Magic Portal Stargazer's Retreat
5 acres hosted by Will B.
5 RV/tent sites
Amazing views
Hipcampers say this spot has amazing views.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
Off-leash friendly
Pets can be off-leash at this Hipcamp.
Activities
Biking
Fishing
Hiking
Off-roading (OHV)
Natural features
Desert
Lake
Field
Ranch
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Reviews
91% Recommend70 ratings · 56 reviews
I'm a pretty experienced backpacker across California and Washington, and I narrowly avoided disaster on this trip by insisting on best practices. My friend and I rode (cruiser) motorcycles out to these sites and the sandy road out was much more technical than I would've expected based on the map and location. Doable but be aware this road has elevation gain and loss, uneven roads, and deep sand at points
Upon arrival we were the only campers, and this is what site 3 had in store for us... a hillside of non-level and hard packed dirt site in which we struggled to push in stakes while non stop 40-60 mph winds (6pm-7am) tried to snatch our tents, tarps, jackets and other gear... the outhouse toilet seemed to have been left with the door open so the two rolls of toilet paper were thrown about 100ft down wind and caught in the underbrush. Settling in we were able to make dinner and even look at the sunset (despite the winds) ... shortly after midnight we were visited by 2 wild dogs that were luckily much more interested in my bear cannister with food and toiletries but were unable to get in. After which they touched noses on our tents to sniff for food before carrying on (terrifying!!). In hindsight there was dried and fresh animal scat all over these sites so I should've anticipated this encounter.
I wouldn't trust anyone without an RV or at minimum a bear can and nerves of steel to stay at this campsite safely. I got out of here as soon as I could in the morning.
F
Full T.
3 months on Hipcamp
We had a great time connecting with friends.
I wish there were places at the camp to get water.
I’m ok with the outhouse since we wanted to “rough it.”
The time of year we went was extremely windy; lucky we had vans to sleep.
03/16/2025
J
Jeffrey S.
4 months on Hipcamp
The site is great and Will is absolutely fabulous; however the site is EXTREMELY windy!!! My family and I wanted to tent camp and the winds were just unbearable. It was like hurricane-force winds. Maybe it was just the weather but it was sunny AV skies and warm temp, not sure. Our smaller tent went flying. Otherwise great place to see the stars.
S
Scott Y.
5 months on Hipcamp
Easy to find flat spot if you are camping on trailers or roof tents. Amazing views and great if you want to take your bikes. Would definitely camp here again.
J
Juan S.
11 months on Hipcamp
Great stay for various forms of camping! Spent the night while car camping after other plans fell through - booked a bit late into the evening around 7-8pm and owner was still happy to have us. Site was beautiful at the top of a small hill; far out enough from the city that the sky was clear and the stars were bright. Wind is a bit strong during the windy seasons, as since it's at the top of the hill there is no protection; other spots were protected by the hill for those looking to go during a windy day. Sites are clearky marked and accurate. Woke up in the morning to some nearby sheep which was a welcoming suprise. Would definitely reccomend for anybody in the area or those just passing through.
The area receives great data connection (t-mobile).
G
G G.
3 months on Hipcamp
This is barely a campsite and way over priced at $50 a night.
There is no host on site. If you're staying more than a night pack up your stuff. The whole valley is covered in dirt roads like the ones you find here. Anyone can drive around on them, anytime. A number of them are free to camp on too.
The only amenity at this place is a tiny outhouse with a door that barely opens and closes. The door is quite heavy and hangs on the cheapest hinges you could find. The outhouse is so small an averaged sized person can barely sit down without their knees hitting a wall. The whole thing is DIY. They could have easily have built it a foot or two longer and used the proper sized hinges for a door of that weight.
Real campsites have useable bathrooms, water, flat areas for tents, hosts, and cost half as much. This is a $10 a night place, maybe $20. It's just some land you're paying to park on.
A
Aywms N.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2025
16 ft car ·
Site 5 - Hilltop Heaven
The camp site had amazing views of the surrounding area, and the stars at night. The directions to the site were very good, although I do recommend using Google maps vs Apple as Google seems more precise. It was mid-March when we stayed so the weather wasn’t the best, and the wind was blowing! I would stay here again in the future.
J
Jonathan S.
6 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2025
Tent ·
Site 4 - Peak's Perch
So easy! Such a great time! Such a cool ride in too!
J
James Patrick V.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· March 2025
Tent · With kids ·
Site 5 - Hilltop Heaven
Thanks so much for hosting us! We actually ran out of power in our 12 volt battery in the car and a gentleman on a Motocross helped us jump start the car.
