learning experiences. "I had always wanted to visit a ghost town so when this came up in our travel path, we had to stop for a night... The next morning, we wandered into the Ghost Town for some entertainment. We took pictures of the bottle house, mercantile, and many other buildings," shares Christy C.
Kid-friendly amenities: Barstow-Calico KOA offers various family facilities. "The kids loved the pool and other kids to play with. Great game room with pool, foosball, air hockey etc. big playground and easy campground to bike around. BIG area out back to ride around in and play baseball," reports Jennifer H.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose carefully among the different camping sections. "Section A came with the full hookup, I saw mainly large class A RVs parking there, probably came for a longer time. I took a space in camp B with only electricity, which is enough for me and my Class B," explains SmallRVLifestyle V. about Calico Ghost Town Regional Park.
Hookup positioning: Check utility placement before setting up. "We had a spot in the front with a patio and everything. It was very nice except for the sewer drain being at the front end of the site (I had to put an extension on my poop pipe)," notes Michael M. about the Barstow-Calico KOA.
Wind protection: Desert winds can be challenging for RVs with high profiles. "We stayed 3 nights, we might've stayed longer but the wind was terrible. We didn't explore much at all," reports Jack M. about the BLM dispersed camping area.
