multi-day: 2/19 - 2/21/2010: Joshua Tree National Park: 4x4 Easy, Tent Camping, Hiking

[Russ Chung 54]

Black Rock campground is at the northwest edge of the park. It's OK for hikers and rock climbers, but it's more than an hour each way to get to the 4WD trails. I would prefer to take our chances at finding at spot at one of the first come, first served campgrounds closer to the center of the park. My first choice is Cottonwood because it has the best facilities (drinking water, flush toilets). My next choices would be Belle, White Tank, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, Hidden Valley and Indian Cove. Although those other campgrounds do not have water or flush toilets, we can find water (and flush toilets) at the three Visitor Centers, at Chiriaco Summit, and in Twentynine Palms. If all of the campgrounds are full when we arrive, then we can go to the overflow camping on BLM land south of Cottonwood Spring.

[Lifes a Jeep 1]

I would prefer to take our chances at finding at spot at one of the first come, first served campgrounds closer to the center of the park. If all of the campgrounds are full when we arrive, then we can go to the overflow camping on BLM land south of Cottonwood Spring.

 

I agree with Russ. I was looking at some maps and the Black Rock campground is in a corner of the park. I have a feeling this park is bigger then I'm thinking. That will be a lot of driving! A camp site closer to the center will be better...or something on BLM. Not to mention I double checked and its 15 bucks per site per night.

 

If we camp on BLM, we will all be together and not too spread out. We can have one main fire and everyone will camp in the vicinity. I think that will be more fun.

[theksmith 5,778]

lifes-a-jeep, i thought the central campgrounds were full when you talked to the ranger - or was that just for reservation ones, are there always others that aren't reservable that might be open?

 

russ, what blm area south of cottonwood spring are you talking about, do you have a gps location or map link?

 

again, i don't care where we camp, i'm perfectly happy in the middle of the desert with no facilities - i do agree being central to the trails we want to run is the more important thing.

[Russ Chung 54]

Four campgrounds take reservations, but three of the four are already booked for that weekend. The fourth one, Indian Cove, does have space, but it is quite far from the center of the park, and it does not have running water. There are six campgrounds that are first come, first served (Cottonwood, Belle, White Tank, Jumbo Rocks, Ryan, Hidden Valley). Cottonwood has water and flush toilets; the others are dry and have vault toilets. Within the National Park, you can only camp in an established campground (no primitive/dispersed camping allowed). The BLM provides "overflow" camping. There's an area northeast of Twentynine Palms and an area near the south entrance of the park by I-10 for overflow camping.

 

Here's a link to a description of the Joshua Tree National Park campgrounds:

http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm

 

Here's a link to a map of the BLM "overflow" camping areas:

http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/overflow.pdf

 

We have at least two participants who have Senior Discount cards, and possibly a third Senior, so if we share a campsite, and split the savings among all of us, it would average about $6-8 per vehicle per night depending upon which campground we choose.

[samwhite 1]

I have a Goldenage passport if that helps.

[theksmith 5,778]

- ok so sounds like we need to just wait and see what happens with first-come camping. if none is available, then we can make a decision on where exactly on BLM land to go to.

 

- i talked to both the Palm Springs and Barstow BLM offices today and they said that the area north of JT along Gold Crown Road (where we might go on the last extra night there) is totally permissible for dry camping and that we can also have fires if we bring our own wood.

 

- about a week before we go, we can get a final round-up of who will be going together friday and who can't come till later, then we can decide on meeting locations and times based on that info.

 

can't wait!!

[Lifes a Jeep 1]

Sounds like a good plan! I like the idea of heading up there and seeing what is available. Worse case, we camp on BLM. I'll be sure to bring some firewood.

 

 

 

And in response to this, I only asked about the three group campgrounds. They fill up months in advance.

lifes-a-jeep, i thought the central campgrounds were full when you talked to the ranger - or was that just for reservation ones, are there always others that aren't reservable that might be open?

[darthjenni 0]

Hi guys do you have questions about the area? I have been there a few times.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/darthjenni/collections/72157618000989690/

[Russ Chung 54]

I just got a summons for Jury Duty from Tuesday, Feb 16 - Friday, Feb 19. The way it works in Los Angeles is that I phone in each afternoon and the Jury Commissioner tells me whether I have to report in for jury duty the next day. If I don't have to report in on Friday, I can meet you on Friday morning. Otherwise, I'll get there Friday night and have to find you.

[Number7 89]

We'll leave the light on for ya Russ. George:cool: