Black Rock Campground

Black Rock is a 99-site campground on Joshua Tree National Park's northwest edge, near Yucca Valley and surrounded by dense Joshua trees at about 4,000 feet. Choose it for camping among the trees and nearby hikes; it's apart from the park's central boulder sights, so plan a drive if those are the focus. Reservations are required year-round.

Each site has a picnic table and fire ring, with potable water and flush toilets nearby. There’s also a dump station, a day-use picnic area and a separate horse camping and staging area. There are no showers, RV hookups, food service or camp store; shopping is about five miles away in Yucca Valley. The access road is paved, but many campground roads and sites are uneven. RVs are limited to 35 feet and individual sites vary, so check that your rig fits the site you book. For mobility access, site 61 is listed as ADA compliant; the Nature Center has a level paved lot and an accessible restroom.

Several trailheads sit close to the campground, with routes through the Joshua trees and views toward the low desert and the high peaks around Palm Springs. Leashed dogs are allowed in campground and road areas, but not on park trails.

The small Nature Center in the middle of camp is usually open October through May. Its building was built in 1970 as part of the third Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park franchise campground. The National Park Service acquired the site in 1976 and removed the themed features; the old building remains a useful place to learn about the area.