I consider this park to be one of the hidden gems within the California State Park system. At first glance, this campground adjacent to Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area and just a short drive from the Salton Sea appears to be a barren campground in the middle of the desert. A closer look, however, reveals much more: spectacular sunrise and sunset views from your site nestled against the desert mountains, stargazing, hiking trails, a Visitor's Center, over 500 miles of 4x4 trails through various terrain and mild fall, winter and spring weather. Summers here are extremely hot, with
temperatures often reaching 120 during the hottest days, so travel is advised in the fall, winter and spring months. We traveled here during December, and although nights were cool with temperatures dropping into the 30s, we were toasty and warm with our full-hookup site. The clear winter sky offered spectacular stargazing despite only being 2 hours from Los Angeles. Some campsites are full-hookup, while others are primitive. Half of the hookup sites are beneath palms (31-48) and all sites have fire rings and newer picnic tables. Interior roads and pads are paved and fairly level. A separate tent loop is deeper into the camp, offering private sites closer to the mountains. Several hiking trails lead directly from camp, while other trails are available within a short distance. This massive park, the largest in the 48 states, sprawls across much of the eastern desert and we found Jeeping along 4x4 roads, particularly Fish Creek to be fun and amazing as we traversed through canyons and washes and beneath rock ledges and desert. The town of Borrego Springs is no more than a mile from camp, and offers all the basic amenities a small town typically has to offer.
Location
Good Sites: 31-33, 35-41, 43, 45-48
Poor Sites: 50 & 51 (both of these sites are pull-off sites, not pull-through making it difficult for RVs with slides)
Hookups: Water, Electric & Sewer at some sites
Potable Water: Yes
Dump within Facility: Yes
I consider this park to be one of the hidden gems within the California State Park system. At first glance, this campground adjacent to Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area and just a short drive from the Salton Sea appears to be a barren campground in the middle of the desert. A closer look, however, reveals much more: spectacular sunrise and sunset views from your site nestled against the desert mountains, stargazing, hiking trails, a Visitor's Center, over 500 miles of 4x4 trails through various terrain and mild fall, winter and spring weather. Summers here are extremely hot, with
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