Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

WiFi

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

Cable TV

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Hurkey Creek Park is a scenic, high-elevation destination nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains. Known for its <strong>rustic, forested atmosphere</strong>, this park offers a peaceful retreat for campers seeking to disconnect from city life. The campground provides a traditional camping experience with a quiet, natural landscape that changes beautifully with the seasons. It serves as a tranquil base camp for those looking to immerse themselves in the surrounding mountain wilderness.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>Situated in Mountain Center, CA, the park sits at an elevation of roughly 4,500 feet, offering a refreshing escape from the desert heat. The area is defined by its <strong>majestic Ponderosa pines</strong> and expansive open spaces. Because it is located away from major urban centers, visitors benefit from minimal light pollution, making it an excellent spot for stargazing at night. The high mountain air and quiet surroundings create a distinct sense of isolation.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>The park is designed for those who appreciate a classic outdoor experience. Visitors will find <strong>primitive and partial hookup sites</strong> suitable for various RV sizes, though guests should check specific site dimensions before arrival. The grounds include basic restroom facilities, picnic tables, and fire rings for evening gatherings. With vast acreage, there is plenty of room to stretch out, and the park is known for being <strong>pet-friendly</strong>, allowing furry companions to enjoy the mountain trails.</p><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>Outdoor enthusiasts will find no shortage of activities in the surrounding San Jacinto Mountains. The area is crisscrossed with numerous <strong>hiking and mountain biking trails</strong> that cater to various skill levels. Nearby Lake Hemet is a popular destination for fishing and boating. For those interested in local culture, the charming town of Idyllwild is just a short drive away, offering quaint shops, art galleries, and a variety of local dining options for a weekend outing.</p><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>Hurkey Creek is ideal for travelers who prefer <strong>secluded, nature-focused camping</strong> over the amenities of a high-end resort. It is perfect for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and RVers who enjoy dry camping or basic utility sites in a forested setting. If your goal is to spend your days hiking through pine forests and your evenings around a campfire under the stars, this Riverside County Park will feel like the perfect mountain getaway.</p>



Hurkey Creek Riverside County Park is a scenic park located in Mountain Center, California. The park is situated in the San Jacinto Mountains and offers a variety of outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy. The park features a large lake, which is stocked with trout and bass, and is a popular spot for fishing. There are also several hiking trails, picnic areas, and campgrounds. The park also offers a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities, including bald eagles, ospreys, and other birds. The park is also home to a variety of native plants and trees, making it a great spot for nature lovers.

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Hurkey Creek (Riverside County Park)

Hurkey Creek

Plan your trip to Hurkey Creek Park in Mountain Center, CA. Discover a rustic, forested retreat perfect for hikers and nature lovers seeking mountain views.

Hurkey Creek Park: Mountain Center, CA RV Guide

Quiet campground for a Sunday-Monday trip. A little road noise from Hwy 74. Lots of birds and critters to watch while relaxing.
A little buggy but it's summer. The portable Ryobi bug zapper did a great job. The space was $38 a night. Check in at 2 p.m. and checkout at 11 a.m.

I have been camping at Hurkey Creek for 30 years. I love tent camping among the beautiful  pine trees. It was very hot, so I always enjoyed being in the shade. Hiked around the campground a little. It was a very restful 11 days. It was quiet. The first week had only a sliver of a moon. So at night the sky looked like black velvet, littered by stars. It was magnificent!  The thunderstorm that passed through twice in the second week barely had any water. My neighbors were lovely. It was a perfect camping trip.

Nice campground, most spots have decent enough shade, some fairly open sun ones.  Grounds are nice, and bathrooms are plenty fine, but I didn't find showers (might be there?).  Nice playground for kids near entrance area.  Fires were NOT allowed while we were there, check ahead of time so you can prepare with camp stoves and lights.

40 members of GOPS enjoyed 3 days of camping in Group Site C. Yummy potluck dinner and also a taco fest. At night a silent disco dance party.

Excellent camp ground with a nice creek for the kids to play in. No cell reception unless you have Verizon. Great place to unplug without being to far from Temecula or Hemet.

Very nice, quiet park and campground. Has a beautiful, small creek running through the area. Beautiful place!!

We really enjoyed our stay here. The weather was perfect. The camping spots are spacious. We sat around the campfire listening to the stream and the frogs. Will go again.

The sites here are pretty close together, and the creek was dried up when we visited. The group at the site next to us had a loud party going on past 10:00pm, and even though the ranger showed up, nothing was done since they continued to party. Overall it’s not too bad, though. The location is convenient, about 15 minutes from the town of Idyllwild and only 3 minutes from Lake Hemet.

We loved our experience camping here. We had both trailer and tent camping in our sites. The sites were well-maintained. Lots of bugs plants and adventures to be had at the campground. Lots of big groups camped there. The Rangers were good at getting the noise down during quiet hours. So close to Idlewild. we will definitely go back.

Currently in July 2025 there are not fires permitted. The creek was low, but we were able to find a nice place for young children to enjoy the water. Very hot in the day and cool at night during the time of our stay.

I do believe I was camped out at spot 56 around June 20th, 21st and left camp on the 22nd.

Pointers:
1. Very close to Idyllwild and Lake Hemet, about 15 minutes to the town center and just a few minutes to the store at the lake, depending on how deep you've parked in the campsite. NOTE: Speed limit is generally 10 MPH in the park/campgrounds
2. Showers are fairly maintained, cheap (two quarters for 3 minutes which is enough for a simple wash down) but there's no adjustment for hot/cold. Fortunately, the water was fairly warm but the lack of a manual hot/cold adjustment is discerning. Still, decent value really
3. Nearby trail offers a decent hike for light/moderate hikers. Not too much of an incline and just enough vegetation to make it somewhat interesting for a short hike in the morning/evenings.
4. Picnic tables and grill were decently maintained, not enough to call them premium on account of the tables still being metal and old (bring tablecloths!)
5. Riverside Regional County website for camping reservations is pretty straightforward BUT be aware that unless you're disabled you're not allowed to reserve ADA type sites. That's something I found out too late with my original camping reservation much closer to Idyllwild. I was able to get a full refund after cancellation and managed to get a reservation at Hurkey Creek Park instead. Still, be careful of this when booking camping reservations through Riverside County.

Cellphone coverage: For me, using a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 with Mint Mobile, I wasn't able to get any coverage till I either drove down the CA-371 or up into Idyllwild. Please keep this in mind when camping here.

Tent Camping: Pretty decent grounds for tent camping but be aware that around the summer time (June and into September-ish) there will be ants and other insects. Best to invest in some bug repellent or those specialized scented candles. There were a lot of ants around my campsite but fortunately none of them were interested in entering nor infesting my tent. However, I was solo camping and am quite clean about how I keep and clean up after myself so if you're camping with others, cooking by the grill, eating in the tent etc then this WILL be a problem.

All and all a decent experience. I would have preferred to camp within Idyllwild instead.

Spent the weekend here with some friends. Campground was well maintained, friendly staff, quiet during quiet hours, clean bathroom and showers. There is a creek that runs through the camp. It is also surrounded by creeks and trails. Lake Hemet is walking distance from camp. We had a great time and we will be back!!

Reviews

Hurkey Creek (Riverside County Park)