Grays Well Camping

Dune Buggy Contact Statio

Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office, Winterhaven, CA, USA

Nestled along Grey's Well Road in the heart of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Midway Campground serves as your gateway to one of California's most dramatic desert landscapes. This rustic desert outpost provides essential amenities including vaulted toilets and dumpsters, making it an ideal basecamp for adventurers eager to explore the surrounding sea of golden sand. From here, endless dunes stretch toward the horizon, inviting exploration by foot, ATV, or simply from the comfort of your campsite as the sun paints the rippling sands in ever-changing hues.

Dune Buggy Flats

Buttercup Campground

Escape to your own private mountain retreat at Buttercup Campground, where towering pines create a shaded sanctuary at 7,000 feet elevation, just two miles from the sparkling shores of Big Bear Lake. This secluded group site offers the perfect blend of forest tranquility and easy access to all the lake activities and hiking trails that make the San Bernardino Mountains so beloved.

Ogilbly Camp Area

El Centro Field Office, Brawley, CA, 92257, USA

Welcome to Roadrunner Campground, where adventure meets the endless horizon of golden sand. As the second largest camping destination in the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, this desert oasis offers spacious sites along a well-maintained loop of paved roads. Modern vaulted toilets and thoughtfully designed infrastructure make this raw wilderness accessible without sacrificing the authentic dune experience that draws thousands of outdoor enthusiasts each year.

El Centro Field Office, 4500 Gecko Road, Brawley, CA, 92257, USA

Tucked away in the vast Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Keyhole Campground offers an intimate desert escape perfect for those seeking a more secluded experience. As the smallest campground in this legendary dune system, Keyhole provides a cozy haven with its smooth paved surface that welcomes everything from solo adventurers to tight-knit groups ready to share stories under the desert stars. Whether you're planning a family reunion or a small gathering of off-road enthusiasts, this compact gem delivers the perfect basecamp for your sand dune adventures.

4500 Gecko Road, Brawley, CA, 92257, USA

Welcome to Gecko Campground, where endless sand dunes meet starlit desert skies in the heart of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. As the area's premier camping destination, this expansive campground unfolds across two thoughtfully designed loops—north and south—each accessible by smooth paved roads that wind through the dramatic dunescapes. Modern vault toilets are strategically placed throughout both loops, ensuring comfort without compromising the authentic desert experience. Here, the rhythmic whisper of shifting sands and the vast openness of the Sonoran Desert create an unforgettable backdrop for your outdoor adventure.

Cement Flats

The Washes

Glamis Flats

Bureau of Land Management

Picacho State Recreation Area, Winterhaven, CA 92283

Escape to Picacho Main Campground, where 54 primitive campsites await adventurers seeking an authentic desert experience. Each site comes equipped with the essentials—sturdy tables for evening meals under the stars, fire rings for crackling campfires, and access to drinking water and facilities including chemical toilets and refreshing solar showers. Just steps from the life-giving Colorado River, this desert sanctuary invites you to cast a line at sunrise, explore rugged hiking trails, or launch your boat into the flowing waters that have shaped this landscape for millennia.

Taylor Lake Boat-in Campground, Picacho State Recreation Area, Winterhaven, CA 92283

Escape to Taylor Lake Boat-in Campground, where four secluded family campsites await adventurous souls seeking solitude along the Colorado River. Whether you arrive by small watercraft gliding across the glassy surface or navigate the rugged access roads, you'll discover a pristine wilderness retreat complete with essential amenities. Each site comes equipped with sturdy picnic tables and fire rings for evening gatherings under starlit skies, while well-maintained chemical toilets and an thoughtfully designed ADA-accessible site ensure comfort for all visitors. This hidden gem delivers an authentic backcountry experience where the desert meets the river, far from the crowds and close to nature's raw beauty.

null

Escape to the serene isolation of Paddlewheel Boat-in Campground, where the only way in is across the shimmering waters of the Colorado River. This hidden gem rewards adventurous paddlers and boaters with pristine primitive camping far from the crowds. Your waterfront site comes equipped with the essentials—a sturdy picnic table, fire ring for evening gatherings, and chemical toilets—while the absence of potable water ensures you'll experience true backcountry camping. Here, under vast desert skies, you'll find the perfect blend of river tranquility and desert solitude that makes every paddle stroke worth the journey.

Carrizo Boat-in Campground, Picacho State Recreation Area, Winterhaven, CA 92283

Hidden along the Colorado River's edge, Carrizo Boat-in Campground offers adventurous souls a true escape from civilization. This remote outpost within Picacho State Recreation Area can only be reached by boat, rewarding those who make the journey with two pristine riverside campsites. Each site comes furnished with the essentials—a sturdy picnic table, fire ring for evening gatherings, and chemical vault toilets—though visitors should note that bringing their own water is essential for this primitive camping experience.

Interpark Road at Picacho Road, Winterhaven, CA 92283

Escape to S Beach Boat-in and Drive-in Campground, where the untamed beauty of the Colorado River meets the solitude of the desert. This hidden gem welcomes adventurers by both land and water, offering primitive campsites thoughtfully furnished with picnic tables and fire rings for those perfect desert evenings under the stars. While you won't find hookups here, the campground provides chemical toilets and strategically placed potable water stations, ensuring comfort without compromising the authentic wilderness experience.

Glamis Flats

Dune Buggy Flats

Cement Flats

Dune Buggy Contact Statio

Ogilbly Camp Area

The Washes

Bureau of Land Management, El Centro Field Office, Winterhaven, CA, USA

Nestled along Grey's Well Road in the heart of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, Midway Campground serves as your gateway to one of California's most dramatic desert landscapes. This rustic desert outpost provides essential amenities including vaulted toilets and dumpsters, making it an ideal basecamp for adventurers eager to explore the surrounding sea of golden sand. From here, endless dunes stretch toward the horizon, inviting exploration by foot, ATV, or simply from the comfort of your campsite as the sun paints the rippling sands in ever-changing hues.