Indian Cove Campground is hands down one of the most unique and peaceful places to stay in Joshua Tree National Park. Surrounded by massive rock formations, it feels secluded, quiet, and incredibly raw -- like you're camping inside a natural stone cathedral. The campsites are well spaced, giving you privacy and that true desert solitude. No RV hookups, no noise, no distractions -- just rocks, sky, wind, and silence. This is real camping, not a parking lot with tents. Sunsets here are unreal, and at night the stars are absolutely breathtaking. If you're into hiking, climbing, photography, or just disconnecting from everything, this place is perfect. You can step out of your tent and immediately feel like you're deep in the wilderness. Facilities are basic but clean and well maintained, which is exactly what you want in a place like this. Indian Cove isn't for everyone -- and that's why it's special. Highly recommended for anyone who wants an authentic Joshua Tree experience read more

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This is a very nice Campground places to book up and weekends to fully book up so try to plan early like really early different spots have different benefits some are shady and some are not some are more roomy and some are not some have parking for more than one person While others the parking is extremely tight also need to look at the proximity to the pit toilets pit toilets meaning that it's just a hole in the ground but it isn't closed with the door overall the Ambiance and the environment is amazing and well maintained frequently I see that there are Ranger Patrol vehicles that drive by to check and the many times that we have visited we have always been very impressed with the cleanliness and the order and how well the park is maintained many people come here over and over again because of the amazing Ambience and the environment it is so quiet here and unclear nights you can definitely see all the stars and you are one with them this is far enough to be away from the daily hustle and bustle but close enough to be able to do a weekend trip read more

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Group camp spots are the best as long as you have over the required 7 people. Other spots that hold one or two tents look very small but the campground is gorgeous. Firepits, benches, hiking, climbing, restrooms. Everything you need for a 2-3 day stay. Coyotes roam around the campground. Be careful of your small dogs. One came up to our tent at night looking for my chihuahua mix it smelled inside our tent. We scared it away. read more

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Rocks, check. Stars, check. So I'm not reviewing nature okay? Double relieved to find clean bathrooms during the government shutdown, although they are taking a risk with dumb kids falling down the hole. The most windy campsite ever means smoke smells and a noisy night. ======== Let's talk about the other campers. Close to stores and restaurants = car campers at their laziest. People driving fast in/out around for beer runs. Not a campground to get away from these people. read more

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We spent one Saturday night mid-July as a couple. The weather was nice after 5 pm up to about 8 am. Campground was full but we were not bothered, there was only one loud group a few campsites from us. Staying next to the boulders was so cool! Stargazing was amazing, saw the milky way. Check the best time to come online based on the moon. We will definitely be back. read more

Indian Cove Campground - Sunset view from campsite - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

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First time going to Indian Cove. Went with our Boy Scout troop and we had about 9 individual campsites for the weekend. We taught the scouts how to rock climb and rappel which was awesome. They went bouldering on their own and traveled far and high. Had so much fun that we're planning to go back every year. Each individual site had a table and benches, fire pit and room for at least 1 car and a couple tents. Some of them have room for 2 cars and more tents but most are single cars and a couple tents. There are group sites as well...which my buddy had his friends at...purely by coincidence, but we stayed at the single sites. To book the group sites, you need to be strategic and book as soon as they are open...6 months in advance. The single sites are a bit easier to get but still go pretty quickly. Have to go to www.recreation.gov to reserve campsites. Each site we stayed butted up right next to the rock walls so great opportunities for rock climbing and bouldering. Close by pit toilets which were very clean. Campsites are fairly close to each other so noise especially at night should be monitored. No water spigots in the campsite but there is water available at the entrance close by the ranger station so either bring your own water or containers and fill up before you get to your campsite. Nights were chilly and days were warm but got cold quickly. Beautiful night sky without any light pollution from the population. There are a couple hiking trails that are close by that we're planning on doing the next time around. So go out and have fun!!! read more

