Primitive camping near California City, California offers numerous BLM dispersed sites throughout the western Mojave Desert. This region sits at elevations ranging from 2,000-4,000 feet, creating dramatic temperature variations between day and night. The desert landscape features distinctive Joshua trees, volcanic formations, and mineral deposits that form unique geological structures.
What to do
Off-road exploration: Wagon Wheel Staging Area serves as a starting point for dirt bike and ATV adventures. One camper noted, "We were fortunate and had the place to ourselves. The site was level and clean. There were plenty of options that had fire rings."
Geological exploration: Trona Pinnacles features unusual tufa spire formations rising from the desert floor. A visitor remarked, "Really enjoyed staying at the Pinnacles over the weekend. Free BLM dispersed camping here, so bring everything you need and take everything with you when you leave. The landscape is like no other."
Star gazing: The desert darkness provides exceptional night sky viewing opportunities. At Stine Cove Recreation Site, a camper observed, "The night sky has no light pollution, and is beautiful enough to knock you off your feet because of all the stars."
What campers like
Desert solitude: Many campers value the isolation these sites provide. At East Mojave Camp, a visitor shared, "Very remote absolutely nothing out there. You can get far enough away from the highway that you don't need to worry about people driving by."
Wildlife viewing: The desert ecosystem supports various reptiles and birds. At Wagon Wheel Staging Area, one camper mentioned, "You can see chuckwalla lizards sun on top of the rocks and we also got a visit from a sidewinder rattlesnake. Just be sure to wear boots, keep kids or animals close, respect the locals."
Unique sunrises/sunsets: The desert light creates memorable visual experiences. A camper at BLM Desert Site stated, "Great space. Easy to find. Away from highway enough. Very windy. Great sunset and sunrise."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many sites require navigating unmaintained dirt roads. About Monarch-Rand Mine, a camper advised, "The road in is kind of weird as it runs parallel to another road similar, we drove along one and would alternate to try and avoid bad potholes. Some are inevitable and I would imagine high clearance is needed to access."
Toilet locations: Restroom facilities are limited to specific areas. For Keyesville Recreation Area, a camper explained, "Vault toilets and dumpsters at staging areas. This recreation area has lots of trash, easily could spend days picking litter."
Wind management: Strong, persistent winds affect camping comfort. A Jawbone Canyon OHV Area visitor warned, "Plenty of spots right off the road. I drove in after dark and needed a place to sleep before I hit Death Valley. The wind was absolutely howling, but not too bad."
Tips for camping with families
Site selection priorities: Choose locations with minimal hazards. At Wagon Wheel Staging Area, a camper suggested, "There are 2 or 3 restrooms from what I saw. I highly recommend this spot. Absolutely beautiful star gazing at night."
Weather timing: Avoid extreme temperature periods. A visitor to Trona Pinnacles cautioned, "Fun place to roam around the pinnacles during sun up and sun down! Will get very hot and windy during afternoon and night."
Safety precautions: Desert wildlife requires awareness. One camper at Wagon Wheel noted, "We also got a visit from a sidewinder rattlesnake. Just be sure to wear boots, keep kids or animals close, respect the locals."
Tips from RVers
Level spots: Many desert areas offer naturally flat camping surfaces. At Keyesville Recreation Area, an RVer noted, "You can park RVs right next to the water but it gets very busy, there are more secluded spots accessible to even Class A rigs further down. My Class C was able to make it through a few of the dirt roads no problem."
Water management: No potable water exists at these sites. A Jawbone Canyon visitor advised, "Be advised the Jawbone canyon store charges RV's $40.00 for potable water. Fill up before you come out here."
Site access assessment: Evaluating road conditions before committing is crucial. A BLM Desert Site camper shared, "I wasn't sure when driving out here at night in a minivan, but the dirt road didn't give me any trouble and I still had some service with Verizon."
