Baja California norte offers an adventurous summer camping experience just south of the U.S. border. From cool pine forests in the Sierra de Juárez to rugged Pacific beaches and remote desert oases, Baja Norte is a place where campers can reconnect with nature, savor the simplicity of off-grid living, and explore landscapes that remain largely undeveloped and uncrowded. Camping in Baja Norte during summer is an immersive way to experience the peninsula’s diverse landscapes—from pine forests and granite peaks to windswept Pacific beaches and hidden desert springs. Whether you seek cool mountain air, star-filled skies, ocean sunsets, or off-road desert adventures, summer camping in Baja Norte offers a wild and rejuvenating escape just hours from the border.
Mountain Retreats: Sierra de Juárez and Sierra San Pedro Mártir
During the hot summer months, many campers escape the coastal heat by heading inland to higher elevations. The Sierra de Juárez, located near the town of La Rumorosa, offers pine forests, granite boulders, and cool temperatures perfect for tent camping or parking a camper van. Popular sites include Laguna Hanson within Parque Nacional Constitución de 1857, where campers enjoy hiking, fishing, and panoramic views over pine-clad ridges.
Further south lies the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park, home to Baja’s highest mountains, including Picacho del Diablo. The park offers rustic campgrounds at elevations above 8,000 feet, with summer temperatures that remain mild and pleasant. Nights can be cool, ideal for sitting around a campfire under one of Mexico’s clearest night skies, renowned for stargazing and home to the famous National Astronomical Observatory. The park offers a number of tent camping sites as well as some rustic cabins for rent just outside the park entrance.
Coastal Camping: The Northern Pacific
For those who prefer beach camping, Baja Norte’s Pacific coast is lined with accessible sites. In between Rosarito and Ensenada, the coastline is scattered with beachfront camping grounds. Around Ensenada, San Miguel and Salsipuedes are popular with surfers and campers alike. South of Ensenada, places like Punta Cabras, La Bocana, and Eréndira attract campers seeking ocean breezes, tide pooling, surfing, and remote beaches. Sites are generally primitive, but certain hotels and establishments like Coyote Cal’s have tent and RV sites available. Even in summer, Pacific breezes keep temperatures moderate compared to inland, though coastal fog can roll in during mornings and evenings.
Desert Oases and Valle de Guadalupe
The inland valleys and deserts of Baja norte heat up significantly in summer, but camping trips remain possible. Valle de Guadalupe, offers unique glamping and rustic camping experiences among vineyards and olive groves, providing an affordable way to stay in the famous wine region especially during the most expensive and popular time of the year, the Fiestas de la Vendimia. While midday temperatures can soar above 100°F, mornings and evenings are perfect for sipping local wines and enjoying Valle’s famously delicious food under the stars.
For desert camping enthusiasts, places like Cañón de Guadalupe offer natural hot springs, palm oases, and thermal pools tucked within dramatic canyons. Each tent campsite comes along with its own private hot springs pool. In warmer months, visitors relax in shaded palapas, swim in spring pools, and avoid hiking during midday. Keep in mind that the Cañon de Guadalupe sites do close during the warmest months of summer, reopening in September, because the springs get too hot.
DBTC Insider Tips
-Hydrate generously and bring extra water, even in mountain areas.
-Camp only in designated campsites
-Pack for temperature swings: warm days can be followed by chilly nights—especially at higher elevations in the mountains.
-Bring extra shade such as tarps or pop-up canopies for sun protection
-Leave no trace to protect Baja’s fragile ecosystems and maintain positive relationships with local communities.