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Getting there: Convenient located right outside the East entrance in Twentynine Palms, The drive to Indian Cove campground is pretty easy to locate; just follow hwy 62 to the East, and you'll find this hidden gem waiting for you. Experience: I recently had the most amazing overnight camping experience at Indian Cove during the winter season. My friend and i decided to camp in our car, and it turned out to be a fantastic decision, just a little cold during the night. The campsites were not only spacious but also offered breathtaking views of the surrounding natural beauty. While there is no running water, the outhouses were clean and well-maintained. If you do decide to car camp in the winter, be sure to bring more than enough blankets. read more

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Almost alone on both sides but super beautiful and quiet. Bathroom was nearby and trail. Liquor/market store at entrance and plenty of restaurants in 29palms read more

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This is such a beautiful and well preserved area to visit for day use and camping. My wife and I especially enjoyed the quiet environment that the rock formations create. It's not very often that you can get away from all the noise, but it is so quiet out here. It's amazing. There is also no light pollution out here, so astrophotography and star gazing were extremely fun. There are plenty of trails to travel, and we hardly scratched the surface but felt like we explored so much. We hope to come back again someday! read more

Indian Cove Campground - Our camping spot at Indian cove! - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

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Great views, tucked away sites, toilets well maintained. Lots to explore even just wandering the campgrounds and day use areas.

Group site 6 is great for tent camping but not car camping. The picnic tables and fire pit is about 150 yards away from where you park. Plenty of room to park 1 30ft trailer and 4 trucks/mid size SUV. The picnic and fire pit area is surrounded by rock boulders and magnificent views. read more

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Such a pretty place! I camped here in late March and loved it. The giant rocks and desert flaura and fauna really make this place special. I spent two nights but I could of spent a week! Our group of two had plenty of room in the tent site we reserved. Camp spots are somewhat close together so don't expect privacy. My one complaint would be the pit toilets. They were not cleaned during the 3 days we were around. Toilet paper was strewn all over the floor and the toilet seat, etc was disgusting. read more

Indian Cove Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

Our first time camping here and we couldn't be happier. You're nestled between hills of rocks that Procter the from wind and provide the most beautiful backdrop. Campsites are still grouped together but we didn't feel too claustrophobic, then again there was only another camper in a van in our camp cluster. Some sites are fairly spacious and can fit a few tents while others are small and can only fit one. Unfortunately the photos on the site are difficult to determine which is which. Each site has a fire pit, picnic table, and grill. The restrooms do not have running water. There are toilet seats but no flushable toilets. However the one we were at was very clean. There are a few short hikes in the area. We tried the nature trail next to the campground and took tons of pictures, read all the signage's you learn if the foliage. We wanted to come to Joshua Tree to see some stars but the moon was very bright during our stay. During the day we saw lots of rock climbers which was rather neat. read more

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Beautiful spot in the park to pitch a tent! Basic campground- firepits, tables, pit toilets, dumpsters. No sinks/showers that I found- BYO food, water, trash bags and firewood. $25 a night for a site large enough for 30+ people. Wake up and start exploring! Rock climbing, hiking, ect. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Honestly best camping spot I been too. Large spots, lots of privacy and super quiet. Gets VERY cold tho. Didn't expect the 30-40 min drive to get into the Joshua tree park but didn't deter us from coming again read more

Lots of rocks! Not the typical Joshua Tree desert environment. Campground was clean and easy to find. Strangely, there was no check-in process anywhere, and the office was closed, so we just walked right in. There's a hike that we did called Rattlesnake Canyon that you have to walk a mile to. It's a pretty cool view but it's unique in that you make your own trail and you're not really following one, per se. In terms of facilities, the bathroom smelled the worst out of any bathroom I've ever used, and I've been to India. There's no running water or soap, just a toilet, so stock up on everything you need before camping here. Enjoy, the night sky is beautiful and you might see a shooting star! read more

What a fantastic campground. Camped here during the Christmas week 2019 and had planned on staying for five nights. On Christmas day we checked the weather and saw that there was to be a flash flood warning the next day. So we packed up and headed out. Not fun striking during rain and high wind! Anyway the campground, site 36 is fantastic. Great for tent camping and the pit toilet is close by and clean. The campsite is very secluded so we felt as if we had the park to ourselves. Wonderful rangers and just be sure to bring water containers since the only water is at the ranger station as you enter the park. read more

