Hidden Valley Campground

34.0172, -116.1627 · Park boundary: National Park Service
The Hidden Valley Campground has 44 sites. There are pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire pits. There is no water so bring plenty of your own. To secure a campsite, 1. Locate an empty campsite. 2. Occupy the site (set up a tent or leave personal items to show site occupancy). 3. Proceed immediately to an entrance station to complete registration and pay. You must pay for the site within one hour of set up. If arriving after entrance stations close, payment may be delayed until the following morning.
- Every day
- All Day
Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Check in and check out are at noon. Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Camping fees must be paid within one hour of selecting a campsite. A maximum of six people, three tents, and two cars may occupy an individual campsite, only if there is space available. Some sites only have enough parking for one vehicle.
Nightly camping fee for one site for a camper with a Senior or Access pass. Camping fees must be paid at an entrance station. A maximum of six people, three tents, and two cars may occupy an individual campsite, only if there is space available. Some sites only have enough parking for one vehicle.
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Hidden Valley Campground is first-come, first-served year round.
- Toilets
- Vault Toilets - year round
- Trash & recycling
- Yes - year round
- Amphitheater
- No
- Camp store
- No
- Cell reception
- No
- Drinking water
- No water
- Dump station
- No
- Firewood for sale
- No
- Food storage lockers
- No
- Host on site
- No
- Ice for sale
- No
- Internet
- No
- Laundry
- No
- Showers
- None
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
- RVs
- Allowed · up to 24 ft
- Trailers
- Allowed · up to 24 ft
- Access roads
- Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
- Classification
- Limited Development Campground
- Cell service
- For most cell providers there is no service. There is a for emergencies only phone near the parking lot toilets.
Roads are paved but can be uneven. Most paths are unpaved. Terrain is uneven.
There are no ADA accessible campsites in The Hidden Valley Campground. Campgrounds with ADA accessible campsites include Indian Cove (site 1), Jumbo Rocks (site 122), and Black Rock (site 61).
Because of the park's very dry climate, fire danger in Joshua Tree is almost always very high. Be cautious. Campfires are allowed only in designated fire rings or grills that are found in park campgrounds or picnic areas. Keep fires small. Bring your own firewood. You may not gather park vegetation, whether living or dead, to fuel your campfire. If you plan to have a campfire, bring extra water to douse it thoroughly.
Per the National Park Service, as of 2026-08-04
Hidden Valley Campground is off of Park Boulevard approximately 14 miles from the town of Joshua Tree. The campground is located near Barker Dam and the Hidden Valley Nature Trail. If entering from the West Entrance in Joshua Tree, continue for about 10 miles. The campground will be on your left. If entering from the North Entrance in Twentynine Palms, proceed for about 16 miles on Park Boulevard and the campground will be on your right.
Days are typically clear with less than 25% humidity. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average high/low of 85 and 50°F (29 and 10°C) respectively. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F (15°C), and freezing nights. It occasionally snows at higher elevations. Summers are hot, over 100°F (38°C) during the day and may cool to around 75°F (24°C) at night. Weather can change quickly. Check a weather forecast before camping.
Each site is varied on size and parking. Ensure you know the specifications of your campsite on recreation.gov before purchasing your permit. A vehicle towing a trailer, popup, tent trailer, or fifth wheel, or a motorhome towing a vehicle, is considered two vehicles. Camping fees must be paid within one hour of selecting a campsite. Check in and check out are at noon. There is a 30-day camping limit each year. Only 14 of these nights may take place from October-May. All tents, tarps, and other camping equipment must be set up within 25 feet (7.6 m) of the picnic table or fire grate. Food must be stored securely where wildlife cannot get to it. Any scented or odorous items, including sunscreen and toiletries, must be secured as if they were food. Campsites left vacant for 24 hours will be treated as vacant. Holding or reserving campsites for persons not present is not allowed. Pets must remain on leash at all times and may not be left unattended. No slacklines in campgrounds.
Hidden Valley Campground is a desert campground nestled among rocky outcrops and large boulders. The campground is made up of a mix of paved and dirt roads making a couple of small loops with camping spots to accommodate tents and RVs. Each camping spot has a dirt parking area, picnic table, fire pit, and campsite marker. The ground is hard and rocky. Throughout the campground there are many Joshua trees, small trees, and shrubs. Scattered around the campground you can find trash and recycling cans, bathrooms, and a couple of trailheads




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