Desert Hearts Festival

Camping is a huge, huge part of the Desert Hearts experience, and the sense of community and creativity at the campground is one of the best things about the festival. However, keep in mind that the campground is absolutely no-frills. You won’t find RV hookups, and the location in the middle of the desert means that there’s no running water. Fill up those tanks before you go. Decoration of sites is highly encouraged, so use your imagination and have fun expressing your personal style at your campsite. There are also ‘theme camps,’ selling food and merchandise, dotted around the campground.

The stunning scenery makes this area popular with hikers and other outdoorsy types year-round, and you’ll find a good selection of reasonably priced National Forest Service campgrounds nearby. You’ll need to go further afield if you’re looking for a little more luxury, but there are a handful of full service or electricity and water hookup RV parks within a half-hour drive.

Bikes, golf carts, and ATVs are strictly banned at Desert Hearts, so the way to get around the grounds is on foot. Fortunately, the festival grounds are pretty cozy. In terms of accessibility, the area is relatively flat, but the natural land may be trickier for moving wheelchairs or mobility scooters.

When you’re packing clothing, the most important thing is to prepare for extreme temperatures. April brings the best weather to this part of California, with averages of 70 degrees during the day and 30 degrees at night, but it can get far hotter or colder. Bring sunglasses, a broad-brimmed hat, and something to wrap up warm in at night. You’re may want to dance or need to stand in line for a port-a-potty, so wear sturdy, comfortable shoes. Otherwise, the gaudier the costume, the better at Desert Hearts.

Earplugs are essential for light sleepers who may be subject to the constant concert ongoings. Since the campground is so close to the stage area, you might even want to go further and invest in some noise-canceling headphones or ear defenders. Open flames are banned at Desert Hearts, so if you have a camp stove, now’s the time to break it out and enjoy a meal. You’ll also want to bring hand sanitizer, wet wipes, and some sort of shade structure.

You’re going to need to bring tons and tons of water. Seriously. The festival organizers recommended at the very least 1.5 gallons per person per day, possibly more if you’re planning on dancing the night away. Drinking water is available on site, but you will need to be prepared with water for cooking, cleaning dishes, and general use. This is one advantage of having an RV for this event; it’s easier to stock up on H2O if you’re not limited to what you can take in your trunk. It should go without saying that sunscreen is also essential. Though there is a first aid tent, it never hurts to have your own kit for minor cuts and scrapes.

The land area around Desert Hearts remains at risk for fire and organizers request the help of guests in caring for the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation where the event is held. While you can usually get away with bringing a camp stove, fire regulations can change with the weather, so have a backup plan or use the kitchen in your rig. Dried and tinned foods are your best friend since it can be difficult keeping things cool. You’re free to bring outside food and alcohol into the festival itself.

Warner Springs is a pretty remote area. There are a couple of places nearby where you can grab a burger or a steak if you’re planning on making a pit stop on your way there and back, but otherwise, your options are limited. You may have some trouble getting your hands on anything gluten-free or vegan away from the festival grounds. Remember that festival rules require that guests remain on site until the end of the event.

There’s plenty of delicious food on offer both at the festival grounds itself and in the campground. Vendors set up special ‘theme camp’ tents where you can get anything from vegan Vietnamese food to charcuterie and cheese. At the concert area, food vendors run through the night. You can get something more hearty during the day, and pick up a bowl of warming soup when it gets chilly. In previous years, alcohol has not been available for purchase, so you may want to BYOB.