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To update: Jan 2nd, ~4:30-4:45pm someone held down their horn as they drove past TH parking on the way to the campground. I assumed it was someone near the road or a vehicle pulling out. At 5:10-5:15pm someone banged loudly on our van (we were getting gear ready to head out after a 5:30 phone call she had to make). My partner went to the front to see what was going as she was closer. An older white male identifying himself as the camp host with a single syllable name (she was unsure of what it was later) said we couldn't park there and that we had to leave immediately. When my partner said she was going to go backpacking he told her that he'd "see her at 1am". Then held down his horn again as he drove off (at this point we put together the earlier incident). It was dusk so she didn't really catch identifying features aside from the fact he was dressed in dark clothing and holding a walkie talkie. Another group was leaving the parking lot to go out backpacking and we'd already dropped off our registration so it wasn't like we were doing anything unusual. It'd been around a year since we were at this trailhead, so it wasn't like there was any recent interaction that would have triggered him. She was unsure if that meant he'd come back and either bang on the van / hold down his horn at 1am (which would be amusing given we'd be out of earshot), try and damage our vehicle when no one else was around, or try to find her into the desert in the middle of the light by headlamp, we decided to pull the trip. A man who (as far he knew) was comfortable threatening a single younger female didn't seem possibly tangling with if we were bundled in our sleeping bags. I chatted with the ranger a bit after 6pm who was still at the entrance station. He mentioned the camp host had been back for around an hour and was genuinely disturbed at what happened. He didn't think LEO would falsely claim to be a camp host, and while SAR had been in the area earlier in the day the pattern of behavior doesn't seem to make sense either. It'd also be odd for someone with some actual enforcement power to impersonate a camp host. Following up with the Ranger later, the camp hosts are "Pam & Steve" and one of them normally goes up to the campground to check on it around 4pm. They said neither of them left to rove / patrol the campground that day, though he heard their vehicle come back at a time that lines up. We ended up doing a short backpacking trip out into the desert from the trailhead the following night and there was no unusual activity. Some hazy clouds impacted the meteor shower earlier in the evening, but it was quite nice in the middle of the night. :) Occom's razer points to this being the camphost as stated (the timing of going back and forth along with the fact that a weird vigilante local would probably choose to impersonate someone with actual enforcement power) though sadly we don't have any hard means of identification. With NPS actively investigating things he should be on best behavior in the future, but given this couple move around various national parks if anyone else has been harassed or threatened by someone in this area (or any other national park) report it to help create a pattern of behavior on record. The campground itself is nice, seems clean and pretty chill mostly consisting of boulderers and families with young kids. read more

It couldn't get more beautiful, or more peaceful in Indian Cove Campground! From the late night Howling of the coyotes Or the early morning sounds of the owls. We had several coyotes visit our campsite during the night time, heard them sniffing around the tent! While walking to the bathroom several Crossed our path. The only downfall was the extreme wind we encountered. Our canopy was ripped to shreds, and scene was like something out of The Wizard of Oz. Had a very informative ranger, and great at her Job. Cannot wait to return and enjoy serenity. read more

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Extremely happy with this off-the-path place. Beautiful & remote. Right up against boulders. Great hikes. Really appreciate Steve the host who was especially accommodating to us. read more

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I'm not much of a camper, but now that I have kids, I have recently reluctantly agreed to join friends on a few camping trips. I was very happy I did for the Indian Cove Campground as the setting was amazing. Situated around the mounds of rocks Joshua Tree is known for, you can imagine the fun the kids had exploring right next to the campsite. The stars were also breathtaking at night as light pollution is not that bad in the area. Of course, access to the national park is very easy as it is close by. read more

