We went to the Williams Hill BLM campground in August 2019. It is located just outside of Lockwood, CA. This is one of our new favorite places to boondock close to home. We always like to try out new California camping spots, and it’s always nice to find good ones within an hour’s drive.
It is a totally FREE campground with about 8-10 spots. There are no hookups, so you need to make sure to bring full tanks of fresh water and empty your black and gray tanks before coming! Still, even though it is BLM land, it is an actual campground with spots, though there are a few areas where you can pull off and camp in several areas that are more rustic. And, the campground is actually surprisingly nice!
Each spot is pretty big and has a really nice gazebo area with a concrete slab and a nice picnic table that you can set a grill or stove on. Plus, they all look out over some ridiculous views of the mountains in the background and Lockwood down below. Each spot also has a nice stone fire pit, but there were fire restrictions on when we went so we didn’t get a chance to try them out.
Since it is BLM land, there aren’t many restrictions, so we were able to bring all of our dogs with us. We usually get nailed by either the 2 dog limits or breed restrictions when we go to an actual rv campground, so that was really nice.
We brought out our hammock, hung out, and played a bunch of games and just enjoyed that family time with the ones that matter most.
Williams Hill also has a ton of off road trails, so we loaded up our golf cart in the back of the truck and did a lot of putting around the area. It was a lot of fun and both of the kids got to work on their driving skills a bit, which they are always bugging us to do at home where there are cars and neighbors everywhere. They also have a big area for shooting, and I think this is a popular spot for that. The kids were having fun collecting spent shells and casings LOL.
Overall, we had a lot of fun and will definitely be back. There aren’t a ton of amenities or things to do, but if you are looking for some awesome boondocking in California where you can relax and make some memories, then this is your place. Plus, it is 100% free, and how can you beat that?!
Another weekend of memories and adventures exploring this beautiful country that we are lucky enough to live in–and THAT is #WhyWeWork! See you on the next adventure!