3.96145 reviews
This campground doesn't take reservations — sites are claimed in person on arrival, so there's no availability to check online. Plan to arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays.
Price
Free
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
112 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
This campground doesn't take reservations — sites are claimed in person on arrival, so there's no availability to check online. Plan to arrive early, especially on weekends and holidays.
Price
Free
Booking
Walk-in Only
Sites
112 campsites
Season
Year-round
Cell
Unknown
Pets
Very Pet Friendly
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Learn more about alerts →112 Primitive/Undeveloped Campground
5172 Highway 78, Borrego Springs, CA 92004
OHV riders and desert explorers who pack all their own water will thrive here. Fall and winter weekdays are the sweet spot: 70-85°F days, cool nights, and far less engine noise from neighboring rigs. Shell Reef and the Pumpkin Patch reward anyone willing to hike out.
No potable water on-site means hauling everything in, and weekend crowds bring constant OHV noise that reaches most of the open camping areas. Summer is genuinely brutal above 100°F on exposed terrain with no shade.
Context for the broader area surrounding 112 Primitive/Undeveloped Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record. View official page →
<drupal-entity data-align="left" data-embed-button="embed_image" data-entity-embed-display="view_mode:media.wysiwyg_embed" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="f9762bb8-a757-438e-a00c-7d8e8fe9427b" data-langcode="en"></drupal-entity> <p>This oasis with its hundreds of swaying fan palms offers sanctuary in the midst of the dry Colorado Desert. Pools fed by artesian springs and seepage from the nearby Coachella Canal form a lush wetland area. The exceptional habitat shelters a variety of both threatened or endangered and more common animal species. In thick stands of cattails, the elusive and endangered Yuma clapper rail builds its nest, while in the warm waters of the pools swims the desert pupfish, a relic species from the Pleistocene era.</p> <p>The preserve is also home to the endangered orocopia sage plant. The 1,400-acre Dos Palmas Preserve is at the heart of the 20,000-acre Salt Creek Area of Critical Environmental Concern, created to protect important biological resources. The BLM has worked with partners such as The Nature Conservancy and California Department of Fish and Game to acquire and manage this sensitive habitat, and with Ducks Unlimited to design wetland restoration projects. Dos Palmas Preserve is administered by BLM's <a href="https://www.blm.gov/office/palm-springs-south-coast-field-office">Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office</a>.</p>
From Interstate 10 at Indio, take the Dillon Road off-ramp and turn south. At the first stoplight, just over the railroad tracks, turn left (southeast) onto Highway 111 for about 25 miles. Along the way: stay on Highway 111 at its junction with Highway 86, by taking the left fork (toward Nyland). Proceed on Highway 111 through the towns of Coachella, Theral and Mecca, to the Salton Sea. About 10 miles southeast of Mecca, look for the Park Headquarters for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area on your right. Opposite park headquarters: turn left onto Parkside Drive. Take Parkside to the end (about 2 miles) and turn right onto Desert Aire. Follow Desert Aire to its end, then turn left onto the unnamed dirt road. Take the next left fork and stay on the dirt road to Rancho Dos Palmas.
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Fall brings the best conditions: daytime highs between 70 and 85°F, cool nights in the 40s and 50s, and stable air for riding and hiking. Spring draws crowds for wildflower displays after wet winters, but weekends fill quickly with OHV groups. Summer pushes above 100°F and feels brutal on exposed trails. Winter stays mild during the day but nights drop near freezing. Wind is a persistent factor. Campers report dusty, uncomfortable conditions when gusts kick up, particularly in late winter and early spring. Weekdays stay quieter if you want to avoid engine noise.
Cooler months popular; Red Sticker season Oct–May supports access and riding.
The 112 Primitive/undeveloped campground in Ocotillo Wells SVRA offers open camping throughout the park for up to 30 days per calendar year without fees for camping or day use. Amenities include vault toilets, shade ramadas, picnic tables, and fire rings located in areas such as Quarry, Main Street, and Holmes Camp. Potable water is not available, and campers are advised to bring their own water. Showers are pay-based, costing $0.50 for 2 minutes of hot water, and are located on Ranger Station Road, Main Street, and Holmes Camp. Firewood can be purchased at the Discovery Center.
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