The best camping near Harper Dry Lake

Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Harper Lake adventure.

Discover the allure of Harper Dry Lake's desert oasis and wildlife habitat.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Harper Dry Lake

Top-rated campgrounds near Harper Dry Lake

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High Desert Hot Spring Hideout

13 sites · RVs, Tents160 acres · Lake Arrowhead, CA

This property is the perfect place to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. Nestled in the mountains of the high desert, we invite you to come stay in a peaceful serene setting, where beautiful natural desert scenery and mountain views surround you. The 40 minute hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is well worth the effort, and there's so much more natural beauty to see as you explore miles of hiking and OHV trails nearby and right on the property. Weather can be extreme at times, with Winter temps ranging from 20*F to 40* F, and Summer temps peaking at 112F. The cold creek water in the Deep Creek canyon flows all year around, and the 6 creek-side hot spring pools are always full and consistently hot all year around, ranging in temperatures between 90F-108F. The hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is fairly steep and can be difficult for some people, especially in warm weather. In order to be prepared with the correct gear to make this hike and know the USFS rules that apply to the area, please educate yourself before coming by visiting the USFS website page for the Deep Creek area and our webpage for the Deep Creek Hot Springs Campground for detailed driving directions to the official trailhead located right on our property. You won't get lost if you park on our property and hike from the trailhead, so make sure you go to the right address. Know before you go! Generally, reservations are not necessary to set up a tent site, but we have a more private area set aside for hipcamp reservations that has separate facilities from the general camping area. We do not recommend bringing children due to occasional nudity that may be seen in the area and the degree of difficulty for the hike. The hike to the hot springs is fairly difficult and everyone’s physical fitness needs to be considered when deciding to take pets, or have children, elderly people, or out-of-shape/over-weight people in your group.

80%

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Off the Grid Hot Springs Camping

13 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents180 acres · Lake Arrowhead, CA

Located on a rural off the grid property near the Deep Creek Hot Springs, this 160 acre property is the perfect place to escape the city and immerse yourself in nature. Nestled in the mountains of the high desert, come camp and enjoy yourself in a peaceful setting where beautiful natural desert scenery and mountain views surround you. The natural high desert landscape of junipers, joshua trees, chaparral and sages, combined with the nearby San Bernardino mountains in the background, create an amazing 360* view from just about anywhere on our land. This private homestead property is located 6 miles off the pavement, just far enough to escape the sounds and lights of the city, and is surrounded by 1,000's of acres of undeveloped government managed lands. The natural rural setting creates a serene atmosphere on the property that allows one to easily relax and recharge. You can set up your own tent and campsite or rent one of our furnished glamping tents to stay in when you come to visit. Have a special event coming up or just want to celebrate? Check out our private hot spring pool sites and private cold spring pool sites we have available for up to 300 guests. There is plenty of activities nearby to keep yourself occupied, such as nature watching right on the property, or exploring numerous hiking and ohv trails just off the property. With the trailhead starting on the property, the Deep Creek Hot Springs is just a short hike away, and well worth the effort, with nearby fishing and gold panning along the creek as well. Deep Creek flows all year around, and the 6 creek-side hot spring pools are always full and consistently hot all year around, ranging in temperatures between 90F-108F. The hike to the Deep Creek Hot Springs is steep in places and can be fairly difficult for some people, especially in warm weather. In order to be prepared with the correct gear to make this hike and know the USFS rules that apply to the area, please educate yourself before coming by visiting the USFS website page for the Deep Creek area. Know before you go! *Although children are permitted to be on the property, we do not recommend bringing them due to occasional nudity that may be seen in the area and the degree of difficulty of the hike. The hike to the hot springs is fairly difficult and everyone’s physical fitness needs to be considered when deciding to take children, elderly people, or over-weight people.

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3 Peaks Sanctuary

40 sites · Tents10 acres · Boron, CA

Nearby activities include hiking and exploring 'The Buttes', aka '3 Peaks' - a nearby rock formation of ancient origin - about a mile to the south. Also in the area is Harper Dry Lake, which has been used as an airfield to test experiment aircraft in the past, and includes a wildlife viewing area (look for the signs, off Harper Lake Road, on the way in). To the north is Fremont Peak, and in the distance to the East can be found Black Mountain. Common flora in the area include Creosote Bush, Salt Brush and White or, Purple Sage.

80%

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Farmer Brown's Area 51

2 sites · RVs2 acres · Lenwood, CA

One of three properties that are being converted into food forests in an effort to restore and desalinate the soil and water. By staying here you're helping to support that effort!Learn more about this land:Beautiful, star filled nights with no obstructions, will give you that moment of relaxation, without having to go miles off the paved road. Just down the road from a dry lakebed, desert vistas during the day well give you plenty of space to walk and relax. Easy access from a paved road, gives you access to 2.5 acres and the desert beyond for lazy days of relaxing, or a walk with the dogs. Pets are more than welcome! Lots of room to run, dig and play! Keep an eye out for wildlife. This includes Coyotes and Snakes. Lots of other things as well.

100%

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Mountain Shadow Hideaway

6 sites · RVs5 acres · Newberry Springs, CA

Welcome to Mountain Shadow Hideaway. A beautiful vacation getaway for the desert enthusiast, located right off of Historic route 66! This five acre, fully fenced property, sits right at the base of the beautiful Newberry Mountain and boasts all the natural gifts the desert has to offer. You can relax and drink your coffee while enjoying the beautiful sunrise, or sip on your wine while enjoying the most spectacular sunset as the sun dips behind the mountain. Star gazers rejoice while marveling at what the night sky has to offer. Rock hounders can enjoy tons of natural geological wonders, while finding geodes, thundereggs, amethyst, and maybe even be lucky enough to find that elusive gold nugget. There are sixty trees lining the back of the property where you can go sit and read and just disappear from the hustles of life. We have many options available, that can be added to your stay, including guided rock hounding tours, cutting, shaping, and polishing your found rock treasures, catered camping, safe passage to and from our local bar, The Barn, located on Historic Route 66, and more. Please feel free to contact us to learn more.

