Castle Mountains National Monument
Castle Mountains National Monument is a national monument run by the National Park Service in San Bernardino County, California. There is no entrance fee. It is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Check current closures and fire restrictions for Castle Mountains National Monument on the managing agency's own page.
Castle Mountains National Monument map
Castle Mountains National Monument boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
One fire restriction order is recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.
- Fire restrictions in place Fire restrictions are in place at Mojave National Preserve and Castle Mountains National Monument. Wood and charcoal fires are not permitted. Most camp stoves are. See fire restriction order for additional details.
Common questions
- Yes. Castle Mountains National Monument has no entrance fee. No reservation is needed to enter.
- Yes. Castle Mountains National Monument is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
- Yes. Castle Mountains National Monument has no developed campground. No developed campgrounds; primitive camping permitted in previously established sites. Nearby Mojave National Preserve has developed camping (as of September 29, 2026). Outside campgrounds, vehicle camping is allowed only at designated sites.
- Pets are not allowed in Castle Mountains National Monument. They are not allowed on trails. Not allowed: All pets except ADA service animals.
Fees, passes, and hours
Castle Mountains National Monument has no entrance fee. No reservation is needed to enter.
Castle Mountains National Monument is open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Sources: nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-29; nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/hours, checked 2026-09-28.
Camping in Castle Mountains National Monument
Castle Mountains National Monument has no developed campground. No developed campgrounds; primitive camping permitted in previously established sites. Nearby Mojave National Preserve has developed camping (as of September 29, 2026). Outside campgrounds, vehicle camping is allowed only at designated sites.
Source: nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-29.
Pets
Pets are not allowed in Castle Mountains National Monument. They are not allowed on trails. Not allowed: All pets except ADA service animals.
Source: nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/pets, checked 2026-09-28.
Getting there
- Main access road: four-wheel drive
- The park warns that GPS and phone map directions can send you the wrong way: follow the park's own directions.
- Limited cell service
Source: nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/directions, checked 2026-09-28.
What to see
- GroveJoshua tree forestsNearly 21,000 acres of Mojave Desert with Joshua tree forests and rare desert grasslands.
- PeakHart Peak viewsViews of Hart Peak from within the monument's desert landscape.
Source: nps.gov/camo/, checked 2026-09-29.
Public lands next to Castle Mountains National Monument
- National Park Service unitCastle Mountains National Monument borders Mojave National Preserve.
- Wilderness areaCastle Mountains National Monument borders Mojave Wilderness.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
- https://www.nps.gov/state/ca/index.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/fees.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/hours.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/directions.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/pets.htm (accessed 2026-09-28)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/index.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)
- https://www.nps.gov/camo/planyourvisit/maps.htm (accessed 2026-09-29)