Box Canyon
Mecca Hills Wilderness Area
Write a Review Box Canyon Rd. Mecca, CA 92254 760-833-7100 Official WebsiteGPS: 33.5923, -115.9678
Overview of Box Canyon
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads.
Learn more: Boondocking 101
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by Ryan on 12/21/2022
Longest RV Reported: 34 feet (Travel Trailer)
Reported by kelley welch on 12/19/2022
Pad Type dirt
Elevation 393 ft / 119 m
Max Stay 14
Tent Camping Yes
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Q&A - Ask the Community about Box Canyon
To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 760-833-7100
HGalle asked on 2/3/2021
Simple question here..is it easier (not getting stuck in the sand) to camp in a 23ft travel trailer here in Box canyo...
Reviews of Box Canyon 8 people have reviewed this location.
Cell Phone Coverage
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 11/24/2019
Confirmed by 1 User
Last reported 11/24/2019
“Quiet but need 4x4”
Reviewed 12/21/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
Overall Rating
Agree with other ratings, you could easily get stuck in the sand off the highway in Box Canyon. I have a 4x4 diesel pulling a 30' toy hauler and nearly got stuck, was sketchy. Even the shoulder gets sandy, this would be a challenge for 2-wheel drive. Big rigs, definitely not. otherwise, a very peaceful spot if you can get away fr... more
Agree with other ratings, you could easily get stuck in the sand off the highway in Box Canyon. I have a 4x4 diesel pulling a 30' toy hauler and nearly got stuck, was sketchy. Even the shoulder gets sandy, this would be a challenge for 2-wheel drive. Big rigs, definitely not.
otherwise, a very peaceful spot if you can get away from the road, and plenty of exploring to do in the slot canyons.
Ryan would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Minimal traffic, tons of solitude”
Reviewed 12/19/2022
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 7 |
| RV Length: | 34' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
I’d camp here again, the sand is softer in some spots so definitely recommend scouting before picking a spot. If you have the right rig you can really get deep in the canyon, but right off the road has some good options too. The sunsets were beautiful, the walks were serene. I expected coyotes but there was little wildlife the week we ... more
I’d camp here again, the sand is softer in some spots so definitely recommend scouting before picking a spot. If you have the right rig you can really get deep in the canyon, but right off the road has some good options too. The sunsets were beautiful, the walks were serene. I expected coyotes but there was little wildlife the week we camped. So many trails to explore. Only 20 minutes from town with great back road driving. This is a great mid point between Joshua Tree and Palm Springs. You definitely need Starlink to work remote at this location.
kelley welch would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Barely off road”
Reviewed 2/18/2020
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 1 |
| RV Length: | 15' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
Plenty of wide open space best suited for 4-wheel drive or high clearance vehicles. Stayed 1 night in a 2-wheel drive van. Great free spot away from the Joshua tree crowd and near the Salton Sea.
srhodd would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Beautifully paved now”
Reviewed 12/20/2019
| RV Length: | 33' (Fifth Wheel) |
|---|
Overall Rating
And a very nice drive but Camping — I guess you might ‘create’ something if you’re small enough but ground very light and not packed has ‘get stuck’ potential for trailers or motorhome.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Couldn’t find the sites ...”
Reviewed 11/24/2019
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 0 |
| Site Number: | 0 |
Overall Rating
Box Canyon road is open. Easy to drive, nice road. However, I could not find any obvious sites off the road. It’s a beautiful area and would have loved to stay there. There were a couple side roads marked 4x4, maybe that’s where people camp?
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Verizon 4G
T-Mobile 4G
Dallyroo would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Flash flood hazard, road out as of Dec 2018”
Reviewed 12/31/2018
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 0 |
| RV Length: | 19' (Travel Trailer) |
Overall Rating
As of Dec 2018 the paved road through the canyon is almost completely wiped out and the road is signed as closed. Enough people drive around the closure signs that there is effectively a 2wd dirt road through the canyon though. Theoretically you could still camp here if you’re willing to brave the unofficial dirt road but the entire... more
As of Dec 2018 the paved road through the canyon is almost completely wiped out and the road is signed as closed. Enough people drive around the closure signs that there is effectively a 2wd dirt road through the canyon though.
Theoretically you could still camp here if you’re willing to brave the unofficial dirt road but the entire canyon is effectively a dry riverbed from wall to wall. You do not want to be here if it rains, at best you will be stranded and at worst you will be dead.
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Verizon
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Box Canyon Road Closure”
Reviewed 11/11/2018
Overall Rating
I visited 11/10/2018 and as of 9/30/2018 box canyon road has been closed due to road damage. Box canyon campsite is unreachable.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Great location when the day visitors have gone”
Reviewed 9/12/2016
| Nightly rate: | FREE! |
|---|---|
| Days stayed: | 3 |
Overall Rating
Despite the posted warnings about road conditions, the drive from the main highway to the canyon was in fair condition when we were there in December 2015. On the way through, we noticed a number of possible camping areas, but we parked right near the parking lot that visitors can use if they are taking a walk into the very impressiv... more
Despite the posted warnings about road conditions, the drive from the main highway to the canyon was in fair condition when we were there in December 2015.
On the way through, we noticed a number of possible camping areas, but we parked right near the parking lot that visitors can use if they are taking a walk into the very impressive Box Canyon trail. There was ample room for our trailer on the side of the parking lot and we were not intruding on anyone.
As it was a Saturday, there were a lot of day visitors, but also a school group had set up camp in front of the parking area so that they could spend the night in their tents and take an early morning hike on the circular trail through the canyon.
On the whole, everybody was well behaved and friendly. However, the big drawback of tenting in this location is the lack of restroom facilities. This meant that plus or minus twenty people had to 'do their business' behind any available bush . So, when we took a walk around the area, we were constantly confronted with foul smells and visions that included used toilet paper and fresh feces.
Nonetheless, the location was just fantastic and as long as you visit during the week, you are sure to have peace and serenity most of the time.
The trail through the Box Canyon is highly recommended, even for day campers who may be a bit spooked about staying in a canyon that is vulnerable to flash flooding, especially as there is no means of communication with the outside world once you are there.
Needless to say, there was no cell signal whatsoever and there was no television signal. Our solar panels had a bit of sunlight around midday, but the shadows from the canyon quickly came over the trailer and we could no longer charge the batteries. This was one of the few times we happily used our generator, especially as there were no other campers on our second night here.
Favorite things: the walk through the canyon and also, in the opposite direction, along the dry river bed. Very surreal setting.
Negative: No restrooms! Human feces and toilet paper on every bush in the immediate vicinity.
No cell or television signal
Freecampers would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
- Dispersed Camping
Recreation
- recreation trail
Pets
- pets
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