Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

Star4.02
18 reviews
Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

Quick Facts

4,318 ft

Price

Varies

Booking

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Sites

2 campsites

Season

Year-round

Cell

Unknown

Pets

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Opens Mojave National Preserve (National Park Service) site

Official Website
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Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

February 2026

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

February 2026
Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground
No fees available
Campsite Fees
Standard Site Fee$0.00
Hookup Site Fee$0.00
Premium Site Fee$0.00
Hike and Bike Site Fee$0.00
Group Site Fee$0.00
Food Storage Locker Fee$0.00

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What Campers Say

4.02

Satisfactory

Based on 18 reviews

16 Google reviews

Most mentioned

quietpeacefulcleanrestrooms

"Reviewers describe Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground as a clean, quiet, and remote spot that’s great for groups and horse campers. They appreciate the friendly rangers, simple but well‑kept facilities, and dark skies, while noting some layout quirks and minor water/access inconveniences."

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Campground Map

Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

35.0486, -115.3830

Driving directionsFrom Los Angeles, Barstow, and Joshua Tree via Interstate 40: Exit Essex Road and drive north for 10 miles and turn right at the junction to Black Canyon Road. Continue for 10 miles to Hole-in-the-Wall. The roads are paved until the turn-off into the campground. Cell phone service is unreliable. From Death Valley and Las Vegas via Interstate 15: From the Kelbaker Road, Cima Road, or Nipton Road entrances, make your way to Kelso-Cima Road and turn east onto Cedar Canyon Road. Continue onto Cedar Canyon Road for 6 miles and turn right onto Black Canyon Road for 9 miles.
Accessible from Interstate 40 (Exit Essex Road, then Black Canyon Road) and from Interstate 15 via Kelbaker/Cima/Nipton roads to Kelso-Cima Road and Cedar Canyon Road; roads are paved until the campground turn-off but remote areas may require high-clearance 4WD.

Best Time to Camp at Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

Summer(Jun-Aug)
2.0 / 5

Desert summer heat likely harsh despite 4,318 ft elevation; limited comfort for hot months.

Fall(Sep-Nov)
4.0 / 5

Fall brings cooler temps and excellent access for hiking and exploration.

Spring(Mar-May)
4.0 / 5

Spring wildflower potential and pleasant temps make it a top season for desert trips.

Best
Winter(Dec-Feb)
4.0 / 5
Top 12% in CA

Mild winter conditions favorable for visits; open and good for hiking (no winter-sport facilities).

Planning Tips

    About Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

    Escape to true desert solitude at Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground, where two spacious sites welcome larger parties and horse enthusiasts deep within Mojave National Preserve. Miles from the nearest neighbor, you'll find everything essential for a comfortable basecamp—picnic tables, fresh water, vault toilets, fire rings, and generous parking—while the vast desert wilderness stretches endlessly beyond.
    Black Canyon is an equestrian and group campground consisting of two isolated group sites suitable for larger parties and horse use.
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    Amenities available

    Fire rings
    Picnic tables
    Vault toilets
    Group Sites

    Activities you can enjoy

    The preserve offers extensive recreational opportunities with a focus on hiking and exploring remote desert landscapes. Visitors can explore paved and unpaved roads, 4WD routes, historic Mojave Road, and numerous trails and natural attractions.
    HikingMojave offers many hikes and trail highlights; popular nearby hikes include Kelso Dunes, Rings Loop (1.5 miles), Barber Peak, Lava Tube (high clearance recommended), and Teutonia Peak (area burned in August 2020).
    Wildlife viewingThe preserve supports diverse plant and animal life across varied habitats; Zzyzx pond is noted as a great birding location. Visitors are encouraged to look for wildflowers and the dense Joshua tree forest.
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    Policies & Safety

    Hazards & AlertsRemote location with unreliable cell phone service. Many remote areas require high-clearance, 4WD vehicles. Visitors should not enter mines. Portions of the landscape (e.g., area near Teutonia Peak) have experienced wildfire (burned in August 2020).

    Weather at Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground

    Reviews

    4.0
    18 reviews
    Satisfactory
    Satisfactory
    Black Canyon Group And Equestrian Campground is satisfactory, placing it in the bottom 60% of campgrounds based on reviews
    Reviewers describe Black Canyon Group and Equestrian Campground as a clean, quiet, and remote spot that’s great for groups and horse campers. They appreciate the friendly rangers, simple but well‑kept facilities, and dark skies, while noting some layout quirks and minor water/access inconveniences.
    Review Summaries
    Based on 18 reviews

    What Campers Love

    Campers consistently praise the cleanliness of the campground, restrooms, and pit toilets, along with the generally flat camping surfaces and reliable water when available. The group area’s large...
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    Based on 18 reviews

    Common Concerns

    The most frequent negatives involve layout and convenience: the tent area in the group camp feels awkwardly separated from the main activity area, and water can be inconveniently located (about 1/4...
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    Based on 18 reviews

    Pro Tips & Recommendations

    Reviewers suggest bringing your own shade for horses and checking ahead to confirm whether water is turned on at the equestrian campground. Group users should be prepared to haul water from the...
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    Based on 18 reviews

    Camper Quotes

    "This is a great campground for getting away from it all with your horses. Six corrals are available. They are all a nice size (18 x 18) and have nice soft sand footing inside." "Decent camp ground...
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    Based on 18 reviews

    Site-Specific Reviews

    The group campground is noted for having a large covered table area with about eight picnic tables and a large fire ring with plenty of room around it; however, the tent area is set off from the main...
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    Based on 18 reviews

    Pet-Friendly Features

    Horse campers provide detailed feedback: there are six 3‑rail steel pipe corrals of good size with soft sand footing, but shade is minimal so bringing your own shade for horses is recommended. A herd...
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    Based on 18 reviews

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    Last updated January 13, 2026
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