SoCal “winter” camping recommendations warmer
- Thread starter Duke562
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EmperorWurm
New member
death valley?
dreyday
New member
Why not hit up Joshua Tree ?
I frequently travel to Death Valley, Mojave and Anza Borrego in the winters. Baja is really nice too....
That being said; days are short and it can get cold...really cold. I've been in Death Valley with snow and ice on the tent.
Deserts are beautiful places in the winter!
-H-
That being said; days are short and it can get cold...really cold. I've been in Death Valley with snow and ice on the tent.
Deserts are beautiful places in the winter!
-H-
BrianSD_42
New member
Alabama Hills, Joshua Tree, Anza-Borrego, Death Valley .... all are nice in Dec, Jan.
phattyduck
Elite Member
Don't do desert with a nursing wife and baby... winter or summer both have extreme weather.
Anything coastal is where you want to look. Much more limited temperature range.
Oh, and make sure she really wants to go!
-Charlie
Anything coastal is where you want to look. Much more limited temperature range.
Oh, and make sure she really wants to go!
-Charlie
BrianSD_42
New member
I will have to politely disagree that the high desert has extreme weather in Dec/Jan by default. It is often very nice and unless a storm rolls in you can enjoy 60 F days and 40F nights. And yes probably not a good place for an infant. I assumed he meant that he needed to go camping (with buddies) just not that far away from town.
Industrialwrench
New member
Everywhere is camping weather in Southern California during winter. Stay low elevations for higher temps.
ChrisJHarney
New member
All our SoCal deserts have high and low elevations that can be extremely pleasant to downright frigid. Mojave’s Preserve is a perfect example. You can drive from Kelso depot to Mid-hills and gain 4000ft in elevation in about an hour. I’ve camped in Mojave when it was snowing. My wife and I had a 1 year old and the temp that evening dropped to 16F.
Here are some low elevation primitive camp areas that I have really enjoyed in the winter.
Anza Borrego - Fish Creek Primitive Campground - Entry point to Fish Creek Wash, wind caves, sandstone canyon, back way into Diablo Drop. Easiest way to get there is off the 78 near Ocotillo Wells OHV park. Toilets
Painted Canyon - Just E. of Mecca - Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon Hikes are both awesome and easy. BLM land so no fees. No toilets
Joshua Tree via Old Dale Rd. - Joshua Tree is extremely crowded in winter. Almost impossible to just drive in and find camping. So camp in Old Dale Mining District, do some wheeling and mine hunting, and access J-tree from the NE for a day trip. We camped with our 1 and 3 year old just below Carlyle Mine, and it was eerily quiet. Some of the mines out there are in excellent condition. If you come in from Old Dale and want a fun little canyon run on your way out check out Berdoo Canyon. Some small ledges and off camber areas make it interesting, and you won’t have to leave on asphalt.
Mojave Preserve - too many spots to list. It’s a Preserve so there is a TON of info online about the various camp areas and things to see. There are cabins being restored north of Cima that are very cool to check out. Lava tubes, sand dunes, the Providence Mountains. A lot of history. I’ve been out there every year for the last 10 years and I still find stuff to check out.
Dumont Dunes/Sperry Wash - N. of Baker, just SE of Death Valley. Amargarosa River runs most of the winter through here, Sperry Wash will take you to Furnace Creek Rd which will take you to China Ranch Date Farm. So good. Tecopa has a mud hot springs that is interesting. Oh yeah, and the dunes are pretty fun too. Go on a holiday weekend to get the full experience. Fireworks, sand rails, trophy trucks. Thanksgiving, New Years, Presidents Day weekend are the big ones.
Death Valley - again WAAAAAY too much to list. Stay away from the higher elevations as it can get butt cold. Stick to Stovepipe Wells, Furnace Creek, Mesquite Spring, Saline Valley. You can take day trips to the higher elevations like Hunter Mountain, Racetrack, Emigrent Canyon Rd (Charcoal Kilns, Telescope Peak) if it’s not closed due to snow. If you like challenging your wheeling skills, check out Panamint, Barker Ranch, Geologist Cabin. Too much to list.
Red Rock Canyon - Last Chance Canyon, the Burro Schmidt tunnel, Bickel Camp. A ton of history here and some really nice trails to get you out in the middle of nowhere.
Searles Valley - Trona Pinnacles, Red Mountain, all the BLM land you can want. Just rocks and views for miles.
