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Pioneertown Corrals offers one of the few dedicated equestrian camping options near Johnson Valley, with horse stalls available for rent alongside standard campsites. Each site includes a picnic table and fire pit in a gravel lot arrangement that accommodates both tent and RV camping. The campground provides access to toilets and trash service, though the layout offers minimal privacy between sites. Campsite pricing ranges from $10 to $60 per night according to recent visitors. The location directly behind Pioneertown's replica Old West Main Street creates a unique camping experience where guests can observe staged gunfights and shop at Western-themed stores within walking distance.
Located approximately 45 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park, the campground serves as a convenient base for riders accessing nearby desert trails. The on-site horse stalls allow equestrians to keep their animals secure while exploring the surrounding terrain or enjoying amenities in the adjacent town. Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace restaurant sits within walking distance of the corrals, offering live music and quality dining options after a day of riding. While the camping area itself is essentially a dirt lot with basic amenities, the convenience of horse accommodations combined with proximity to entertainment venues makes this a practical choice for riders wanting to explore the high desert landscape. The campground lacks hookups but provides running water and bathroom facilities for guests.
"Short drive to the park and easy to get to the main grocery stores. The sites are not very shady and there is not too much privacy but overall it's a nice place and the bathrooms are very clean."
"This campground is a little outside the main Joshua Tree area. It used to be the only campground you could reserve ahead. "
from $35 / night
Check Availability"There are a lot of equestrian campgrounds in the area so be prepared to see horses on the near by trails."
"The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset."
from $29 - $58 / night
Check Availability"There's other rough roads further in and access to hikes nearby. I loved how quiet it was, except for neighbors since sound carries so easily even though spots are quiet apart from each other."
"Trees provide lots of shade and some privacy despite campsites being fairly close to one another. Easy road in most anything can drive it."
"Next to one of best small music venues. We stayed here for a concert and walked to and from the show avoiding the traffic in and out. Friendly host."
from $60 - $75 / night
Check Availability"Tons of hiking trails and within 30 min drive of major shopping/grocery stores. Big Bear is about an hour away with and awesome drive up the mountain."
"Close to the city but far enough away from the lights. There is a ton of stuff to do here. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, water slides, disc golf, bike trails. The RV spots are beyond huge!"
"This camp site was tucked in the back, 12 miles from Joshua Tree park entrance. This site was on the side of the rocks that provided shade for more than 12 hours in the day."
"Short drive to most of the popular sights / trails in Joshua Tree Cons: Some sites are pretty close to each other, can feel crowded.
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from $30 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $71 / night
Check Availability"Already been here twice once in 01/25 and 11/25 great campsite some have access to running water facet if not there are some that are close by, have also close by trash bins, has a little shop near by"
"It is right next to the lake which has a swimming area, bike path, climbing area, Hiking trails, along with a camp store which has boat rentals and much more! "
from $10 - $300 / night
Check Availability"Tent camping, RV camping, they have a restaurant and bar, best burgers in all of southern California!! They also have a small store, there's showers, restrooms and a swimming pool!"
"Check in is near 12. I only assume that since check out is 11. When we arrived the camp host was waiting for us."
from $40 - $55 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $127 - $137 / night
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RangerWe normally camp in the other side of Big Bear, but decided to try a new campground this year. Overall we really liked this campground. Although some of the sites are close together most of them have good separation. There are a lot of equestrian campgrounds in the area so be prepared to see horses on the near by trails. It’s close enough for a quick trip to the lake yet you are far enough away that you still get the true camping experience.
RangerThis is a really fun place to stay and has a bunch of awesome amenities. Right behind the campground is the Pioneertown Main Street, featuring replica buildings from the old west. They have stores, gun fights, and a restaurant nearby. The campground itself has a communal fire pit and bbq area that all campers can use. Each site has a table and fire pit. The layout of the sites is a little cramped and there is no privacy. It is designed mostly for equestrian camping and has horse stalls you can rent along with your site. The restaurant (Pappy and Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace) is somewhat of a local icon, and has amazing food and is known for their live music.
ScoutI only saw the first 9 or so sites and stayed I think at site #9. For the most part, spacious spots, fire ring, picnic table, a lot of trees, and varied slopes. Road in is placed initially then dirt but is fine. There's other rough roads further in and access to hikes nearby. I loved how quiet it was, except for neighbors since sound carries so easily even though spots are quiet apart from each other. You'll pass an equestrian campground on the way in that you might be able to get water from.
