If you're looking for a place to dispersed camp near Trona, look no further. Here you'll find a diverse selection of places to camp, including remote dispersed camping to boondocking, and everything in-between. Find dispersed campsites you've visited before, or discover new spots from other campers.
Dispersed camping is allowed on for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. There is no potable water or developed facilities other than a single vault toilet on site. Pack out all trash. There are no trash services. In the desert environment, even natural items like orange peels take years to decompose. Travel on existing roads and trails. Vegetation in this climate can take decades to recover when crushed by off road driving or parking. Camp in campgrounds if available. Using campgrounds reduces the number of vehicles, so that the great views are not blocked. Have a great time. The Trona Pinnacles are a great place to explore natural wonders and experience your public lands.
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: https://www.campendium.com/camping/boondocking-101/
Free camping at the base of the Trona Pinnacles Rock formation.
Interested in backcountry (dispersed) camping? It is a great opportunity to explore the park's rugged Wilderness. Check out the information on this page (https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm) to learn where camping is allowed, what regulations apply, and how to obtain a free permit.
Backcountry/Wilderness Permits Free voluntary permits for backcountry camping may be obtained online, or in person at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center or Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station during business hours. Solo hikers may want to provide additional information about plans and emergency contacts.
Where is backcountry roadside camping allowed? Along dirt roads at least one mile away from any paved road or "day use only" dirt road. Camp only in previously disturbed areas and park your vehicle immediately adjacent to the roadway to minimize impact. The wilderness boundary is 50 feet from the center of most dirt roads. Download the Backcountry & Wilderness Access Map to take with you.
This is an OHV area, meaning it is designed for off-roading vehicles, take this into consideration before arriving.
Rules for OHV areas in California:
Guide
This place is really cool to explore. Nice star gazing too. We took our www.hitched4fun.com RZR out on the many dirt roads in the area too. Had a blast 💥.
Traveler
We arrived in the evening, when it was still 33 celcius (95f), but the whole day it was about 45 celcius (113f). So the place was as hot as it can be. But that won’t change my rating too much. Because if the weather was a bit cooler I would have loved this even more, when we woke up, we were greeted by a beautiful desert. If you have an AC that you can put on during the night, it shouldn’t be a problem!
Traveler
There’s a road that takes you to the spot where you can camp, there’s concrete squares in a majority of the spots in a wide area but if you keep down the gravel road you’ll find cleared areas with fire pits, there’s even a road that you can park on top of a hill.
36.34098° N, 116.61444° W
TravelerWe stayed here 1 night and had the place to ourselves. It is a very large area and quite beautiful.
RangerCampground had some nice spots for dry camping. I planned to stay on BLM land off the road but this seemed part of the ghost town private property. It was late and I was confused..I need to go back and donate $5.
TravelerArrived in the dark and woke up to find a beautiful spot. Quiet, plenty of space and very few people here. Be prepared for freezing temps overnight in colder months.
Legend
Great for a night or two, heading towards or leaving Death Valley between Joshua Tree..
You are literally in the middle of nowhere. No cell phone reception, amenities, nothing, not even shelter, but yet so peaceful and quiet. We saw a couple of RVs but everyone has a TON of space....I would totally camp here again.
I was able to let dog and cat out of camper and they weren't going anywhere....nothing to chase, etc.
ScoutNice place. Beware! Road ends on the half of the way. No advise to enter the road with RV.
TravelerFirst time going to the desert to camp. After the abundance of rain it was surprisingly green. Several types of wildflowers in bloom right now. Truly got the desert camping experience here. Spring time was ideal, weather was pleasant and mild. The biggest downside to the whole trip was the wind. Best thing I could recommend is finding an area that creates a natural barrier to it. The gusts are strong enough to really blow your tent hard and jerk you awake. The winds starts around dinner time/dusk and really doesn't let up u til midnight. So if you are down to clown, this place is absolutely beautiful. Clear enough to see the stars and if you come with the full moon (or close to it) you can really navigate around by moonlight. There really is only one vault toilet. And makeshift fire ring dispersed around the area. All the cool/good spots to camp are pretty far away from the toilet. Additionally, bring your own TP. Pack in/out and be respectful as this is BLM land
ScoutWe have been here for 5 days. The spot we are currently in has 3-4 bars 5G Verizon. Lots of sites with privacy with varying levels of cell signal. Vault toilet and fire pits.
RangerRecommend entering into your GPS because there are a lot of side roads before hitting the parking lot/outhouse. Pack out pack in area.
Beautiful place to play, make sure to bring lots of water
Guide
Great place to be, water, reception and camping places spread out, each with a table and a fireplace.
GuideWe drove our skoolie in and didn’t have any trouble with the small bumps and sand. There were a few rvs and one tent, but it is so spread out that we never heard them. There are two toilets as well. The location has access to off-road trails, but the riders stopped before dark and we had a quiet night.
GuideWe went right after Christmas 2021 since the roads up to Tahoe were closed. Due to the weather we were the only ones there for the first night and then saw a few cars roll in. We camped at the northern group of Tufas and recommend a 4x4 vehicle due to the road not being as smooth as the initial road. Sunset is beautiful and the night sky is even more breath taking.
