Free Camping Near Old Dale Mine District

Ready to feel like we were in the middle of nowhere, but not quite ready to leave the Joshua Tree area we headed east on the CA-62 and found dispersed camping near Old Dale. There are many dispersed camp spots in the area both near and far from Twentynine Palms Highway. And there are plenty of spots that can accommodate large rigs as well. After you get all settled into a spot there is plenty of exploring to do both by vehicle or by foot! Read on to learn more about what it’s like camping near Old Dale and about some of our little wanders nearby.

Quick Info: Dispersed Camping Near Old Dale

Cost: Free

Ownership: BLM; 14 day limit

Directions: From Twentynine Palms, head east on the CA-62 for about 15 miles. Then take the dirt road on the right. You’ll find an Old Dale Mining District BLM map that shows the area and the roads. There are so many dispersed options as you travel further.

Solar: Good

Water: None

Miles From Town: About 18 miles

Cell Service: Yes, if you make sure the cell tower is in sight. But the further you go you will lose service.

Road Conditions: The main dirt road is passable by most passenger vehicles. There is one washed out spot but we managed it even towing. The road is washboard but not too bumpy otherwise. Use care when taking any side roads because there are some sandy areas that can become deep.

Check out the video below to see what it’s like to camp at Old Dale Mining District! And subscribe to see more of our adventures.

Our Experience Camping Near Old Dale

We were stoked to be a (relatively) short drive from Twentynine Palms with vast desert views, solitude and cell reception. That means were were set up for a couple weeks of exploring a new area and being productive online.

After we turned off of the CA-62, we checked out the BLM sign and continued on. When we got about as far from the highway as we could while still keeping the cell tower in our line of sight we set up home (about 3 miles)! Our spot was pretty level with nice views all around.

Being completely new to this BLM site, we quickly learned that this area is a pretty popular route for jeeps and trucks. During the week traffic was minimal, maybe four or five vehicles a day. But on the weekends there were more like twenty vehicles heading in for the days. This wasn’t a big deal at all and we still felt that this was a very peaceful camp spot.

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As we began exploring the area ourselves, we found that there were numerous old mines scattered around the hills. They’re pretty cool to stumble upon and check out.

We scrambled to the top of several rock piles/mountains/hills which is one of our favorite activities. There are washes to follow to get further out into the vast desert.

While we were camping near Old Dale, we took a few of the designated side routes to get to know the area. We found more mines, old mining remnants and even some exciting dry falls to climb up! When we’re out camping somewhere new, we love to explore wherever we can in every direction. You never know what you’ll find but no two walks are ever the same!

The sunsets and full moon nights were gorgeous. Camping near Old Dale was very peaceful, pretty, adventurous and allowed us to be productive! The January weather wasn’t too shabby either. We couldn’t have asked for more out of this two week home.

Thanks for Reading!

We had a great time camping near Old Dale. And we were glad to have discovered a new spot that we can return to when we’re in the Joshua Tree area since we tend to find ourselves back there relatively often.

If you’d like to see more cool dispersed camp spots, check out the links below:

• Free Camping at Williams Hill Recreation Area
• Dispersed Camping at Volcanic Tablelands
• Camping Near Boise at Swan Falls Dam
• Camping on Homestake Road

While living on the road and exploring these beautiful places, we’re also working hard creating our hand painted Lost Coast Longboarding longboards! To see our latest lineup, head over to our Lost Coast Longboarding Shop!

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