GuideBeen here many times since it is local to me.
This place has changed a lot over the years, and not necessarily for the good, in my opinion.
What there is:
What there is no longer:
Beware of skunks and loud trains!
It is still a somewhat nice place to visit for a couple hours with the kids.
We have camped in a tent. The tents sites are adjacent to the lake.
Trailer camping isn't too bad, other than being adjacent to the busy railroad. Most sites have grass.
GuideStayed here one night when the park was full. Short drive to the park and easy to get to the main grocery stores. The sites are not very shady and there is not too much privacy but overall it's a nice place and the bathrooms are very clean. It also has an equestrian campground attached.
GuideWhile technically in Joshua Tree National Park, this campground sits on the Northwest edge of J.T., requires no park entrance fee, and does not connect with the main road through the park. It's a fine campground for those who can't get a site at one of the other campgrounds, or those who don't want to make the long, slow drive into the park. If you want to actually visit Joshua Tree, I'd find a different campground further into the park.
PROS: Easy access, Lots of sites with nice views overlooking the town, Several hiking trails starting at the edge of campground, separate campground for people with horses.
CONS: No shade, lot of the sites are uneven and hard-packed ground (You can't get spikes in deep enough at some sites, I wouldn't trust my tent being secure in high winds), Not really "in" the park, long drive to park entrance, you don't get that isolated feeling, campsites feel a bit too close to each other.
Each site has a fire pit and a concrete picnic table. Size of campsites seem to vary greatly. Facilities are clean, with flush toilets/urinals.
After being unable to get a site at our preferred campground in Joshua Tree we grabbed two spots at Black Rock Campground. While not bad, it wasn't that normal Joshua Tree feel, the lights from the nearby town wash out some of the night sky, and the camp just felt packed, even when it was at ~60% capacity.
ScoutHeart Bar Campground is one of my favorites. The first thing to mention is the location. The back of the campground faces west where the rolling mountains seem to part in a way that showcases the beautiful California sunset. The campground is away from the town enough to feel secluded and quiet. If you plan to camp in the Big Bear area, I strongly suggest giving Heart Bar a try. The beauty of the surrounding environment is worth it alone.
LegendThis campground is a little outside the main Joshua Tree area. It used to be the only campground you could reserve ahead. So we usually spend the first night here and then head into the main park in the morning. It has full facilites and water on sight. It has a small visitor center/ranger station as well.
You drive through a residential area and then you are at the campground. You are on a knoll or incline so you are looking down over the valley. There is horse site as well but I do not know the details of that.
We are tent campers. There are good tent sites as well RV sites. A great place to watch the star, the sunset and the sunrise. Trail right fromt= the campground up to a hill/mountain behind the campground.
Be prepared. We have been snowed on here and wind whipped. Always go in February.
Sites have tables, fire rings and water. Modern bathrooms.
You are surrounded by Joshua Trees and if you catch them in the right time they are blooming.
LegendGeneral: A mix of FHU RV sites tent sites, group sites around Horseshoe Lake and some additional dry camping and equestrian sites around Pelican Lake. There are also four RVs you can “rent” in the Horseshoe Lake area. The sites around Horseshoe Lake are close to an active rail line. And by active, I mean really active – I stopped counting after I counted 24 trains lumbering by during our short overnight stay.
Site Quality: IMO the waterfront tent sites are the nicest. They are farthest away from the trains (but not far enough!) The other dry sites have paved camper pads; some are “doubles” which would kind of suck if both sites were occupied by people who did not know each other! (Ours was one but fortunately, this was not the case for us on a Sunday in November).
Bath/Shower House: There were two restrooms about equidistant from our campsite, but both were very basic– no soap, hooks or shelves and no mirrors (it looked like they had been ripped off the wall). The floors were concrete, and the entire appearance was very drab. I did not use the shower.
This was an overnight stop for us, so we did not take advantage of any of the activities (horseback riding, hiking, disc golf, fishing). There was a very nice playground in the day-use area, a reasonable walking distance from the Horseshoe Lake sites. I had called about a week ahead of time to make a reservation (the online reservation system has been down for quite some time) and was assured would not need a reservation. However, there is a gate that is locked at 4 pm and we knew we would not arrive in time, so we called and were able to make a phone reservation when our site was assigned. We were a little concerned when we saw a security guard making rounds around 10 pm (and this combined with the locked gate), we wondered if we were in a safe environment, although we did not encounter any problems. Make sure you know that the park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (which seems a bit bizarre) so you will need to know the gate code after 4 pm and on those days (the code seems to change daily). Also, I read that seniors (62 and older), active duty military, and veterans receive a $5 discount Sundays through Thursdays but you have to go to the office and show proof and then you will receive a “rebate” a few days later (which we did). This was just an overnight for us as we worked our way back home but we would likely not stay here again.
