Red Rock Canyon State Park Campground California
Red Rock Canyon State Park Overview
Red Rock Canyon State Park Campground (Ricardo Campground) has 50 campsites tucked up against the base of dramatic desert cliffs in the southernmost tip of the Sierra Nevada range. The campground is first-come, first-serve and offers a great base camp to explore the desert on foot, horseback or on your OTV. It does fill up quickly during the spring/fall weekends. There are no RV hook-ups or showers.
Red Rock Canyon State Park has a visitor center, day use area, potable (drinking) water, vault toilets, trash collection and an RV dump station. Cell service is poor in the area. Each campsite has a parking spur (20 to 30 feet), table, fire ring and grate. You can have up to 8 people per campsite. Firewood can also be purchased from the ranger at the visitor center (open in Spring and Fall months).
Red Rock Canyon State Park – Area Recreation
The Park features scenic desert cliffs, buttes and spectacular rock formations. Each tributary canyon is unique, with dramatic shapes and vivid colors. Outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, OHV trail riding, horseback riding, star gazing and wildlife viewing.
Saddleback Butte State Park is also in the vicinity. It’s also in Lancaster area about 37 miles due east.
Reservations:
First Come, First Served
Amenities
- Campfire Center
- Campsite Tables
- Cell Service Poor
- Drinking Water
- Dump Station
- Equestrian trail
- Fire Pit
- Fire Rings
- Firewood Available
- Grills
- Pets OK
- Picnic Tables
- Ranger Station
- Restrooms (Vault Toilets)
- Trash Collection
- Visitor Center
Activities
- Bird Watching
- Climbing
- Geocaching
- Hiking
- Horseback riding
- Mountain Biking
- Nature Trails
- OHVing
- OTV Trails/Riding
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Stargazing
- Visitor Center
- Walking Trails
- Wildlife Viewing
Cantil, California 93519
442 247-5160
Lat / Long:
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Campsite Types
- ADA
- Camper Van
- Primitive
- RV
- Tent
- Trailer
# of Campsites:
50
Campsite Vehicle Size:
Up to 30 feet.
Season:
Year Round
Elevation:
3,700
Red Rock Canyon State Park Comments & Reviews
Visited Red Rock Canyon State Park Campground lately? We'd love to hear about your adventure. Did you find us useful? Did we forget something? Anything our community should know before heading out to Red Rock Canyon State Park?
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Do you have group sites?
Thank you
Hi Linda,
There are no group campsites at Red Rock Canyon State Park.
What are chances of finding 2 RV spots next February on a weekeday night?
Hi Roberta,
The campground should be mostly available on weekday nights in February. Even on weekends you should find sites (except maybe President’s Day weekend).
have fun!
Is the campground usually more or less full over Christmas weekend? Thanks!
Hi John,
There will be availability at Red Rock Canyon State Park over Christmas weekend. I’d say at best it’ll be about 50% full, unless there is a heat-wave then maybe closer to 75% capacity.
What are the chances of getting a site on either a Thursday evening or Friday morning next weekend (mid-/late October)? And what times do you recommend we be there for either day?
Hi Aliyah,
Mid October will be more popular at Red Rock Canyon State Park – especially on the weekend. Many OHV enthusiasts head out there then, as well as other campers. It may not sell out, but this weekend the weather looks good so it’ll be busy. I recommend a Thursday arrival, or early Friday morning (before 9AM).
Does Red Rock have any events scheduled for the Dark Sky Festival in September?
Hi Sherry,
There are no events planned at Red Rock Canyon State Park for September. It’s a great place for stargazing though!
Looking at the weather its pretty hot out there even during this mild summer, how likely would it be to find an available site on a Sunday afternoon in June, 2023?
Hi Whitney,
You should not have a problem finding a campsite at Red Rock Canyon State Park in June (Sunday arrival). There will be many available/open campsites. Keep an eye on the weather though. Fortunately this June has been cooler than normal, but it’ll heat up out there.
we are just passing through and will only be there for the evening and early morning hours, hoping to beat the heat. THANK YOU for your timely response.
This is a very beautiful park. I was wondering what the chances are of getting a site during late March, spring break, during the week? Thank you.
Hi Meli,
That’s a great question. Red Rock Canyon State Park is popular, especially during spring/fall. Spring break tends to be even more popular with the desert and off-roading enthusiasts camping at the campground. With that said, your chances are fairly good to find a campsite available mid-week (not weekends). I’d say chances are 70/30. Best of luck and hope you get a chance to camp there this year.
I have a 28′ 5th wheel and I have not visited since the park shut down the dump station. Is the dump station able to be used and is the water spigot to fill my RV holding tank now available? I believe it used to cost $5 to fill up with water. Thank you.
Hi John,
Not sure if the dump station is working again/available at Red Rock Canyon State Park. I called but a ‘representative was not available’. I recommend calling to check at (442) 247-5160.