Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Not currently accepting bookings on Hipcamp
Similar campgrounds nearby
Campers also viewed...
Reviews
91% Recommend551 ratings · 215 reviews
My husband & 18 month old baby loved this campsite! Amazing views at night, super safe for kids. It was just us thank god lol :) wasn’t difficult getting there at all! Reading the reviews I honestly expected to get lost. The road was bumpy but nothing to bad, theirs no cellular connection at all so I recommend downloading a map to avoid getting lost!
M
Mia M.
2 reviews
Not recommend
· June 2025
Tent · Group trip ·
Site 2
I know this place is supposed to be secluded and off the grid, but it is scary out there. I had a group of 8 people, and we arrived after dark and immediately turned around. Every single person got this eerie feeling while driving out there on this long gravel road through a creepy ghost town. Nobody for miles.. maybe you like that, but what if something happened like a popped tire? No service, no people for help for miles. My group had four adult men, and they all just got a bad feeling about being out there.
A
Aidan M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Great place! Austere, but with charm. Went during the May 2025 new moon. Good and dark. Make sure to bring shade, and check out Ballarat on the way.
G
Grailing J.
1 year on Hipcamp
The views are so beautiful and it’s so peaceful!
Pretty good view of the sky for stargazing and dark enough to do astrophotography. Sadly we didn’t get to do that because of the weather but it was still amazing! The best part is no cell service.
Thank you so much Scott for the use of your land, it’s so beautiful there I will definitely be going back next time we go there to do astrophotography.
I
Ila M.
11 months on Hipcamp
Beautiful site! Quiet, flat, beautiful sky, clean portapoties, perfect. Plan out your route ahead of time like it say, it can be hard to find. The alien is missing, but the green mailbox is there. For whatever reason, I was not able to reach the host with questions about how to approach from the south if coming from the east side of the park. But all good, and if anyone else is wondering it is possible to come through the park on I190, drop south of Ballarat on Trona Wildrose, and then loop back up to the site to approach from the south as described in the description by taking Ballarat Road of Trona and then turning on to Indian Ridge. There is a culvert that looks like it wont hold a vehicle but it was fine!
Meghan H.
3 reviews
We had a fantastic time tent camping on Scott’s land! While there was no cell service in the area, the host’s detailed directions made it easy to find. The other sites were far enough away that we enjoyed plenty of privacy and a peaceful experience. We even got to see some of the wild burros in the area!
The site was about 1 hour’s drive from Death Valley, making it a perfect jumping off point for our trip to explore the national park. Overall this was a great spot to disconnect and enjoy the desert.
O
Olivia L.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· October 2024
This campsite was beautiful out in the desert. It is remote and peaceful. We arrived when it was dark, which I don't necessarily recommend as it made it hard to figure out where our exact allocated camping spot was, but that was an 'us' problem! We loved waking up in the middle of the desert and watching the sunrise come up over the mountains. We happened to be the only guests the night we stayed, which was amazing and made it even more tranquil. The site is remote with no hookups, so come prepared, but we loved it!!
K
Katie B.
3 reviews
We absolutely loved our stay on Scott’s property. The drive in is rough, especially in an RV, but the views, stargazing, solitude, and wild donkeys (I think they’re wild; at least) are so worth it. The property is clean (including the portopotties) and one of my favorite places we have ever camped. Highly recommend.
L
Lindsay E.
4 reviews
Mixed feelings
· September 2024
Tent ·
Site 1
The site was amazing for stargazing! The night was so clear that we saw so many stars! I will say though that the directions could be a bit more specific in saying do not drive from the North of Indian Ranch road ever. Please go to Ballarat first even if you are coming from 190 West. On one hand it was awesome to be out there by ourselves camping and it can be quiet at times, but be aware you will hear wild burros braying and squealing in the middle of the night. We appreciated we had access to porta potties and overall, it was an unforgettable experience for us.
C
Corinne C.
1 year on Hipcamp
Way out there, if you love night photography or astronomy this is the place. Check moon first if you can, our best photos started at 4am. FYI Site 3 is far from restroom option but you get solitude. We were welcomed by a small pack of burros. They stayed away.
J
James J.