Indian Cove Campground is a hidden gem of a scenic camping area located in the Southern California Desert area of Joshua Tree National Park AND 29 Palms California. You drive southwest off of 29 Palms Highway approximately 5 miles,passed the Indian Cove Ranger Station,onto the geologic boulder valley of Indian Cove. They have secluded,peaceful campsites that offer its visitors a terrific desert camping experience! They have fire rings,benches,pit toilets and wide open campsites! You can ride your mountain bike here or "ten toe" around the dirt roads or trails nearby.At nite being a designated "Dark Sky Park" the Indian Cove skys come alive with its "billion and one" star scape! It was a terrific experience at Indian Cove Campground! . . . . #indiancovecampground #boulders #nativeamerican #joshuatreenationalpark #yuccavalley #29palms #29palmshwy #darkskypark #stars #starsinthesky #offroad #camping #californiadeserts #waynesalvatti #seetheusa #photografxworldwide #letsgocamping #socalcamping #ilovecamping #getoutthere #Californiadreamin #californiadreaming #canoncameras #nikoncameras #sonycameras #leicacameras #filmsnotdead #thedarkroomlab #jthavn #firering #campfire read more

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Well. I had hope. Turns out, it's managed by Californians- which means; it's run into the ground. Smelled like feces sizzling in the sun. The camp guards were absent. You pull up and there's nobody for miles. For $20 bucks, what you get is a jostling among people for a spot. The grills were filthy. Trash bins were like garbage volcanoes, filled to overflow. Please tell the women who work here, to scrub the toilet (there's sludge oozing into the camp spots) and pick up the trash all over, instead of being rude! Too much hooplah- no love. Rebel review: 2 read more

Campgrounds near Joshua Tree National Park. Excellent campground choice. Definitely need to RSVP for this place. Get your own bathroom stall. Bring a candle and toilet paper. Surrounded by boulders Limited parking as all campgrounds Patio tables, bonfire and joshua trees all around. You can start your hike from here. read more

We loved our site, 041, as the rocks offered privacy but was still close to the bathroom. The campground itself is beautiful and in the winter largely unoccupied. However a few things really put a damper on our experience: 1) the trash truck showed up at 6 am to empty all the dumpsters. We had terrible wind sitch the night before and barely had any sleep so the early morning banging was very unpleasant. 2) Rock climbers. We had just returned from the natl park and were getting settled when 2 rock climbers decided that they needed to climb the rock face adjacent to our site in spite of our dogs getting agitated and barking at them. Mind you this was not even their campsite, they appeared to either be day use folks or folks camping in an entirely different site. So even though we were paid campers we decided to leave a day early instead of have our dogs disturb the solitude of camp. There were plenty of rock faces to summit where no one was camping so that was pretty rude IMO. read more

Indian Cove Campground - Camp site 041 - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

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Gorgeous desert environment with huge rocks in and among the camping areas. Our group stayed at one of the group campsites, which offered plenty of space, but we also visited friends at an individual campsite. Be aware that some individual campsites offer very little privacy from one another, and can be quite noisy - take a look at the map and photos before you reserve. There are plenty of scrambling and bouldering opportunities in and near the campground. The only drawback is that it's located near the edge of the park, and many of the interior hikes are an hour plus drive away. read more

Indian Cove Campground - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

CALLING ALL STAR GAZERS!!! Thanks Todd for booking our camp! We had fun camping and rock climbing! We had a clean bathroom and the grounds are well kept. Each numbered campsite had a picnic table and fire pit and each section had a brick and mortar outhouse. Some nice person put a citronella candle inside bathroom and lit at night, score. Also, our door would stay propped open to air out when not in use! NO RUNNING WATER here. I am not a big fan of camping more than one day...this reminded me why! Crowded weekend, wish we had better routes for the small kids, but they all had fun making it up on 5.8 and 5.6 routes. Lots of free climb space, to hike up the big boulders. Nice that everyone remembers: No littering and keep the bathrooms clean. Indian Cove is part of Joshua Tree National Park so a entrance fee needs to be paid, or buy a yearly pass $80 good for entrance to National parks and Federal Recreation Land Pass. read more

Indian Cove Campground - $80 Annual Pass or pay entrance fee. - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

Just got back from another wonderful Thanksgiving trip to Joshua Tree and the amazing Indian cove campground. It's still five stars, it's still the most wonderful magical campground around. We stayed in site #90 this time. This was a great site for privacy lovers as there is no other campsite to your left or right, only one across from you. It's not directly against rocks but there's still plenty of rock scrambling to do. If you are considering going to Indian cove, stop considering and make your reservations now. read more

