The Black Rock visitors center is a small building located near the entrance to Black Rock campground. It is open from October through May from 8 am to 4 pm daily, except on Fridays when it's open from 8 am to 8 pm. Head into the visitors center to register for camping at Black Rock, check out the small bookstore and exhibit room, and get the latest information from park staff.
The Black Rock section of Joshua Tree National Park has the most extensive hiking trail network. Ask the park staff for recommendations on which loop hike you should take, they are very knowledgeable. A day-use picnic area is also located nearby for folks who are just stopping by. Flush toilets and potable water can be found throughout the campground.
A stroll up Hi-View Nature Trail is a must do for anyone staying at Black Rock campground. The trail is accessed either by a short drive down a road to the west or directly from the western part of the campground (near site #21).
A 1.5 mile loop climbs at a steady pace to gain 325 feet of elevation. I enjoy hiking this route clockwise so that I have a more gentle descent, but either direction is great. Stairs and other barriers make this trail very easy to follow and suitable for all ages (1). As you climb, pay attention to the desert flora at your feet. If you are visiting during the spring bloom you might get to see flowers growing out of cactus such as this beavertail (2). Once you gain the ridge you'll have a commanding view of Black Rock Canyon (3). Feel free to register your hike in the box located at the top of the ridge (4).
Complete the loop by winding down a gentle canyon to the west with views north towards Yucca Valley (5). You might notice interpretive trail markers dotting the route (6). Currently, the park is working on updating their brochure for this hike. You can check in at the visitors center before you start to see if the new version is out yet.
Black Rock Canyon campground is located just south of the town of Yucca Valley, off of Highway 62, in the northwest corner of Joshua Tree National Park. This campground isn't connected to the main park access roads, which means it offers more privacy than most other spots. You can reserve a campsite 6 months ahead of time (or 12 months for group campsite) on Recreation.gov.
Joshua Tree's most extensive trail network is accessible just south of the campground, making this a good choice for those who want to get a few miles of hiking in, but mostly hang around camp.
The road into Black Rock is a mess, so get ready to dodge some HUGE potholes on the drive in. Numerous roads crisscross the campground in a fairly random order, which makes finding your campsite a bit of an adventure. If you can, try to arrive with some daylight left, which helps immensely in finding your campsite.
All that aside, this campground has flush toilets, fire pits, picnic tables, is dog friendly (within the campground), and has a small visitors center in the middle of camp. Stay here if you want a quieter campground with hiking and nearby town amenities. We recommend sites 78 - 83 and 97 - 99, which are located in the far corner of the campground.