Johnson Valley sits in the high desert region of Southern California at approximately 3,000 feet elevation. The area experiences extreme temperature variations with summer highs frequently exceeding 100°F and winter nights dropping below freezing. Camping options near Johnson Valley range from basic yellow post sites with no amenities to campgrounds with horse-friendly facilities for equestrian travelers.
Hike to meadows: Black Rock Campground provides access to numerous trails directly from the camping area. "Trails run right out of camp...lots of them...of all different difficulty levels. Something for everyone, and each of the trails we hiked, or came across were very well signed, which in the desert is appreciated," notes Ryan W. about Black Rock Campground.
Fishing opportunities: Lake Perris State Recreational Area, approximately 45 miles southwest of Johnson Valley, offers fishing throughout the year. "This lake has been good to me and my friends, always catch something, maybe not a lunker but fun," reports John H. about his experience at the lake.
Desert wildlife viewing: Heart Bar Campground offers opportunities to observe local wildlife in their natural habitat. One camper, Nick L., shared that the "campground sits right over a small meadow that boarders the San Gorgonio wilderness... this spot is excellent for wildlife viewing and entry to the wilderness for hiking and exploring."
Fire rings and picnic tables: Most established sites around Johnson Valley provide basic amenities. At Ryan Campground in nearby Joshua Tree National Park, Les R. notes, "Sites come with picnic tables and firepits, and there are outhouses and trash containers within quick walking distance."
Shade opportunities: In the harsh desert environment, tree cover is highly valued. At Heart Bar Campground, campers appreciate that "the campground is littered with tall standing pines and even some massive junipers, providing ample shade."
Cell service: For those needing to stay connected, coverage varies by location. At Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites, a camper reported: "AT&T - Good. 2-4 bars. Verizon - Good. 2-4 bars." This makes the area suitable for remote workers who need connectivity while camping.
Water availability: Many desert campgrounds lack reliable water sources. Christopher D. warns about Coon Creek Yellow Post Sites: "Water is only available near the main road so bring containers if you go further up the road."
Weather fluctuations: High desert camping requires preparation for extreme temperatures. Justin L. cautions about Black Rock Campground: "We visited in January, and should have been better prepared! I know better, but we didn't check the conditions well enough, and froze our butts the first night!"
Road conditions: Access to some horse campgrounds near Johnson Valley may require navigating unpaved roads. At Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground, a camper noted: "Rough ride in but totally worth it. The hike to the springs is pretty rough but also worth it when you get there."
Look for double sites: Larger families or groups should seek specific sites that accommodate multiple tents. Chrystal M. recommends Heart Bar Campground: "The double sites are a must when going with a group of 10 people. This specific site is very spacious with double of the parking spots (4 cars total), 2 fire pits, and 2 benches."
Check bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely across campgrounds. Ryan W. noted at Black Rock: "The bathrooms were not overly dirty but were not serviced during our stay." Plan accordingly with extra toilet paper and hand sanitizer.
Consider proximity to amenities: Some families prefer sites near towns for supply runs. Sierra T. explains that Black Rock Campground is "super close to the towns of Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree for picking up supplies, enjoying the local Luna bakery (we went 3 times in 2 days!)"
Limited hookups: Most horse campgrounds near Johnson Valley offer basic accommodations without full RV services. At Lake Perris State Recreational Area, Troy A. shares: "A cool spot but no sewage and WI-FI is kind of inconvenient."
Site leveling: Many desert campgrounds have uneven terrain. Julie K. reports: "The sites were close together, narrow roads and the sites were not level. We found a rock to level our van which helped, but flat spots were expected."
Site selection strategy: Arrive early to secure better spots. At Coon Creek, one camper advised: "There are a lot of sites available here, all close together with little privacy unless you drive pretty far down the dirt road."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Johnson Valley, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Johnson Valley, CA is Black Rock Campground — Joshua Tree National Park with a 4.2-star rating from 56 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Johnson Valley, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 25 equestrian camping locations near Johnson Valley, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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