Sawtooth Canyon Campground
BLM
Write a Review Barstow Rd. Lucerne Valley, CA 92356 760-252-6000 Official WebsiteGPS: 34.6703, -116.984
Overview of Sawtooth Canyon Campground
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
Learn more: Boondocking 101
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by Full-Time Solar Boondockers on 4/5/2021
Longest RV Reported: 38 feet
Reported by Ro on 9/15/2018
Number of Sites 14
Pad Type dirt
Elevation 3,576 ft / 1,089 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Reviews of Sawtooth Canyon Campground 53 people have reviewed this location.
“Very beautiful, but you can't work from this campground”
Reviewed 4/5/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 0 |
Unless you are a weekender, vacationing, retired or independently wealthy (and don't have to work from the road), you won't be able to stay here: can't get enough Verizon or AT&T (even boosted) to work. I spent a couple of hours testing three different locations in the campground—parked with the Weboost on, two different hot spots (AT&... more
Unless you are a weekender, vacationing, retired or independently wealthy (and don't have to work from the road), you won't be able to stay here: can't get enough Verizon or AT&T (even boosted) to work. I spent a couple of hours testing three different locations in the campground—parked with the Weboost on, two different hot spots (AT&T and Verizon), no go—and I can usually work from just about anywhere!
So sad to have to leave this beautiful place and opt for something more barren closer to town—just to be able to WORK. Ugh! Can't wait to retire and be able to camp anywhere! :)
Note: About 1/4 mile or so of the road in is teeth-jarring washboard. Also saw dozens of chipmunks scurrying about the rock formations by the campsites. They come right up to your rig. No sure if they would try and get inside?
Also note: March is the very most windiest time to visit the Barstow area. Seldom drops below 10mph every single day, some days up to 27mph! It seems Barstow and the Western Mohave experience the worst winds of the middle-desert this time of year. Looking at the map on Windy.com, it's even less windy in Nevada right now!
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“It's still free!”
Reviewed 3/10/2021
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | Group |
Lots of reviews here! I'll add a couple of observations. Be mindful of the entrance coming from the south, there is quite a lip coming off the pavement. The entry road is still bad, it's still free, although there is a lidless Iron Ranger at the entrance. We arrived on Monday before noon and most the numbered sites were taken. T... more
Lots of reviews here! I'll add a couple of observations.
Be mindful of the entrance coming from the south, there is quite a lip coming off the pavement. The entry road is still bad, it's still free, although there is a lidless Iron Ranger at the entrance. We arrived on Monday before noon and most the numbered sites were taken.
There are 14 numbered sites and 1 group site (we camped there). Site 1 appears to be a host site that was unmanned and blocked off. All sites had a ramada, table, fire pit and BBQ (except site 9 only had the ramada and table). Then there appears to be several sites, 5 maybe, that are not numbered, that had a rock fire ring, weren't blocked off by rocks and didn't have signs saying no camping. There are plenty of no camping placards!
This campground could easily have 30 sites spaced around the property. The road infrastructure is sure there! Most sites were not spaced out, instead there was a group of 3 sites together and three groups of 2 sites together. Great if you were camping with others. Half the numbered sites could accommodate big rigs as well as most the unnumbered sites. Big rigs should not venture past the group site, only site 9 was up there anyway. There is a turnaround sort of up there, but it was being used by some rock climbers with cars.
FourFeetFourPaws would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Lovely spot.”
Reviewed 11/4/2020
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 14 |
This is a favorite with rock climbers. I stayed here last February and came back for more! OHV vehicles were banned here a couple of years ago and the disgruntled "sportsmen" came in and threw nails all over the place and broke a lot of glass. I urge everyone who visits here to help restore this area and undo the damage done by these i... more
This is a favorite with rock climbers. I stayed here last February and came back for more! OHV vehicles were banned here a couple of years ago and the disgruntled "sportsmen" came in and threw nails all over the place and broke a lot of glass. I urge everyone who visits here to help restore this area and undo the damage done by these immature people.
Larry would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Nice”
Reviewed 9/25/2020
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 7 |
We had trouble with mice here. This is my only complaint. We caught one and held it hostage until the next morning. Sites are easily accessible from the highway. You have about a mile on a dirt road, but it’s in pretty good condition. The covered table was nice in the heat. There are a few bathrooms. Not too bad, but bring y... more
We had trouble with mice here. This is my only complaint. We caught one and held it hostage until the next morning.
Sites are easily accessible from the highway. You have about a mile on a dirt road, but it’s in pretty good condition.
The covered table was nice in the heat.
There are a few bathrooms. Not too bad, but bring your own toilet paper.
Hypsy-Gypsy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“First blm experience.. not bad ”
Reviewed 3/9/2020
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | N/a |
This was my first time camping on BLM land and it wasn’t bad at all. There is a mile long dirt road to get to the campground that’s well maintained. Several sheltered campsites with fire pits, I arrived late (around 8pm) and still found a nice spot right next to a large rock. Other rvs and tent campers as well. Cell service was bar... more
This was my first time camping on BLM land and it wasn’t bad at all. There is a mile long dirt road to get to the campground that’s well maintained. Several sheltered campsites with fire pits, I arrived late (around 8pm) and still found a nice spot right next to a large rock. Other rvs and tent campers as well.
Cell service was barely much but was able to get a nice boost with my Cell booster. 2 bars of talk only with no booster/2 bars of LTE Data with booster. Stayed in a Thursday night and Friday and was very quiet.. few kids and climbers on Saturday morning. Would’ve stayed longer. The toilet—- yeah let’s not talk about that but it’s there. Bring your own toilet paper.
Jay Swant would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Natural Beauty at its Finest”
Reviewed 2/14/2020
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Stayed at Sawtooth Canyon BLM Campground for 4 nights. The one mile, dirt and washboard access road from California Route 247 to the campground is passable with a big rig. Upon arrival on Tuesday midday there were only three sites available that would accommodate my 38 foot fifth wheel. We were lucky enough to snag a campsite up aga... more
Stayed at Sawtooth Canyon BLM Campground for 4 nights. The one mile, dirt and washboard access road from California Route 247 to the campground is passable with a big rig. Upon arrival on Tuesday midday there were only three sites available that would accommodate my 38 foot fifth wheel. We were lucky enough to snag a campsite up against a large rock outcropping that was level. Melody and I selected this free camping location for its scenic beauty and it did not disappoint. There are several serviceable vault toilets within the campground. Trash is pack it out and there are no hookups, water, or dump station—dry camping only. Both AT&T and Verizon cellular service varied widely depending on your location in the campground. While I was unable to stream movies at the campsite I selected, a short walk just outside the entrance to the campground allowed me to download movies. Verizon cellular service just outside the entrance clocked in at 48.6 Mbps download speed and 12.0 Mbps download speed. AT&T was also usable outside the entrance, but not as fast as Verizon. An nearby alternative boondocking location is the Slash X boondocking area, a part of the Stoddard Valley OHV Open Area, grid coordinates 34.7673565, -117.0138185. A secondary alternative dry camping location is the Owl Canyon BLM Campground located at grid coordinates 35.0213264, -117.0217384.
LivingOurDreamNow would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautiful desert getaway”
Reviewed 1/11/2020
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 4 |
Site Number: | 3 |
Beautiful desert light and shadows., large sites, no ATVs. Hiking is awesome and if you like rock climbing, you'll love it here.
PaulB87 would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Starry nights, perfect weather, beautiful scenery”
Reviewed 11/18/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 7 |
Our second time here, hadn’t planned to spend a week but it was so perfect we couldn’t leave. Sparsely populated except on the weekend when the climbers and hikers arrived but still not crowded. Breathtakingly quiet, gorgeous sunsets, and starry starry nights. Lots of ground squirrels/chipmunks/quail to observe, even saw a tarantula on... more
Our second time here, hadn’t planned to spend a week but it was so perfect we couldn’t leave. Sparsely populated except on the weekend when the climbers and hikers arrived but still not crowded. Breathtakingly quiet, gorgeous sunsets, and starry starry nights. Lots of ground squirrels/chipmunks/quail to observe, even saw a tarantula on one of our many bike rides. Trails for hiking. Fire rings at most sites so we had a campfire every night. Dry camping at its best. The road into the campground from the main road has minor washboarding with a stretch at the end that’s pretty bad but just take it slow. 19 mile drive into Barstow for provisioning/fuel/etc. Excellent Verizon coverage. Will definitely return.
Sue would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Crowded, but a cool vibe”
Reviewed 7/27/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | NA |
Stayed here May 19-21. Decent road in, washboardy but easily navigated in our rig at 10 MPH. We arrived at 6 PM on a weeknight to very limited site selection. After a couple rings around the rosie, found a site that was old roadbed and settled in near level, with plenty of outside room. It is the most westerly site next to the first ... more
Stayed here May 19-21.
Decent road in, washboardy but easily navigated in our rig at 10 MPH. We arrived at 6 PM on a weeknight to very limited site selection.
After a couple rings around the rosie, found a site that was old roadbed and settled in near level, with plenty of outside room. It is the most westerly site next to the first loop around the rocks.
No fire pit but easy access to hiking trails, in particular up and along the sawtooth ridge to the south. Views from up there were awesome. Although late spring there were still plenty of flowers. We enjoyed our stay and would go back from anytime between October - May.
Lots of activity with hikers and rock climbers. Our site got a bit party loud on occasion but quiet hours were honored.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Fantastic!”
Reviewed 4/7/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Fabulous campground. Road in is a little rough, but made it fine with my class C. Lots of walking trails. No OHV allowed. Lots of climbers in the park. Fun to watch. Beautiful area, starry nights, quiet too.
Mindy would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“if you love hipsters this is your spot”
Reviewed 4/15/2018
Days stayed: | 0 |
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Aggravating washboard road leads to limited awesome looking sites full of hipsters and tourists that don’t want to pay to visit. Oh, and also pretend rock climbers. Yucky.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Go Around the Bend: Almond Orchards and Orange Groves
As we left Grandma’s on Wednesday, 2/27, we saw the aftermath of the nearly 8 inches of rain that had fallen in the last two days. In the valley some roads and vineyards were flooded. Even more ra...
Land Cruising Adventure: Sawtooth Canyon Campground | BLM | Barstow | California
Sawtooth Canyon Campground | BLM | Barstow | California This was my campsite at Sawtooth Campground, a BLM camp as well as a destinatio...
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- picnic area
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
Pets
- pets
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