Picacho Park California

Picacho Campground
Picacho State Park @ Colorado River
Picacho SRA, California

tree camps

Winter camping is great at Picacho. Hunters, fisherman, snowbirds & RVers alike, all know this best kept secret. Picacho Peak on the Colorado River is prime spot for outdoor recreation & camping. Canoe, kayak, fish, hunt, mountain bike, hike, and mining history. All this desert fun, less than a 3 hour drive from San Diego.

The main attraction here is the Colorado River, fishing, hunting, plus easy freeway access & the off roading options are an added bonus.

colorado river
Colorado River, California

Ancient volcanic peaks surround this wetlands area of the Colorado River. Picacho makes a good stopping point on a river trip between Walter’s Camp and Martinez Lake.

A century ago Picacho was a mining town with 100 citizens. Now it is a State Park, offering diverse scenery, including cactus, burros, bighorn sheep and thousands of waterfowl. The impressive lower Colorado River is the recreation area on the eastern border of California.

canoe

Take the 20+ mile road north from Winterhaven, off Interstate 8 (W of Yuma, AZ). The side road to Picacho is paved only a few miles, then becomes graded dirt. The last 18 miles is over a desert road that is easily passable for passenger cars & motorhomes.

In the summer months thunderstorms can cause flash flooding in the washes, making sections of the road impassable. Check weather forecast before traveling into this flash-flood region of the California desert.

RV

Picacho SRA Park Info:
760-393-3052

 

Nearby cities:

hiking picacho

EASY HIKES @ CAMP:
Picacho California, rich in desert history, was once a small mining town. Historic signs, trails & buildings surround the Picacho Campground.

Hike straight from the main campground to many areas along the scenic rivers edge. Stroll through the old graveyard & read about the areas history. Walk the washes in early spring and look for wildflowers.

Picacho Park River Camping

Imperial Desert Hiking

PDF Map download EAST IMPERIAL

  • Indian Pass Wilderness
  • Picacho Peak Wilderness
  • Little Picacho Wilderness
  • Carrizo Falls
  • Quartz Peak
  • Hyduke Mine

BLM Maps for the Desert Regions

campground

desert RV campers

Desert River Campgrounds
Picacho Park

camp
Most camps are on first-come, first-served basis

campground elev spots toilet water fee notes comments
Taylor Lake Camp river 4 pit river yes river edge Boaters or vehicles ok
Outpost Camp river 3 pit river yes river edge Boaters or vehicles ok
4-S Beach Camp river 4 pit river yes river edge Boaters or vehicles ok
Paddle Wheeler river 2 pit river yes river edge Boat-in
(no vehicles)
Carrizo Camp river 2 pit river yes river edge Boat-in
(no vehicles)
Picacho Camp
main campground
100′ 54 pit piped yes large sites plenty tent + RV spots

The main dirt road up to Picacho Campground is fine – for RVers that don’t mind the long haul on a wash board road.

camptruck

Primitive River Camping

Senator Wash – south end of park, open dispersed camping between Squaw Lake & Senators Wash. No other back road dispersed camping inside State Park boundaries.

boatramp

BOAT IN CAMPING
Small campgrounds for boat in camping listed above on chart.

Colorado River Back Roads

The majority of this desert scenic area is dirt back roads, so get prepared & take precautions: water, warm clothes, matches, maps.  Best to get your SUV out & ready to explore on milder terrain, by driving out close to camp. Walking back to camp (note mileage) could be an option, if you get stuck.

Many roads could require 4-wheel drive, but there are still plenty suitable for 2WD. Tell a camping neighbor where you are headed and what time you should be back, just in case you get stranded or lost.

Heading all the way to Anza Borrego Desert, Salton Sea, or Mecca’s Box Canyon – just a day trip (?)  is unreasonable and should not be attempted. Rest and relax. Picacho Park has more than enough to keep you entertained and occupied.

OHV PARK – IMPERIAL SAND DUNES RECREATION AREA is due west of Picacho SRA, about 20 miles away (as the crow flies).

4x4

California has 2 nearby desert parks –

COLORADO RIVER PARKS:

Bordering the Colorado River on the opposite side is the state of Arizona, with wetlands known as Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.

About 200 miles east of YUMA is another park called Picacho Peak State Park (AZ): 520-586-2283 and that place closes for summer months. NOTE: This park is often confused online with Picacho State Recreation Area, inside California. There is a Picacho Peak Wilderness on the California side, within the State Park boundary.  


California

Picacho State Recreation Area 

https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=641