Complete guide to 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.

Here are my top finds for (JTNP) Joshua Tree National Park:
🏨Hotels: RESET Hotel Joshua Tree, AutoCamp Joshua Tree
📍Tours: JTNP Scenic Tour, JTNP 4X4 Off-Road Backcountry Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

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.

Hidden Valley Campground Map

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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 bottleand 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.

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Things To Do When Camping at Hidden Valley Campground

🧗 Climb or scramble on the boulders surrounding the campground, some of the most popular climbing in the park
🥾 Walk the one-mile Hidden Valley Nature Trail loop, which circles a boulder-enclosed valley said to have been used by cattle rustlers
💧 Hike the easy Barker Dam Loop, about a mile and a half away, to a historic water catchment with petroglyphs and a chance to see desert wildlife
🏛️ Book a ranger-led tour of Keys Ranch, a preserved desert homestead (advance reservations are required)
🌅 Drive to Keys View for sunrise or sunset views over the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault
📸 Photograph the boulders and Joshua trees in the low light of early morning and late afternoon
🌌 Stargaze under the dark skies of an International Dark Sky Park, with the Milky Way overhead on clear, moonless nights
🦎 Watch for lizards, jackrabbits, roadrunners, and the occasional desert bighorn sheep around dawn and dusk

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Best Joshua Tree National Park Tours & Activities

Joshua Tree National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Stars (809+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 to 4 hours (self-paced) | 🚗🎧 Check Rates and Availability

This GPS-triggered audio tour is one of the best values at any national park on Viator. Narration fires automatically as you reach each stop along the 63-mile route through the park, covering Skull Rock, Cap Rock, Lost Horse Mine, Hidden Valley, and more. Works fully offline once downloaded, which matters since cell service disappears quickly inside the park.

Joshua Tree National Park Scenic Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.7 out of 5 Stars (593+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 to 5 hours | 🚐 Check Rates and Availability

A small-group guided tour with a maximum of 9 guests, departing from Palm Springs or the Yucca Valley Welcome Center. Guides consistently earn outstanding individual reviews for their knowledge of the park's geology, indigenous history, and ecology, and their ability to make the otherworldly landscape come alive for first-time visitors. General park admission is included in the tour price. Snacks and bottled water are provided.

Joshua Tree National Park 4x4 Off-Road Backcountry Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (470+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 5 hours | 🚙🏜️ Check Rates and Availability

The standout adventure experience at Joshua Tree, this 4x4 off-road tour from Big Wheel Tours takes guests deep into the backcountry on terrain no regular vehicle can reach. Guides Jeff, Ben, Ron, Dale, and Will earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of the desert's geology, plant life, and wildlife, and their ability to tailor each tour to the group's interests. Reviewers consistently say they saw parts of the park most visitors never find. Bottled water and snacks included. Recommended by 98% of travelers across nearly 500 reviews. Flagged as likely to sell out. Booked an average of 31 days in advance. Free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

Click here to find more great Joshua Tree National Park tours.

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Lodging near Joshua Tree National Park

There are no lodges in Joshua Tree National Park. Here are a couple of hotels I would love to stay in on my next trip to Joshua Tree!

⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - RESET Hotel Joshua Tree - Click here for Rates and Availability.

Joshua Tree's first new boutique hotel in 15 years and one of the most exciting hotel openings in the American Southwest, a minimalist Mars-inspired desert retreat on 180 spectacular acres just 8 minutes from the park's north entrance!

The 65 rooms and suites feature private patios with Solo Stove fire pits, outdoor daybeds for stargazing, French doors opening to unobstructed desert views, in-room pour-over coffee setups, spa-inspired bathrooms, and solar lanterns. RESET is the only hotel in the world with a Celestron Origin smart telescope, and guided sessions with a retired NASA/JPL astronomer are available. Shared amenities include a saltwater pool with mountain views, outdoor hot tub, five-person sauna, cold-plunge tub, morning yoga, the Split Rock Cafe and Bar, communal fire pits, a Moonpad stargazing deck, EV charging, free WiFi, and free parking. Pet friendly and open year-round!

⭐️ 4.6 of 5 Stars - AutoCamp Joshua Tree - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The coolest place to sleep near Joshua Tree National Park, a luxury glamping resort featuring iconic Airstream suites, classic cabins, and tiny homes sitting just steps from the west entrance to the park!

Each accommodation features a private patio, kitchenette with microwave and cookware, rainfall showerheads, Smart TVs, and premium linens, with the Airstream Vista suites offering a separate outdoor shower under the desert sky. Complimentary granola, pour-over coffee, and tea are served each morning, and the Clubhouse bar and restaurant host evening live music and events. Additional amenities include a seasonal heated outdoor pool, complimentary bikes, free WiFi, EV charging, fire pits, a kids playground, yoga classes, pet friendly options, and free parking. Open year-round!

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