FREE CAMPGROUNDS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The city of Holtville is a small farming town (pop. 5,000) and
for miles around you travel through acres and acres of farm-
land as flat as a billiards table and just as smooth. What gave
me the idea of the pool table was the color. Green fields as
far as the eye can see and in the middle of the arid desert.
Irrigation water is tapped from the Colorado River and brought
here via the All American Canal.

The town itself centers around Fifth and Holt Streets where on
the corner next to a well maintained city park, you'll find the
Chamber of Commerce staffed with very helpful people.


Straight across from the park is the "Imperial Do-it Center."
Behind this store is the only sanitary dump for miles around.
A donation of $ 2.00 is suggested and there is no charge to fill
your fresh-water tank.



Fifth St. is actually Highway 115, follow this east for about
eight miles. Just before Hi-way 115 crosses the Interstate 8
turn left on a service road that runs parallel to the freeway
called Evan Hewes Rd. After a mile or so you'll see the north
part of the Long Term Visitors Area (BLM) to your left and the
Hot Spring to your right. The south part of the LTVA is on the
other side of the I-8. The host, Mr. Leman Steward, on the north
side covers both areas.He is very helpful and fun to talk to.
He told me that after the season, between Apr.15 and Sept.15
both LTVAs become FREE campgrounds with a 14 day stay limit.
"But," he said, "who would want to stay here in the summer?"
During the season, between September 15 and April 15 it costs
$ 100.00 for a season pass or $ 20.00 per week to camp here.


The Hot Spring area consists of 2 pit-toilets, his and hers, and
two concrete tubs, the larger being the hottest. "Over a hundred
degrees, maybe even 105" an old timer told me and I believe him.
IT IS " "
Then there is a picnic table and a shower. Some ingenious person
has taken a piece of pipe and drilled holes in it over the full
length which makes the water spout into the air and come down on
the people sitting on some stools that are provided. It's heaven!
The water flows continuously and drains into a very pretty little
lagoon bordered by shrubs, reeds, salty cedar and palm trees.
There are people, I was told, who swim in it but the water was
too murky and green to my taste. However it is a very nice spot
to have lunch or just sit and while away your day.


This page however, would not be here if it did not have a FREE
Campground on it. Just west of the Hot Spring area is a viaduct
under the freeway that leads to the LTVA south. A well graded
road takes you to the outer boundary of this site where you'll
see a sign (this is the ONLY sign) telling you that you have to
continue for ONE MILE to reach the 14 day limit FREE campground


It is very important that you check your odometer and make sure
that you are out of the buffer zone before you set up camp.
The host, Mr. Steward, told me that the BLM Rangers will give
you a ticket if you park too close to the LTVA area. That's one
way to get you to pay for an otherwise free campground.
Because there are absolutely no markers or signs, it's easy to
get lost in this maze of dirt roads, it is helpful that you look
for the High Voltage power-lines overhead and remember that
you have to pass under these to enter or leave this area.

THIS JUST IN: Phraed of San Diego wrote: "the 14 day area has some
really nasty soft sand spots. I had to dig myself out when I camped there.
The road leading to this area has little or no indication as where it goes to."
Thanks Fred! For more information Click on this Map of Trails

NOTE: I would have never known about this place if it hadn't been
mentioned by Adrian and Patrick Waters on their Web Site called
BOONDOCKING GUIDE, Thank you very much for all your information!