Booked 7 times

New Yurt City

5 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Lake Los Angeles, CA

New Yurt City is one of those hidden gems. The daily views are breathtaking. You can see every star down to the horizon, sunsets are amazing with snow capped mountains. There are lots to do nearby: 30min to ski resort, 1hour to the beach. Near lots of national parks and centrally located. It’s got a small town feel with amazing food trucks with handmade taco 5 mins away. We atvs for rent and a beautiful garden with lots of fresh rosemary and lavender to share.

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Hoffman Grove

1 site · RV, Tent1 acre · Johannesburg, CA

Welcome to Hoffman Grove Campground, a serene and rustic camping experience in the heart of the California wilderness! Our campsites are spacious and offer a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you're tent camping or RVing, we have the perfect site for you. Each campsite comes equipped with a fire pit for cooking and warmth. While we do not provide bathroom facilities, we do offer a secluded and natural setting for those who seek a rustic camping experience. At Hoffman Grove Campground, we believe that the beauty of camping lies in the simplicity of the outdoors. Our campground is surrounded by breathtaking wilderness, offering opportunities for hiking, stargazing, and wildlife viewing. We welcome families, couples, and solo travelers to enjoy our peaceful camping environment. Our staff is always on hand to provide assistance and ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable stay. If you're looking for a peaceful and rustic camping experience in the heart of the California wilderness, we invite you to book your stay at Hoffman Grove Campground today. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing the beauty of the outdoors with you!

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Mojave Moonlight Camping

4 sites · RVs, Tents25 acres · Lucerne Valley, CA

Located in the outskirts of Lucene ValleyLearn more about this land: Experience a blanket of stars at night, beautiful sunrise and sunsets. We have limited it to only 4 campsites so there is plenty of space and privacy on this 20 acre campsite.Hike the mountain, experience nature and solitude and be just 10 minutes from a town where a supermarket, hardware store, service station, post office, sheriff's station and a variety of restaurants are available.This is big sky and wide open California Desert. Remote enough to be away from crowds but close enough for all the essentials.Life is short ... Get outside.

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Family-Friendly Skoolie Glamping

11 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Lake Los Angeles, CA

EVERY STAY PLANTS A TREE 🌳 Our mission is to cultivate all ten acres of land into a sustainable oasis. That’s why we offer glamping on our tiny house bus (the "Starry Night Skoolie"), and tent camping in the gardens. 100% of proceeds to back to planting trees, watering gardens, and cultivating the land. Watch it grow: ForEveryStarATree.com In 2023, we incorporated as a nonprofit ecofarm called "For Every Star A Tree." Kids LOVE exploring our school bus clubhouse as well as the land. Pets LOVE to run free! Enjoy relaxing in the hammock, sitting at the picnic table, or even laying down on the ground to fall into the infinite starry night desert skies.

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Beysicair Tents & Campground

7 sites · Tents4 acres · Boron, CA

This beautiful California desert tent is great for camping and a perfect outdoor getaway. Located 1 hour and 45 minutes (2 hours maximum) from Los Angeles, 1 hour from Bakersfield, and Golden State/ West Highway to drive too San Francisco. Spend a night or week camping, enjoying the beautiful California desert in this beautiful bohemian camping style tent. The camp site is on 4.7 acres of land located 20 minutes outside of California City. Reconnect with nature at this unforgettable escape. Our space is located 20 minutes outside of California City. The entire property is 4.7 acres of open land. This space is perfect for RV parking and camping. We are only offering the land and a space for camping as well as RV parking. There is a dirt bike racing park just 10 minutes from the property. The space is accessible by road.

Richard P's Land

10 sites · Tents10 acres · Boron, CA

Tell Hipcampers about your land and what makes it special. How many acres is it? What natural features are there? (i.e. rivers or orchards). What activities can be enjoyed on-site or nearby?Tell Hipcampers about your land and what makes it special. How many acres is it? What natural features are there? (i.e. rivers or orchards). What activities can be enjoyed on-site or nearby?

Fossil Bed Ranch

12 sites · RVs, Tents40 acres · Barstow, CA

40 Acres of Wild Land Close to the rainbow basin with many colors in the mountains. Off road with 40 acres and relax and camp with family and friends or go hiking on search for dinosaur fossils that have been found on this fossil bed road for many years. With the city just 10 mins away you can enjoy privacy and the beautiful scenery of the mountains and sunset.

The best camping near Harper Dry Lake guide

Overview

About

Harper Lake or "Harper Dry Lake" is an outdoor recreation area located in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County. While the fishing may have dried up decades ago there is still plenty to do. Over the years this park has become famous for it's offroading, rock-crawling, and mudding. While in this region of the Mojave Desert be sure to keep an eye out for the wildlife that is drawn from the desert to this arshy environment.

When to go

The best time to visit Harper Dry Lake is during the cooler months, from late fall to early spring, when the desert climate is more forgiving. Summer visits can be challenging due to extreme heat, making outdoor activities less comfortable.

Know before you go

Check fire restrictions before you go, as they may be in place from May to October due to high fire danger.
Dispersed camping is allowed; look for areas with clear signs of use and minimal vegetation.
Remember that off-highway vehicle travel is limited to designated routes to protect the environment.
Be mindful of the desert tortoise habitat and adhere to wildlife viewing guidelines.
For any inquiries or additional information, contact the Bureau of Land Management at 760-252-6000.