Hidden Valley Campground - Joshua Tree National Park

Hidden Valley Campground is an extremely popular destination for campers, especially among climbers. The first-serve campsites provide easy access to popular climbing locations like Real Hidden Valley Area and Hall of Horrors.

Hidden Valley Campground - Joshua Tree National Park

Hidden Valley Campground is located near the West entrance station in Joshua Tree National Park and is extremely popular with rock climbers. There are several large boulders and rock features located near the campground as well as the Hidden Valley Nature Trail, Keys Ranch, Key's View, and Skull Rock. No reservations are available for this campground so you will want to plan on arriving early in the day to get a spot.

I enjoyed the Hidden Valley's wide array of vegetation not typically found in other sections of the park. Thre are lots of Joshua Trees, pinon, juniper, mesquite, yucca, and various species of cactai.

No water is available at the campground, so make sure and bring plenty with you.

Joshua Tree National Park Entrance Fee

7-day single-vehicle park pass - $30.00

7-day individual park pass - $15.00

7-day motorcycle park pass - $25.00

Joshua Tree National Park Annual Pass - $55.00

Valid for one year through the month of purchase. Admits one private, non-commercial vehicle or its pass holder.

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days  -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

Campground Fees

Make sure to check with the park for the most updated camping fees

Campground Reservations

Are Reservations Available? No
First Come, First Served?  Yes

Hidden Valley Campground General Information

Season: Open year-round
Number of Sites: 44
Check-in Time:
Check-in time for first-come, first-serve is as soon as a empty campsite is available. Check-in time for reservation campgrounds is after 12:00 PM (noon).
Checkout time: 12:00 PM (noon)
Campground Address:
74485 National Park Dr
Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

Latitude/Longitude:
Latitude: 34° 1' 1.8768" N
Longitude: 116° 9' 45.8532" W
Elevation: 4200

Accessible Sites: No, There are no ADA-accessible campsites in the Belle Campground. If you are looking to reserve ADA-accessible campsites, please look into Jumbo Rocks Campground, site 122, and Black Rock Campground, site 61, which are ADA accessible.

Campground Amenities

Potable Water? No
Bear Box in site/area? No
Flush Toilet Restrooms? No, Hidden Valley does not have any flush toilets, they only has Vault Toilets/Pit toilets.
Laundry: No
Showers: No
Is Wi-Fi available? No
Is Cellular Service Available? No
Is there a camp host available on-site? No
Is firewood available for purchase? No
Amphitheater: No
Are fire pits/fire ring available at each site? Yes
Are Picnic Tables available at each site? Yes

RV Camping at Hidden Valley Campground

RV Hookups Available: There are no partial(water, sewer, or electricity) or full hookups available in Hidden Valley Campground.

RV Length: Small RVs and trailers may not exceed a combined maximum length of 25 feet

Generators: Generator use is permitted only from 7–9 am, noon–2 pm, and 5–7 pm.

Dump Station: No

For a fun adventure check out Escape Campervans. These campervans have built in beds, kitchen area with refrigerators, and more. You can have them fully set up with kitchen supplies, bedding, and other fun extras. They are painted with epic designs you can't miss!

Escape Campervans has offices in Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Denver, New York, and Orlando

Hidden Valley Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: Maximum of 6 people

The number of cars per campsite: 2 cars,  A vehicle towing a trailer, pop-up, tent trailer, or fifth wheel—or a motorhome towing a vehicle—is considered two vehicles.

There is no overflow parking and not all campsites accommodate 2 vehicles.

Quiet Hours: 10 pm to 6 am

Pets Allowed: Yes, but they must be on a leash less than 6 feet

Make sure to remember to B.A.R.K.

B - Bag your pet's waste and dispose of it properly.
A- Always leash your pet, leashes may be no longer that six feet in length, under your control and not left unattended.
R- Respect Wildlife - keep you and your pet plenty of distance from park wildlife.
K- Know where you can go; pets are welcomed throughout Greenbelt Park, except inside the Ranger Station.

There is a 30-day camping limit each year. Only 14 of these nights may take place from October-May.

Campsites left vacant for 24 hours will be treated as vacant.

No slacklines in campgrounds.

Food must be stored securely where wildlife cannot get to it.