We'll have to come during a new moon so we can see better stars! It was still so bright.
I
Ivan V.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· February 2025
19 ft campervan ·
Site 3 - Quail Quarters
The Magic Portal is a truly unique and special spot in the Mojave Desert. The freestanding door frame, fittingly named the ‘Portal to Nowhere,’ adds a fun and creative touch to the landscape. My dog, however, wasn’t so sure about it and refused to walk through! I was lucky to catch a stunning sunset, and the peacefulness of the area made for a perfect stay. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a one-of-a-kind desert experience!
K
Kimberly W.
2 reviews
Recommends
· February 2025
Tent ·
Site 3 - Quail Quarters
Spent the night with my wife here. Easily accessible via our Mazda CX-5 following the directions provided. Possibly a difficult path if after a hard rain. My only complaint is that the out-house was occupied by a creature when my wife went use it. Out of respect, we gave it its privacy for the rest of our stay. We had the entire campground to ourselves, minus the out-house. Did not do as much stargazing as I would have liked due to exhaustion from an impromptu hike at the nearby poppy reserve. The night sky was awesome except for the light pollution to the south from LA. There are ranches nearby so you do hear the occasional rooster and working dogs. You do hear the faint sound of vehicles off in the distance, but it’s mostly quiet and peaceful. A bonus were the open range sheep and goats in the area. They added a certain charm to our sunset/evening. Overall, it was a nice getaway from typical suburban and city surroundings.
M
Marcel T.
6 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2025
12 ft campervan · With pets ·
Site 2 - Acres' Oasis
I loved the area, nice flat spot, perfect for my dog and I, we even had a nice run in the morning 🌄
L
Le Ana L.
6 months on Hipcamp
remote and secluded place to go off the grid and relax. 10/10 recommend. Host is very responsive and nice!!
T
Tbnr K.
2 reviews
Great spot with unreal views of the sky. Listening to howling through the night and some insane rooster 🐓 that was going nuts most of the night, it's gonna be windy so prepare. It was very quiet and relaxing, easy to turn your brain off. Everyone should stay here atleast once.
R
Richard R.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2024
Tent ·
Site 2 - Acres' Oasis
Very nice and clean area! It was beautiful seeing all the stars out at night.
M
Madison D.
2 reviews
Can be a challenge to find! But feels very remote and is a nice, quiet stay. I enjoyed my time here and woke up to a free roam farm roaming past my van. :)
J
Joey L.
2 reviews
Our camping adventure was perfect! We wanted a remote site but nothing too rugged. Your directions and our mapping apps directed us right to our spot! We drove into the campsite with a small FWD SUV.
As the waxing moon got lower in the sky we got a good look at M31 and the Milky Way. At our campsite the low rolling hill terrain provided privacy and the lack of trees was ideal.
My group was satisfied with the amenities and pleasantly surprised by the picnic table and lighted campsite signpost. We would certainly consider returning to the Magic Portal Stargazer's Retreat.
Thanks Will!
Don
D
Donald P.
11 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2024
21 ft Class B ·
Site 5 - Hilltop Heaven
Middle of nowhere, nice and peaceful. Great place to decompress. Wonderful wide open views. Host very responsive. Windy. Might be tough in a tent.
P
Paul W.
2 reviews
This was our very first experience camping and I can say our host Will was very helpful and responded our questions within 3 minutes, his direction instructions were easy to follow and very helpful. I stayed in the quill 3 and we enjoyed the quite, cleaness and the beauty of the place. It was very windy during the night so if you are not a pro mounting tents like us I sugest research how to properly mount a tent in a very windy weather beforehand. There is a market 15 minutes away in case you need anything. Overall we enjoyed and for sure we will come back again.
M
Melanie M.
1 year on Hipcamp
Nice location to go stargazing. It was beautiful, a bit too windy for what we had planned, but I would go back again.
M
Mark D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Good spot for sky views. About a 15 minute drive into town if you need anything. Be prepared for wind and rock hard ground. If you're camping in a tent I'd recommend brining extra spikes as you will likely bend some.
M
Michael Z.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2024
Tent ·
Site 4 - Peak's Perch
I enjoyed staying at this site (#4-Peak’s Perch), with beautiful rolling hills and the mountains in the distance. It’s an open space, so the privacy is dependent on how many other campers there are. The sites aren’t too close together, but they’re each close enough for a short walk to the outhouse.
C
Camey S.
3 reviews
Recommends
· May 2024
Tent · With kids ·
Site 1 - Cosmic Cradle
we loved our stay , the view is beautiful and relaxing , perfect for a quick getaway from the city , its a bit windy though , my kids had a great time. Will is very responsive and accommodating, he even lets us change location last minute for our preference. we would definitely come back next time .Thank you so much will
M
Mary P.