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Great Place to camp at and you have hikes that are right next to your campground and you can also go bouldering. We stopped by the informational station at the front around 10am not knowing if we would even get a spot since we didn't have a reservation. The information center going into Indian Cove has the Indian Cove stamp and sells a small amount Joshua Tree souvenirs and stickers. We talked to the park ranger to try our luck and she said that someone had just cancelled. Talk about luck! She gave us a pass and off we went to our campsite. Our campsite was beautiful and clean. It was nicely spaced out. The sunset was beautiful here and seeing all the stars was truly amazing. They have Restrooms that are well kept not too far from our campsite. The trash bins were also next to the restroom. Conditions at the desert change quickly it was sprinkling and very windy during one of our nights so always keep in mind to come prepared for anything. If you're looking to get away from the city for a weekend trip than Joshua Tree is your spot! This place is always wonderful. read more

Indian Cove Campground - Joshua Tree, Indian Cove Campsite. - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

Great little spot. Amazing star gazing as well. Only stayed one night as it was too hot but will definitely return. Coyotes are pretty nosey at night and were in and out of our camp all night so make to put food and such in car. Otherwise it's a beautiful serene campground read more

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One of the few campsites left in Joshua Tree where you won't feel crowded by other campers. Great place to experience the park for all of its beauty in the night time. Highly recommend coming out during a full moon so you can really experience a Desert moonrise the way it should be experienced. Campsites are fairly spaced out so you don't get too much noise that can't be drowned out by a good campfire. Really like the proximity of the dumpsters to most campsites because it makes it not as annoying of trek to have to toss your trash away. If you're into Bouldering, a lot of campsites are great places to set up safely and there's plenty of boulders for all levels to explore the natural wonder that is JTNP. If that's not your thing there's plenty of trails to wander to, and you can never go wrong just catching a sunset from on top of a Boulder or watching the moon rise over the valley in the middle of the night. This campground is reservation only, but usually spots open up every week as long as you can catch them. No walk ins for this one, but not too hard to get a spot either! read more

My family and I recently camped (for the second time) at Indian Cove Campground. We originally picked this site because it' is one of the few Joshua Tree campgrounds that accepts reservations. Everything else is first come first serve....not worth the risk, in my opinion. We hit the jackpot with this campground. It is beautiful, peaceful, exciting, fun....everything you could want. We had so much fun just exploring around the campground and climbing around on the boulders. Great fun for adventurous souls of all ages! ***advice for parents....pack a helmet for the kids. It really put my mind at ease as our daughter climbed some pretty huge boulders. read more

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WHERE THE PARTY'S AT!!!! BACKGROUND: On the west side of the campground, the half-mile Indian Cove nature trail features the plants, animals, and seasonal Indian occupation of the area. A picnic area is located on the far eastern side of the campground. Indian Cove is noted for the large number of mature Mojave yuccas and shrubs that grow there. Colorful spring blooms are especially striking against the sand-colored granite rocks. Desert tortoise sightings are not unusual during spring and early fall, when they venture from their burrows. The area is also popular with birders, especially those wanting to see the elusive LeConte's thrasher. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/index.htm http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm STATS: Car camping available Camper camping available (check the National Park Service Website for details) ESSENTIALS: Reservations required All camping needs T-paper Water Food Proper attire for weather EXPERIENCE: A weekend in Joshua Tree has been an annual event with The Crew since its birth, and we reserve campsites one year in advance. The first day is spent driving in, setting up camp, and playing on the rocks till the dinner bell rings. We may be hikers, but we serve up potlucks and eat up like an army. A very bad B movie follows dinner and bedtime is relatively early because the following day is The Main Event, the big hike. Hike reviews are available under the heading of Joshua Tree National Park and Fortynine Palm Oasis. I love camping here, even though I hang out till bedtime, then head off to the nearest hotel. Indian Cove is far enough from civilization that we don't hear all the hustle and bustle of traffreak, yet close enough that we can see the city lights and is about a 10 minute drive to town. It's where the only sounds you discover are the auditory sensations of nature; owls, coyotes, rodents, and the peeps you're chatting with. Campsites are empty except for picnic tables, BBQs, trash dumpsters and a toilet. But you don't have to camp, check the website for day hiking requirements. read more