Don't forget to pack these items!

Don't forget to pack

Insect repellent is always a great idea outdoors, especially around any body of water. 

We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips.  Please read my article on preventing biting insects while enjoying the outdoors. 

Sunscreen - I buy environmentally friendly sunscreen whenever possible because you inevitably pull it out at the beach.

Bring your water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.

Sunglasses - I always bring sunglasses with me. I personally love Goodr sunglasses because they are lightweight, durable, and have awesome National Park Designs from several National Parks like Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, Hawaii Volcanoes, Acadia, Denali, and more!

Click here to get your National Parks Edition of Goodr Sunglasses!

Binoculars/Spotting Scope - These will help spot birds and wildlife and make them easier to identify. We tend to see waterfowl in the distance, and they are always just a bit too far to identify them without binoculars.

Fun activities you can book to enhance your Joshua Tree National Park Trip

Tours available in/near Joshua Tree National Park

Half-Day Guided Hike in Joshua Tree National Park - A 4.5-hour tour allows you to truly see Joshua Tree National Park and feel the Mojave Desert's magic. This private tour comes with a local guide and naturalist who will take you beyond the guidebooks and discuss the area of flora, fauna, geology, history, and more of this incredible park. A daypack and bottled water are included.

Full-Day Hike in Joshua Tree National Park - Here is your chance to have a seasoned guide take you on a seven-hour hike, including a daypack and bottled water. Hiking is the best way to experience Joshua Tree, and your experienced guide will help you learn about the region's floral and fauna and human history and feel the desert's energy and artistic vibe.

4-Hour Rappelling Adventure in Joshua Tree National Park - Joshua Tree offers some of the best rock-climbing in the National Parks System with over 9000 climbing routes! Routes include anything from beginners to pros, and their certified climbing guides will help you choose the route that best fits you. Guides also provide you with all the necessary gear and training, and all guides are Wilderness First Responders.

Lodging at/near Joshua Tree National Park

There are no Joshua Tree National Park Lodges, cabins, or Yurts within the park. Here is an additional list of lodging options in Twentynine Palms, California.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms - We have stayed at this hotel our last few visit to the park and it has been great. Free continental breakfast, shopping on site, and laundry facilities are just a few of the amenities provided at Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree NP. Free in-room Wi-Fi is available to all guests, along with a 24-hour gym and a 24-hour business center.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Twentynine Palms - Consider a stay at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Twentynine Palms, an IHG Hotel, and take advantage of a complimentary manager's reception, dry cleaning/laundry services, and a 24-hour gym. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center are available to all guests.

Oasis Inn & Suites - A grocery/convenience store, a terrace, and a coffee shop/café are just a few of the amenities provided at Oasis Inn & Suites Joshua Tree - 29 Palms. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Enjoy the gym, as well as activities like hiking/biking. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as laundry facilities and a business center.

Hampton Inn & Suites Indio - provides amenities like free full breakfast and a gym. Guests can connect to free in-room Wi-Fi.

Click on the map below for vacation rentals and lodges near the park.

Additional Joshua Tree National Park information

Complete Guide to Joshua Tree National Park - Breakdown of all the information you will need to plan a trip to Joshua Tree National Park!

Epic Guide to Joshua Tree Hikes - Find out the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree, including:

• Arch Rock Trail
• Bajada Nature Trail
• Barker Dam
• Cholla Cactus Garden
• Hidden Valley Nature Trail
• Skull Rock
• Lost Horse Mine
• Fourtynine Palms
• Ryan Mountain & more!

Joshua Tree Camping Guide - Breakdown of each front country campground in Joshua Tree National Park, including:

• Belle Campground
• Black Rock Campground
• Cottonwood Campground
• Hidden Valley Campground
• Indian Cove Campground
• Jumbo Rocks Campground
• Ryan Campground
• Sheep Pass Campground
• White Tank Campground

 Parks near Joshua Tree National Park

• Mojave National Preserve
• Castle Mountains National Monument
• Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
• Death Valley National Park
• Channel Islands National Park
• César E. Chávez National Monument

Check out all of the national parks in California, the neighboring national parks in Arizona, Nevada national parks, and national parks in Oregon.