Camping in JTree when you have a job - possible at all?

Not possible, they do not let people with jobs into JTree

-I am just being bitter. Don't listen to me.

Having a full time job makes it difficult, but if you have friends that don't...

Use that vacation time! J Tree is worth it.

Ryan Hex wrote:Use that vacation time! J Tree is worth it.

What vacation time??? ;-).

Here's an idea ...
drive up the sun before, get there early and secure a spot, reserve(pay) it for the week(take photo of ticket) do some climbing and drive home late(it's SD, it's only 3hrs). Come back on following fri and you have a spot for the weekend.

Cruise thru a campground n find someone that will take your $ n let you be the second car at their site.

somewhat related, interesting side note about a full park and parking....I was meeting two other parties in Jtree. I had commitments at Red Rock and was meeting them on a Sat and knew that was going to be an issue re-formal camping. They however arrived Fri and secured a spot at Jumbo no worries. When I went through the kiosk during biz hours on Sat...the park employee berated me up and down about how I was going to get a camping spot for my rig (truck and pull behind trailer)...she explained how there would be no camping available and my rig constituted two vehicles. I explained that I was with a party who had already secured a site. But she went on how we would not have room for our vehicles and did not leave me alone until I asked her if she wanted me to exit the park right then and there. She sent me on through. Now she knew I was headed for Jumbo....so to be a bit more diligent than normal when I arrived at our site I made sure we negotiated placing our vehicles at other campsites who only had one vehicle...having extra drugs on hand is always helpful for such things... alas we were legal...from a parking perspective anyway. Later that night we were enjoying a fire and this religious group from Oklahoma showed up. We had made damn sure we only took our two spots in front of our site. They had clear empty parking spots right in front of their site but being new to Calif and big city livin', they just parked both their trucks along the road in front of our site. They tried to walk over our site to get to theirs but I stopped them and made them go around like regular civilians....they basically went around and right through the open parking slots in front of their campground. In the morning, sure enough $125 or $175 tickets stuck to their trucks. Can't say that was the lady looking for me or that they always go through Jumbo on weekends and hand out tickets. It is rare for me to be at Jtree on a weekend so I don't know. These guys were praying most of the night so I imagine God resolved their issues with the park the next morning...but have to say that is a significant parking fine indeed. Does not pay to be lazy I guess....well sometimes it does.

We'll have lots of extra room in a group site at Indian Cove this weekend. Just message me.

Kristian Andersen wrote:We love the great outdoors, we love climbing, so we'd like to go camping at JTree... Only it doesn't actually seem to be possible to ever secure a site?! Driving four hours (two hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic) on a Friday afternoon from San Diego to try and beat the crowds, only to realize that all campsites have been taken since Thursday? So my question is - realistically, is there any way that it's possible to get a campsite at JTree, say, between the months of October to May? I asked the ranger and he said "forget about it" - you have to be here by Thursday at noon. Only, that's not possible because I have to work. Am I missing something or are there any secrets to actually securing a campsite?

It's busy and other suggestions are good. I personally like the one of sharing spots and it doesn't hurt to pack beer or hot chocolate, wine, etc. should you luck out on that front.

Another option is Gear Co-op Sheep Pass Reservation. Throughout the season Gear Coop reserves spots at Sheep Pass Campground. They open it up to "members" which means YOU! Various dates are already on the books including Thanksgiving and the first week of December so get with them regarding details to secure a spot, maybe even meet some new folks in the process. gearcoop.com/joshua_tree_ca…

I'm continually amazed at their great marketing, free boulder night, shows and donations to the climbing community. I have nothing to do with this company, do not live in Orange County or use their services but totally appreciate the business aspect and brotherhood of what they provide. So even if you're not camping with them... check it out, maybe buy from them so they can keep this and other nifty stuff going.