Ricardo Campground — Red Rock Canyon State Park

I can’t give it a full 5 stars because when I visited the campground it was closed for the season. However you’re still able to access the grounds and walk the loop. I went during the Christmas holiday weekend with my dog on our way up the 395. The campgrounds looked really well taken care of and it is really beautiful. The scenery is breathtaking. I noticed they had a lot of water spigots and bathrooms throughout the grounds. I had to use the bathroom, and they’re your classic vault toilets. Some of the campsites have the mountains providing a bit of shelter from the sun and wind. Each site had a table and fire ring with a grill grate. I definitely look forward to coming out here for a night or 2.

Extremely windy, very powerful wind gusts. This is a Do-Nothing campground: do not eat, do not read, do not pitch a tent, do not put out a chair or picnic blanket, do not wear a hat. The wind will dash all your camping dreams.

Our picnic dinner and drinks were immediately filled with sand (but we still ate it, just not biting down fully on anything). Everything we put out blew away and we had to chase it (you can try to stake everything down with the various campsite rocks, but probably shouldn’t move rocks). You can try to brush your teeth, but the wind will blow your spittle RIGHT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

The best way to enjoy this campground is to sit and do nothing but observe how beautiful this place is. The view is lovely and the rock formations are incredible. The constant 20-40 mph wind gusts are enjoyable when you simply sit and experience them.

Very hot (was 70 degrees by 6:00 AM on a cloudy, sunless morning in late May). Shade by the rocks, other campsites fully exposed. Water spouts, vault toilets, fire pits, picnic tables. Hiking in this wind is probably great, but we were only there for the evening / overnight. Coyotes calling in the far distance after sunrise.