1 year on Hipcamp
We were the only ones for as far as you could see in the middle of nowhere. This was a very special adventure for our family. The stargazing was spectacular!!! Scott was very helpful to answer all the questions I had before coming to the campground (safety of the road, how to deal with the heat, rv issues, etc).
S
Suzanne D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
20 ft pop-up camper ·
Site 3
Good communications/directions. Thanks!
Grailing J.
1 year on Hipcamp
Very easily navigated! The place was best for star gazing ! Loved it ! The place was perfect ! Serene and private
R
Rinaldo B.
1 year on Hipcamp
Scott was a responsive host, and the land was vast and great for stargazing. Our campsite was clean and had a great firepit and picnic table. We had great views of the surrounding area and enjoyed this spot, as it felt very private. We were at site 3, which felt close to the road, but not many people were driving down the road, so it did not bother us. We would probably try out site 1 if we came back in the future. Prepare for changes in the weather forecast. We were not expecting high winds or rain, and we got it all! Very Adventurous trip.
Death Valley was amazing, and we loved visiting Artist's Palette, Natural Bridge, Badwater Basin (which still had water/bring water shoes or hiking sandals to avoid cuts), Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and more! Be prepared for LOTS/HOURS OF DRIVING. For sunrise at Artists Palette, the drive was 2 hours and 15 minutes from the camp site. I recommend saving the google map area and preloading sites to visit ahead of time. Please note many roads are washed out from recent storms and we could not visit Ubehebe Crater, Racetrack, Charcoal Kilns, Salt Creek (Pupfish), Darwin Falls, or Surprise Canyon. Furnace Creek Visitor Center will have the most up to date closures. We could have visited Surprise canyon with a very high clearance vehicle. We drove a Rav4. Prepare to pack all of your water in and haul your trash out.
We could have camped closer w/ more amenities but would have compromised on privacy & the natural beauty all around.
Emily P.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2024
Tent ·
Site 4
What a great place to stargaze. All red light help. Beautiful spot.
S
Stu S.
4 reviews
Recommends
· April 2024
15 ft pop-up camper · With kids ·
Site 1
Awesome spot! Lots to explore around the area! Spots are big and open with good distance between them and the night sky is beyond beautiful!
T
Travis H.
3 reviews
Mixed feelings
· April 2024
29 ft Class C · Group trip ·
Site 1
The site wasn’t the easiest to locate. You have to drive around 10 miles down a dirt track. It might be doable in a car but a 30FT RV proved rather difficult took nearly an hour to drive the 10 miles. Site wise it’s quiet and peaceful. Facilities are portable toilets.
M
Michael P.
2 reviews
Recommends
· February 2024
Campsite was clean, well described, and easy to find with the provided instructions. Phenomenal view of the sky ;)
J
Jordan S.
2 years on Hipcamp
Amazing view! I would definitely recommend an all wheel drive due to the road conditions. It can get bumpy but it’s well worth the travel.
Grey M.
6 reviews
amazing camp sites just outside of death valley! beautiful views and very private! we arrived in the dark and were still able to find our camp site! Make sure to take a screenshot of the host’s directions on how to locate the sites- there is no service in this area! We did see two small kit foxes our first night after dark! We enjoyed drinking our coffee in the morning by the fire pit and taking in the beauty of the stars at night! We hope to visit again!
T
Taylor A.
2 reviews
Very quiet campsite due to lack of wind and animals. The site was pretty clean when we arrived, and the fire pit and bench were in good shape too. The place is even better at night for stargazing, got some good photos out of that (if you’re lucky you might catch a few shooting stars!)
G
Gervine M.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· December 2023
Tent ·
Site 1
Great little hideaway private spot near Ballarat if you’re entering or leaving the main national park. Pretty far to get up to when you turn into Ballarat but the journey is fun. Sadly we came on a cloudy day but when the stars did peek out they were so vivid. Also saw/heard some fun creatures around the campsite like burros and foxes, they were very friendly. Loved the privateness and remoteness of spot so if that’s what you’re looking for highly recommend. Our specific campsite you were barely close at all to anyone. Campsite roads are pretty easy themselves but definitely be careful on the road up once you pass through Ballarat. Wonderful experience though and would highly recommend.
E
Elle D.
2 reviews
Amazing views of the mountains and Panamint Valley. Lots to explore in the nearby canyons - old mining sites, cabins, etc. Scott and Mark are great hosts!