The absolute most important thing you should do is contact the local govn’t agency in charge of the land you’re going to and see if there are any advisories. Weather.com doesn’t have a lot of accurate information about off-roading areas and areas outside of major cities. You could easily find yourself in a windstorm, freeze, or worse. Contact BLM land, state park or national park rangers for current and near future temps and weather reports. Intellicast is a good website for present and future wind forecasts, which is very important when traveling to the desert. Intellicast - WINDcast in United States
I love winter season in SoCal, and there is a lot to do out there, just do a little research beforehand and go out and have a great time!
Here are some low elevation primitive camp areas that I have really enjoyed in the winter.
Anza Borrego - Fish Creek Primitive Campground - Entry point to Fish Creek Wash, wind caves, sandstone canyon, back way into Diablo Drop. Easiest way to get there is off the 78 near Ocotillo Wells OHV park. Toilets
Painted Canyon - Just E. of Mecca - Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon Hikes are both awesome and easy. BLM land so no fees. No toilets
Joshua Tree via Old Dale Rd. - Joshua Tree is extremely crowded in winter. Almost impossible to just drive in and find camping. So camp in Old Dale Mining District, do some wheeling and mine hunting, and access J-tree from the NE for a day trip. We camped with our 1 and 3 year old just below Carlyle Mine, and it was eerily quiet. Some of the mines out there are in excellent condition. If you come in from Old Dale and want a fun little canyon run on your way out check out Berdoo Canyon. Some small ledges and off camber areas make it interesting, and you won’t have to leave on asphalt.
Mojave Preserve - too many spots to list. It’s a Preserve so there is a TON of info online about the various camp areas and things to see. There are cabins being restored north of Cima that are very cool to check out. Lava tubes, sand dunes, the Providence Mountains. A lot of history. I’ve been out there every year for the last 10 years and I still find stuff to check out.
Dumont Dunes/Sperry Wash - N. of Baker, just SE of Death Valley. Amargarosa River runs most of the winter through here, Sperry Wash will take you to Furnace Creek Rd which will take you to China Ranch Date Farm. So good. Tecopa has a mud hot springs that is interesting. Oh yeah, and the dunes are pretty fun too. Go on a holiday weekend to get the full experience. Fireworks, sand rails, trophy trucks. Thanksgiving, New Years, Presidents Day weekend are the big ones.
Death Valley - again WAAAAAY too much to list. Stay away from the higher elevations as it can get butt cold. Stick to Stovepipe Wells, Furnace Creek, Mesquite Spring, Saline Valley. You can take day trips to the higher elevations like Hunter Mountain, Racetrack, Emigrent Canyon Rd (Charcoal Kilns, Telescope Peak) if it’s not closed due to snow. If you like challenging your wheeling skills, check out Panamint, Barker Ranch, Geologist Cabin. Too much to list.
Red Rock Canyon - Last Chance Canyon, the Burro Schmidt tunnel, Bickel Camp. A ton of history here and some really nice trails to get you out in the middle of nowhere.
Searles Valley - Trona Pinnacles, Red Mountain, all the BLM land you can want. Just rocks and views for miles.
The absolute most important thing you should do is contact the local govn’t agency in charge of the land you’re going to and see if there are any advisories. Weather.com doesn’t have a lot of accurate information about off-roading areas and areas outside of major cities. You could easily find yourself in a windstorm, freeze, or worse. Contact BLM land, state park or national park rangers for current and near future temps and weather reports. Intellicast is a good website for present and future wind forecasts, which is very important when traveling to the desert. Intellicast - WINDcast in United States
I love winter season in SoCal, and there is a lot to do out there, just do a little research beforehand and go out and have a great time!
SummitRunner
New member
In winter the coast is warmer than the desert in southern cal. Especially during the night, temperatures are more mild near the ocean. Daytime in the desert isn't much warmer than the coast during winter. And the winds get very strong in the desert.
If you don't like crowds then head out to the desert. Good suggestions above, Anza Borrego is great, camp anywhere. DV has too many restrictions on camping in comparison. Joshua Tree is booked solid.
Camping on the coast is good near Santa Barbara.
If you don't like crowds then head out to the desert. Good suggestions above, Anza Borrego is great, camp anywhere. DV has too many restrictions on camping in comparison. Joshua Tree is booked solid.
Camping on the coast is good near Santa Barbara.
