Cottonwood Campground (CA)

Clean / private / running water / flushable toilets. Everything was as or better than expected.

Clean / private / running water / flushable toilets. Everything was as or better than expected.

I loved this campground for its dark sky. A reminder: THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK. DO NOT BRING EXTERIOR STRING LIGHTS ETC. LEAVE THEM AT HOME FOR YOUR HOUSE IN YOUR NON-DARK-SKY neighborhoods.
The bathroom doesn't even have lights interior or out (bring your flashlight people) and there's a reason for this: it's a dark sky park and guess what? you'll see the most amazing sky here maybe in your entire life. Again: THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK. DO NOT BRING EXTERIOR STRING LIGHTS ETC. LEAVE THEM AT HOME FOR YOUR HOUSE IN YOUR NON-DARK-SKY neighborhoods. And turn your lanterns and exterior trailer lights off if you are not needing them for cooking, eating etc. Use the red lights on your flashlight (it takes 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust after being in white light). ENJOY!
The coyote calls throughout night was also cool. And we saw a desert rat twice at our campfire (ran over my sister's foot - eeks!).

I loved this campground for its dark sky. A reminder: THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK. DO NOT BRING EXTERIOR STRING LIGHTS ETC. LEAVE THEM AT HOME FOR YOUR HOUSE IN YOUR NON-DARK-SKY neighborhoods.
The bathroom doesn't even have lights interior or out (bring your flashlight people) and there's a reason for this: it's a dark sky park and guess what? you'll see the most amazing sky here maybe in your entire life. Again: THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY PARK. DO NOT BRING EXTERIOR STRING LIGHTS ETC. LEAVE THEM AT HOME FOR YOUR HOUSE IN YOUR NON-DARK-SKY neighborhoods. And turn your lanterns and exterior trailer lights off if you are not needing them for cooking, eating etc. Use the red lights on your flashlight (it takes 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust after being in white light). ENJOY!
The coyote calls throughout night was also cool. And we saw a desert rat twice at our campfire (ran over my sister's foot - eeks!).

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I always enjoy staying at JOTR. Most of the hikes are in the northern part of the park, but then you can come back to Cottonwood and be out of the crowds. It’s also very close to Hwy 10, so easy to break your trip.

Joshua Tree National Park is amazing! The Joshua Trees are unique, the trails well kept, the roads beautiful, and the expansive nature of the park gives many places to hike and picnic over a few day period! Even the drive through the park is beautiful and the scenery unique! I highly recommend the park!

I was disappointed in my experience of Cottonwood campground though, due to the disrespect of my neighbors there, and the lack of a campground host to whom I could report issues during quiet hours. Our neighbors were loud when they arrived late at night, had their music playing from their parked car in the morning (we could hear the bass all the way at our campsite at 6:15am), and another neighbor had a bright lantern on at their site until about Midnight, which made it hard to see the stars in that direction. I do not recommend staying at this campsite near the holidays.

I always enjoy staying at JOTR. Most of the hikes are in the northern part of the park, but then you can come back to Cottonwood and be out of the crowds. It’s also very close to Hwy 10, so easy to break your trip.

Joshua Tree National Park is amazing! The Joshua Trees are unique, the trails well kept, the roads beautiful, and the expansive nature of the park gives many places to hike and picnic over a few day period! Even the drive through the park is beautiful and the scenery unique! I highly recommend the park!

I was disappointed in my experience of Cottonwood campground though, due to the disrespect of my neighbors there, and the lack of a campground host to whom I could report issues during quiet hours. Our neighbors were loud when they arrived late at night, had their music playing from their parked car in the morning (we could hear the bass all the way at our campsite at 6:15am), and another neighbor had a bright lantern on at their site until about Midnight, which made it hard to see the stars in that direction. I do not recommend staying at this campsite near the holidays.