Checkout time is 10:00 and it was pretty much exactly 10:00 when we pulled out of Indian Waters RV Resort and headed towards I-10 west.
After about 25 miles we took the exit to highway 62...also known as Twentynine Palms Highway.Our first climb...
...and that's our second climb way up there...
At Yucca Valley, we turned right on Joshua Lane and drove the last 4.5 miles up to Black Rock Campground, located in the northwest corner of Joshua Tree National Park. There are nine campgrounds in the Park but only two are suitable for larger RVs, having water and a sani-dump...Cottonwood Campground at the south entrance and Black Rock Campground. We had decided to go to the north side of the park because most of the activities seem to be concentrated at the north side. Unfortunately, there is no access to the rest of the Park from this campground except by hiking trails. Our original plan had been to boondock out on some BLM land outside of the park but after reading the description of the road into it...single lane, rutted, dirt road...we decided against it.
The last stretch of road as we approached the campground was in very poor shape with erosion and potholes. Nice!
...and the ones inside the campground aren't much better...
But the Joshua Trees are beautiful...
We parked at the Nature Center and went in to ask about the sites. They don't often get rigs in as big as ours but she gave me the site numbers of their two largest sites. She also indicated on the map where the sani-dump was so that we could fill our fresh water tank.
Not sure what we were getting ourselves into, Steve and I decided to walk and check out the road to the sani-dump and then the sites recommended...site 46 would work. We decided to give it a go and made our way to the sani-dump where it took ages to fill our water tank due to very low water pressure. Once that was done, we went back and parked by the Nature Center and then walked the road going in from the other direction...we needed to find a better way to site #46 that would bring us in so that the awning and door were on the proper side. Although there was one particularly tight corner, we thought we would give it a try.
Access into the site, once we got there was easy...just drive straight in...maneuvering the curves and narrow road on the way to the site was the difficult part. The maximum recommended rig size here is 35' and our total length is 66'. You don't ever want to brush your rig up against a Joshua Tree...their long pointy leaves are hard and very sharp. The sites themselves, particularly the pull-through ones, are plenty big enough...once you get there.Great view...
After a quick bite to eat, we began unpacking and getting all set up. It is definitely a lot cooler up here...I believe the elevation is 4000 feet. It didn't help that the wind had started up as well. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny with a high of 60F/15C...guess we won't be needing the air conditioner anymore!
Thanks, my husband and I are going to Joshua Tree in a few weeks. We have a 33ft motorhome with a jeep. :)
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