M
Michael S.
4 reviews
In trying to find a place to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower with minimal light pollution, we were incredibly excited to find this campsite! This location is absolutely one of the best places to see the stars and Milky Way core in California- same dark skies, without the crowds at Yosemite or Joshua Tree. The drive took us eight hours, but it was 100% worth it! We arrived to a gorgeous sunset, and before long we saw the meteors over one mountain range and a fantastic lightening storm over another. We also enjoyed burro and kangaroo mice sightings, and heard the former braying overnight- so cool! There were campers at two other sites, but we had total privacy and only saw them on the drive in/ out. Scott was very helpful as we booked and helped assuage our concerns about the road conditions leading to the campsite. We easily made it in a SUV, and our friend was totally fine in a sedan (there is one dip in the dirt road, but ok if you drive slow!). And there is a short mountain pass between Trona and Ballarat, but it wasn't too hair-raising either! We found gas in Trona, and had cell reception up until a couple miles from the site. We also read some of the concerns about the wind in previous reviews, but only experienced a couple gusts here and there. It got hot pretty much as soon as the sun rose (as is to be expected!)- just ensure you bring some extra water! Without a doubt, we will stay here again!
N
Nicole P.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2023
Tent · With kids ·
Site 3
After booking the campground we received the directions to the campsite. Directions were accurate, the location is fantastic for stargazing! Wonderful views of the valley. I also liked the ghost town on the way in. The road from the small ghost town to the campsite is a little bumpy, some areas can be difficult to access if you’re in a car with low ground clearance.
There were burros in the area; however, we didn’t have any issues with them. I enjoyed seeing and taking pictures of them.
The ground can be hard to penetrate. I recommend heavy duty tent steaks if you’re using a tent. Also, it was windy during our stay. I recommend tying down tents as well.
Overall my family and I enjoyed our stay. I would definitely visit again.
A
Andy R.
2 years on Hipcamp
This place is one of the coolest camp sites I have every stayed at. SUPER secluded on the rim of Death Valley. We arrived in the middle of some serious wind, but that did not damper our trip. We ended up using our car as a wind block. The starts were amazing. 10/10 would stay again.
Chelsea M.
13 reviews
Recommends
· May 2023
Tent · With pets ·
Death Valley Stargazing Camp
The location was awesome, and what a gorgeous sunset!
Greg G.
2 reviews
Recommends
· May 2023
Tent ·
Death Valley Stargazing Camp
I loved camping on Scott's land. I stayed on a Thursday night and there was no one around for miles. The night sky was filled with stars and it was a very special night. I would highly recommend this campsite.
A
Aileen V.
2 years on Hipcamp
This site is what-you-see-is-what-you-get and it's great. For sure 3, the bathroom is a bit further away than I'd like, but we just drove over and it was fine. They're port-a-potties, so also expected on what to expect. These were pretty clean and well maintained though.
When you come into the camp, definitely use the south road. We came and went via the north road, but only because we were in a lifted Land Cruiser and could handle the wash out in places and the large dips. Still, it's veeeery washboardy, which ended up knocking the exhaust mounting loose. We still found this to be faster in regards to getting into the park.
There were very few other people there and they were so far away, you could only really spot their vehicles and campfires. It was very quiet and private, for being wide out in the open. We really only came back to our site at night after exploring.
The stars were gorgeous. Next time, we'll probably just come back to do stargazing since the heat is extreme during the day. Be aware that the moon 'sets' around midnight, which you will then be able to see the milky way.
Overall, great experience 👍
Casandra B.
6 reviews
Recommends
· April 2023
Tent · Group trip ·
Death Valley Stargazing Camp
We enjoyed site 1. Quiet, away from people, clean, awesome fire pit, spacious…etc. For a primitive campsite, it was great. We went for the stars and we were not disappointed. The host was very responsive via phone before the trip. There is no reception there but we didn’t mind being off grid for a bit. Amazingly easier to find then we had anticipated. The only thing I would say is drive gingerly on the section of unpaved road. Happy Camping everyone. 🌱
F
Francine Y.
5 reviews
Location
Valley Wells, Inyo, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Scott L.
Joined in April 2019Things to do nearby
Popular searches in California
- Valley Wells
Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.