Fossil Falls Campground offers primitive tent and RV sites in an exposed desert setting with panoramic views of the Eastern Sierras. Located 35 miles north of Ridgecrest at 2,800 feet elevation, this BLM-managed campground experiences dramatic temperature swings between day and night. The campground sits near ancient lava formations where water once flowed, creating unusual geological features that draw visitors throughout the year.
What to do
Explore unique lava formations: Just a short walk from Fossil Falls Campground, visitors can explore the unusual volcanic landscape. "A very cool and Very unique spot in Southern California. Places to walk around places to climb around. If you plan on doing any rock climbing then you're planning on doing this in the morning. With the face of the sun kissing the rocks expect them to get extremely hot," notes one visitor.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote desert location provides excellent night sky viewing. "Needed a spot off 395, pulled in didn't have to go too far and found a spot. We arrived at night so we did not have a lay of the land but the stars were amazing and the sunrise was on point too," reports a camper.
Kayaking at Lake Olancha: For water recreation, Lake Olancha RV Park offers small-lake paddling about 25 miles north of Little Lake. "The small lake was ideal for a bit of casual kayaking and nature watching - mostly birds and dragonflies. Charming and spacious, the informality of the site was a refreshing change," according to one visitor.
What campers like
Desert wildlife viewing: The area's unique ecosystem supports diverse wildlife. At Whitney Portal, located 60 miles north of Little Lake, "There are tons of mountain squirrels running around the campground frequently, and they are so cute and entertaining to watch," according to a recent visitor.
Riverside camping: For those willing to drive about 60 miles east, Rivernook Campground offers direct water access. "We stayed on the southern end of the campground site #102 and we walked to the northern end and floated down the river back to our site with a nice cold beer in hand. Highly recommend because you can't beat camping on the river," shares a camper.
Convenient location: The area serves as a good base for exploring multiple destinations. "Great location to lots of fun for outdoor or off-road enthusiasts. Easy drive to Death Valley. We found so much to explore in the area we stayed 2 weeks. Ghost towns, abandoned mines, Schmidt Tunnel, movie road, robbers Roost, Red Rock Canyon State Park, trona Pinnacles," notes a visitor to Bertrand's.
What you should know
Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the region. At Bertrand's High Desert Mobile Home & RV Park, "Good cell service with AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, unsure if park has WiFi available," reports one camper, but service diminishes in more remote areas.
Weather extremes: Desert conditions mean significant temperature fluctuations. "Cleaner bathrooms than expected, beautiful stars, but very very windy, enough I wouldn't have been comfortable in a tent," notes a visitor to Fossil Falls.
Water availability: Access to potable water is limited in some locations. "They did have pit toilets and supposedly had a well but the well pump barely pumped any water at all," reports a camper at Fossil Falls, highlighting the need to bring adequate water supplies.
Tips for camping with families
Creek exploration: Children enjoy water features, especially during hot weather. At Camp James, "We stayed in site 81 in our class C RV. Corner site on a creek that ran through the campground. The creek was great to sit in to escape the heat and float down. Lots of kids and dog friendly," reports one family.
Educational geology: The volcanic landscape offers learning opportunities. At Fossil Falls, "There are places to walk around places to climb around... This is a great little stop off the 395," making it suitable for short exploration hikes with children.
Campground activities: Some parks offer organized recreation. "This campground even offers activities for the whole family, movie night, bingo, even rock painting," shares a camper about their experience at another campground in the region.
Tips from RVers
Overnight reset stops: The area serves as a convenient location between destinations. "We are full time RVers and stayed here 1 night after boondocking a week and heading to our next boondocking destination. This is a perfect stop to dump, fill water, do laundry and just do an overall reset of our RV," notes a visitor to Desert Empire Fair RV Park.
Road condition awareness: Access roads to remote camping can be challenging. Near Fossil Falls, "It was surprisingly rocky upon entering the park and made pulling our camper through there a bit more of a mission," cautions one RVer.
RV size considerations: Campground layouts vary in accessibility. At Lake Olancha RV Park, the layout can be confusing as "No signs directing you where to go. You have to drive behind the sites and pull through," according to a review, suggesting larger rigs should scout ahead before committing.
