Newjack City Camping

Hi folks! 

I spoke with a ranger at Newjack City 2 weekends ago and they're really starting to crack down on illegal camping. Camping is ONLY allowed at designated campsites of which there are only 13. The ranger was out multi times that weekend. Just a heads up. 

Thank you for this! I’ve never been but am planning to check it out soon.. are the designated sites reservation only with a fee per night?

I wish they could make it climbers only. Seems like the RV crowd has also discovered New Jack and often take up a lot of camp sites  

Wonder when they will start charging a camping fee? 

The campground is CLOSED as of Dec 9 for virus control.  (Sawtooth Canyon)

https://www.blm.gov/site-page/blm-california-covid-19-updates

The following areas in the California Desert District are temporarily closed. 

Barstow Field Office 

• Borehole
• Desert Discovery Center
• Sawtooth Canyon Campground 
• Owl Canyon Campground 
• Afton Canyon Campground 

El Centro Field Office 

• Hot Springs Day Use Area (including parking lot, tubs and pool) 
• Lark Canyon Campground (both upper and lower areas) 
• Cottonwood Campground (both east and west areas) 

Needles Field Office

• Horse Thief Campground 

Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office

• Corn Springs Campground
• Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center

Ridgecrest Field Office

• Fossil Falls Campground 

The BLM has done far more to make this a nice campground than any other BLM site in all of Southern Cal.

Creating new campsites in between the designated ones is generally not a good idea.

If you think some of those unofficial sites should be made official, why don't you talk to the managers who are conveniently located nearby in Barstow? https://www.blm.gov/office/barstow-field-office 

Or just go anywhere dispersed camping is allowed. 

Mark E Dixonwrote:

I wish they could make it climbers only. 

It's a slippery slope to want any agency, esp the Federal Govt, to discriminate against, or for, different user groups.  Didn't they already ban ATVs from use of that area?  I think because of destruction of the natural environment.  What's to prevent them from closing areas to climbing for the same reason?  The base at most of those formations is certainly devoid of any vegetation.  Be careful what you wish for.

Seems like the RV crowd has also discovered New Jack and often take up a lot of camp sites  

I'm amused by how many climbers these days seem to admire "livin the dream" of van life, but in general, climbers distain people in motorhomes or travel trailers, who are living the dream in retirement or with their family on weekends (or have lost their homes and are trying to survive). "The RV crowd" is just another user group.

Wonder when they will start charging a camping fee? 

Wouldn't bother me.  The BLM fees are always very reasonable.  The more people who use the area, the more costs are involved in maintaining the toilets.

I've got nothing particular against RVers per se, sprinters are basically RVs these days.

But if your goal is "living the dream in retirement or with their family on weekends (or have lost their homes and are trying to survive)" then you really don't need to take up all the campsites at a popular climbing area.

I'm pretty much with Dave K on this one- I don't see the need for most of the current improvements and don't see what aspect of pristine nature is being preserved by enforcing camping restrictions.

Will be interesting to see how things change. It certainly is a shitshow on weekends. 

I'd be OK paying, suspect it's just a matter of time. Will keep some of the non climbers moving along.

I talked to a Ranger last time I was there, first weekend they were clearing out renegade camping. They are going to start charging within a year and it will be on recreation.gov for reservations soon thereafter.

One thing to keep in mind: climbers have done the cleanup but have not paid for any of the other amenities. The money to pay for the campsites, trash clearance, and bathrooms is diverted from the OHV area. Even once the sites become fee-based that likely will not cover the costs of site maintenance.

There are sheep, desert tortoises, partridges, and falcons in the area. You may not see them at Boy Scout Wall but they are out there.

It's a bummer that you can't show up on a Friday night and snag a spot anymore but maybe it will spread some of the crowd to Apple Valley and elsewhere. 

Probably just going to spread the crowd across the highway

Complaining on this website isn't going to accomplish much.  If you want to have a voice in plans for the area, contact the BLM in Barstow.

some of these comments are a bit insane.

public lands are public - climbers are not entitled to them because "they cleaned it up." 

phylp phylpwrote:

What's to prevent them from closing areas to climbing for the same reason?  

Didn't notice this comment back when it was posted.

Plenty of climbing areas have been closed.

I don't think it's insane to wish for a campground that's actually for campers, not folks in big trailers watching TV while they run their generator and treat the area as just another Walmart parking lot.

I'll grant that it would be insane to actually expect this wish to come true.