GuideHeard about this place from someone I met on the road and decided to check it out. I made it there with my honda civic. Rough but definitely doable! But for driving the loop and anything beyond, I wouldn’t recommend. As some reviews on Google mentions it, this place can get WINDY! I thought about pitching my tent but decided to sleep in the car instead. The wind woke me up at 3am ish and kept me up all night. So be prepared!(maybe bring some earplugs?)
Overall, great place for photos and solitude. I will probably return and hopefully it won’t be too windy then.
GuideEase of access
4x4 recommended anything south- west of the pinnacles.
Any vehicle with standard clearance can drive through the pinnacles.
TravelerThe road in/out of Pinnacles is rough - but totally worth it. There are numerous places and spaces to park/camp and when it’s empty the place takes on an almost surreal alien landscape. Stunning night skies, and amazing sunrise/sunsets.
ScoutGreat place to dry camp(boondock). Love camping out here. Most of all it's free.
GuideWe were the only ones here. So quiet and serene. Not a lot of glass in this spot like stated. We will be back one day.
TravelerAside from it being hot well because it is the desert. It was fun the kids enjoyed it and I did too. It was cool to see were they have shot some movies one being the planet of the apes. Just remember when your driving out here to visit the pinnacles bring water and sweat rags it's a lot of walking and also bring a truck or SUV it's not exactly a dirt Rd. More like just dirt and kinda take your own trail you can't miss it.
GuideReally 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. Felt like Skywalker or Spock was going to walk around a formation at any minute. Very cool vibes out there.
A bit breezy when we stayed in mid-April but nothing outrageous. Temps were warmer and we had our own shade.
Somebody commented it's the type of dust that sticks to everything and they were right.
If you have the option, air down your tires at the trailhead of the Trona dirt road. It makes the last 5 miles much more comfortable.
TravelerCamping here was totally worth it! If dispersed camping is what you’re looking for you’re in luck. We drove in and found camping pretty easily on a Saturday evening. 360 views no matter what spot you choose. Definitely plan on setting up camp before sunset so you can get a good spot to watch from all around. Stock up before arriving though because there are not many resources nearby.
TravelerWas a nice and clean campsite! Plenty of space to branch out on your own. There were about 10 other groups there and still had plenty of space! It was also 100% free, which is even better! There were 2 or 3 restrooms from what I saw. I highly recommend this spot. Absolutely beautiful star gazing at night.
Guide
Just south of Ashford Mill Ruins where Badwater Rd meets Jubilee Pass Rd, you can continue down the unpaved portion of Badwater Rd/Harry Wade Rd to find a long sandy stretch that leads out of the park to the south. I'd recommend AWD with high clearance at a minimum as the road can be a little washboardy and sandy. There are ample dispersed camping sites along this portion of the road (use previously disturbed spaces within the 50 ft wilderness boundary). The sites are a little rocky/sandy but most looked fairly level and all offered remote, stunning views of the park with little traffic. We had one visible camper sharing the entire valley with us, couldn't ask for more.
GuideMarch 5-6, 2021
This area is pretty trippy going from volcanic rock and flows to various brush to the dry, beautifully cracked dirt. We landed here and drove thru the FF campground, which we knew was closed but wanted to check it out, and pulled out onto the dry lake bed area to spend the night.
At first, we weren't sure if we liked it but after we set up and took a long walk around the area, we were digging it. Perfect for bike or dirt scooter riding or just running around on the lake bed. Perfect for dogs and kids. Gets dusty so your rig will get a bit dirty. It can get windy but we had a great night. The road is maintained but a smidge bumpy and uneven but should be easy for most cars. Area was quiet and no very little trash. Great to watch the light change the hillsides.
Verizon cell service was great and stars were bright. Saw a jackrabbit while there...thank goodness my dog didn't see him! HA!
Disbursed so no amenities so please pack in, pack out. Happy Camping!
TravelerI was hesitant about this site because it’s right off the road, but we actually really liked it! It’s literally a big open desert flat and you park wherever so there’s plenty of room for privacy. As far as facilities, there are 2 privies and that’s it, so you’ll be dry camping. Some sites are more trashed so watch for broken glass but overall it’s pretty clean. There are plenty of man made fire pits. Star gazing was on point! Sunrises and sunsets were also pretty dope. It’s a OHV staging area so there’s lots of people dirt biking in the morning but we were up by the time there started zooming around. We’d def stay here again for a night of rest after a day of driving.
TravelerVery beautiful campground. Cannot camp there overnight currently because of covid. However, it’s still a nice place to spend the day with picnic tables, restrooms, and fire pits. Views are gorgeous.
Camping near Trona, California, offers a unique experience with stunning desert landscapes and a variety of campgrounds to choose from. Whether you're looking for a quiet spot to unwind or an adventurous getaway, this area has something for everyone.
Camping near Trona, California, is a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors, with plenty of unique experiences waiting for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Trona, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Trona, CA is Trona Pinnacles with a 4.6-star rating from 15 reviews.
What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Trona, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 14 dispersed camping locations near Trona, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
