Spread across open desert terrain east of Twentynine Palms, Sheephole Valley Wilderness is free, dispersed camping on BLM land where campers choose their own site among dry riverbeds, sandy flats, and the edges of rocky outcroppings. There are no facilities here. Fire rings left by previous visitors mark informal spots, though the area around the mountains has drawn some misuse, with broken glass, bullet casings, and dumped appliances reported at several sites.
Road conditions are the most critical factor before heading in. The access tracks off Amboy Road are sandy and can shift unpredictably, and at least one visitor got stuck and had to turn back. Two-wheel drive vehicles have made it through, but reviewers consistently flag the risk of getting mired, especially deeper into the wilderness boundary. Approaching from the south and bearing left toward the Sheephole wilderness edge gives access to several dispersed sites before the sand becomes too deep for lower-clearance vehicles.
The desert landscape opens up at sunset, facing west toward a wide horizon. As Kayla H. notes, "sunsets are gorgeous, however desert winds are harsh." Summer temperatures run extreme, with one August visitor recording 100 degrees on arrival and overnight lows still in the 80s, though the dark skies do make the area a workable spot for meteor shower watching. Campers wanting developed amenities or a more reliable road surface might consider Bat Rocks BLM Dispersed near Sheep Hole Pass a few miles to the northwest.
Description
The Sheephole Valley Wilderness now contains a total of 187,516 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. All of the Wilderness is in the state of California. In 1994 the Sheephole Valley Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization,..." you play an important role in helping to "...secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by Congress in the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the regulations in place for this area, and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting to ensure protection of its unique natural and experiential qualities. (BLM)
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsSheephole Valley Wilderness is located in California near Twentynine Palms
Dispersed CampingCoordinates
34.23890619 N
115.71348467 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GGood CoverageVerified by 8 usersLast on 2/22/26
VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 9/4/26
AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GGood CoverageVerified by 8 usersLast on 2/22/26
- VerizonNo CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 9/4/26
- AT&T5GExcellent Coverage
Access
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Phone Service
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Sheephole Valley Wilderness needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 24 min from Lake Havasu City, AZ
- 2 hrs 49 min from El Centro, CA
- 3 hrs 1 min from San Diego, CA
- 3 hrs 48 min from Yuma, AZ