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3.5 stars for Group Campsite 1. Beautiful little cove nestled between mountains of large rocks, with 4-5 picnic tables and a grill, bins to recycle in and trash receptacles... ... and one stinky bathroom (one male and one female)... Let's be honest, it's a glorified porta-potty. While there's a toilet seat, there's no flusher... just a giant hole of sh*t, piss and toilet paper. Work your squatting muscles because that's the safest bet. You don't want anything flying in or around your nethers while sitting down, do you? Keep some wet-wipes around... NO RUNNING WATER in the group site areas 1 and 2. The stench of the restroom is pretty potent... hold your breath and make sure to pitch your tent far away from it. The area is really pretty though... awesome rock formations, gorgeous sunsets and millions and millions of stars that you would never see in the city. Next time I'm going to a non-group area spot that actually has running water! And maybe not go in the middle of June... talk about HOT! . read more

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I absolutely loved this campground. We went to Black Rock Canyon a few weeks before and liked this one way more. The rock formations were astounding. We were in site 60, which was pretty private because the only real neighbor was 61 and there was no one there. Rock formations make a barrier between the other sites. The site was big and relatively clear of brush so it was perfect for keeping an eye on the kids while they were running around. I walked around the campground and will be staying in site 60 again because I liked it so much. If you don't mind pit toilets and bringing your own water you absolutely must stay at this campground. Even during the week most spots were full, so definitely make a reservation. Some evenings were windy and sites 56-59 got a lot of shade. 64 and 65 were big and open. Some of the sites were VERY small. Like our tent wouldn't have fit. So definitely look at the pictures on Reserve America to assess the size. read more

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Indian Cove is a good place for rock climber and hikers. The boulders are literally behind the campsite and the Boy Scout hiking trail is a long and strenuous hiking trail. Reservations is recommended and if you have a big group, choose the group site. Group site #1, #5, #6 is good for a large group and #11 is good for rock climbers. The place has a restroom, but no running water and lights like Black Rock Canyon. So make sure you go take care of business before sundown! There is a place for trash and recyclables. The campsites does have fire pits, so bring plenty of firewood, it also has a grill for cooking and picnic tables. read more

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LOVE YOU INDIAN COVE! While J Tree might be packed to the gills with no reservations available, you've welcomed us with open arms. "Camp here! Get inside of me!" you say. You've got some fun climbs, some cozy campsites, and some nice sized fire pits. Maybe you could suck out the toilets a little more often, but otherwise, not too terrible. I do believe there is a special layer of hell reserved for the folks that book campsites and are no-shows. Fun fact: there's a large property on the right hand side when you're first turning down the road, you'll see a beige pickup truck with "Firewood" written on it. Roger will hook you up with a red wagon full of wood for $20! Score! read more

Indian Cove Campground - Hey there's service up here on this rock! - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

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We stayed the group campsites for 3 nights. NYE, Jan 1 and 2nd. 3 sets of picnic tables/ chairs, and a big fire ring, and the restroom. No water. Very spacious. The next site is kind of far, so it's nice. the view was also great. read more

Fun place! They even have "church" on site for religious services, weddings, Ranger shows, etc. read more

Indian Cove Campground - Lady with dress on backwards. - Campgrounds Near Me - Twentynine Palms, California

I really like Indian Cove for camping at Joshua Tree. Unlike at least one other person note, this is actually inside the National Park, but it has a separate entrance. The campsites are well spaced and roomy, with fire rings, picnic tables and lots of open room for multiple tents. The bathrooms are clean and abundant, but there is no running water, so bring your own hand sanitizer. More than at some of the other campsites in the park, the sites here ring large rock outcroppings. So there are lots of options for rock climbing right as you roll out of your tent. Or maybe next to your site. Or maybe a few yards down the road. This is both nice and a bit of a pain, since people may want to climb the route that is in your site. Just keep that in mind if you roll up on a site and see a group of people there climbing without any camp gear in sight. read more