1 year on Hipcamp
Overall fantastic camping experience my 4 year old daughter and me. Booked this site to go stargazing, and stargazing we did. Perfectly clear sky, nice and dark, can see so many more stars than in the city. Only point of note is that it was WINDY. I’m sure you can check on an app before coming up (I didn’t)… but may have prepared differently had I known. Luckily we were always planning on car camping so we were unaffected other than having trouble using the camp grill to cook dinner… but had we tried to pitch a tent and sleep all night in it I do think that would have been a challenge. In the car was primo.
J
Jesse S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Magic Door Stargazer's Retreat is a hidden gem nestled in Antelope Valley, brimming with diverse flora and fauna. During the California poppy bloom season, this place is a sight to behold, though the 2024 season was a bit lackluster in terms of poppy blooms. Nevertheless, I still found joy in spotting those rare golden flowers amidst the desert terrain.
My stay in early May was marked by strong winds, reaching up to 24 miles per hour. Perched atop a hill at Site 5, my tent was buffeted from all directions yet offered stunning 360-degree views. While the desert landscape doesn't offer much shelter, it's a great opportunity to embrace nature's beauty. Be sure to check the weather forecast and avoid windy days.
Getting to the tent sites involves traversing 1.5 miles of dirt roads with some rain washouts, so it's best to have an all-wheel drive vehicle with higher ground clearance. But once you're there, it's paradise for stargazers and astrophotographers. Minimal light pollution makes this place perfect for observing the night sky. Even though the magical door was missing during my visit, the door frame still made for a captivating photo composition.
Overall, my stay at the Magic Door Stargazer's Retreat was wonderful. And Will, the host, was quick to respond and super friendly throughout my stay.
Vital W.
2 reviews
Recommends
· April 2024
16 ft car ·
Site 4 - Peak's Perch
Great quiet spot. Spot is easy to find but might be hard to access with a low clearance vehicle. Site was clean, secluded and very relaxing. It did get windy but other than that it was awesome.
G
Guy H.
3 reviews
Beautiful campsite! We chose #3 because it was the site with the most wildflowers. We loved waking up and seeing them outside our tent door.
Some reviewers mention needing a 4x4 vehicle to get there, so we were a little nervous. However, that wasn’t the case. We made sure to take a newer car (2012 mini suv FWD) and it was completely fine. The main thing is to make sure you follow the driving directions provided by the host, which is the smoothest route. If you take a different route, it’s very likely that you could run into difficult terrain. Regardless, we also tried a couple different routes and were able to clear bumps just by going slowly. I would not recommend this location directly after heavy rains if you don’t have at least AWD, because they are dirt roads that would get pretty muddy. It hadn’t rained in a week or two when we went (late spring), and the roads were bone-dry.
Another thing to note is that if you are interested in star gazing, remember to plan your visit during a new moon for optimal visibility. Site #3 is wonderful for flowers, but less ideal for stargazing, due to being the one at the bottom of the hill, with a partial view of minor local light pollution.
Overall our stay was extremely pleasant and beautiful. There were no other guests during our stay and felt very private. Hearing the grasses blow in the breeze and the birds singing made for a very peaceful retreat. Our host was also very quick to respond and helpful. Would definitely recommend!
Christina S.
4 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2024
Tent ·
Site 1 - Cosmic Cradle
Clean space and very scenic.
O
Oscar S.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2024
20 ft Class B · With pets ·
Site 2 - Acres' Oasis
Great spot! Easy to find, even in the dark, awoke to beautiful blooms. Stripped back, simple, well thought out camping experience! 5 of 5 would do again!
E
Elizabeth G.
1 year on Hipcamp
It was a little strange navigating to the site in the dark; you drive across a couple of miles of very bumpy dirt road before eventually having to break off and drive into the fields.
When I finally arrived and was setup I got to take in the location. It was a surreal experience to see large signs of industry and infrastructure strewn across the empty landscape. It was nearly a full moon when I was there, so the stars were a little drown out, but the ghostly glow bathing the surroundings had it own allure.
What really tied this together though was the morning. The sunrise was what could only be described as aggressively beautiful. After finishing my coffee, the drive that had been intimidating the night before was a total thrill ride in the light of day.
If you don't might a little wind and hearing some dogs in the distance when you first arrive, then you'll be handsomely rewarded with rolling hills and fascinating vistas.
Michael M.
2 reviews
Location
Elizabeth Lake, Los Angeles, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
Hosted by Will B.
Joined in September 2021Things to do nearby
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