The Desert Sanctuary at Rincon Peak

I am so conflicted about writing a mostly negative review for this location, because the owner is such an accommodating host, but the facility is not really set up for RV camping, and we did not enjoy our stay here.

The Desert Sanctuary is a former hippie commune, founded by LSD guru Timothy Leary. The current owner, Dana, has restored many of the buildings which are now available as rental guesthouses and has recently added 3 FHU spots and 2 water/electric sites.

The main issue is that the interior roads are very narrow, and the entrances to the RV spots are also barely wider than your rig. We were allowed to drive through the field that lines the road in order to get a better entrance trajectory, but the field was extremely soft dirt filled with high grasses and little bushes that got hung up on the underside of our RV. Even with just a 22' Class B, our friends struggled to get into one of the water/electric spots. The FHU sites have a bizarre set up where the electric box and the dump hole are both right by the road; if you back a trailer into these sites, you'll have to run about 30 feet of dump tube under your rig to reach. FHU sites are $50/day, water/electric are $35/day and dry camping is $25/day. Note that dry camping means parking in that yucky field.

The other negatives: There are outdoor showers, but the drain did not work. There are toilets and sinks that were dirty when we arrived, and never cleaned during our visit. I specifically asked about the hot tub before we booked, but it was pretty ancient, and never warm enough to use. The owner has quite a few large dogs, who barked all day long. The whole property felt neglected and run down.

The positives: Dana is an attentive host who comes through regularly to pick your trash and see if you need anything. He built a fire ring behind our site and supplied wood for fires. The property is out in the middle of nowhere, and the nights are very quiet and dark.

This property is a member of AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation), and if that is an important feature for you, you might be willing to overlook the issues of this facility. Otherwise, I'd recommend one of the many other options in the vicinity (SKP Saguaro Co-op or Pima County Fairgrounds, for example) for a reasonably priced Southeast Arizona stay.

I liked the location, the property, and Dana the host. It's a very pretty area.

The problem is accessibility for a rig our size into any of the sites in the back area. I think we got out unscathed only due to experience and lots of patience, as well as help from another camper and Dana (removing low branches, moving rocks lining the narrow roads, etc). Given this difficulty I can't say that our stay was great, but if I were passing through and prepared for dry camping I'd consider giving it another try (see more below).

If you're tent/van camping, or have a small rig (teardrop style or something like a scamp trailer) there should be no big issue getting in and out.

If you want to stay in a larger rig (ours is a 27' airstream with a F150 4x4 6.5' bed) you could stay in one of the two dry camping sites at the very front of the property. They are relatively easy to get into and the parking area in front of the house/pool is large enough to do one or two pivots to turn around if you're comfortable doing so. I think if we had really thought it through, I'd have done that, and we would have enjoyed the stay. I'm not certain if I'd attempt staying here in anything much larger than what we have, but I've no experience in larger rigs.

Dana seems very aware now of the issues with larger rigs and perhaps he will do some work on addressing that, if you're interested in staying here I'd ask.

The road out to the property is dirt but well maintained, only minor washboard. It gets a little rougher close to the property but it did not get to a point where I was bothered or concerned.

The pool area is very nice, but too cold to jump into while I was there. The hot tub could be a couple degrees warmer, but I used it and enjoyed staring at the stars without getting cold.

To my understanding from a friend who stayed a couple weeks prior to us, they are no longer clothing optional. I forgot to ask Dana about that directly.

Verizon bandwidth was great without a booster, I could have worked here without any issue. I didn't bother much with tmobile or at&t, but did have an at&t signal on my phone.

I do hope that Dana is successful with the camping there, it is a special place for those who like something different.

I don't write many reviews but after reading some of them on here about the Desert Sanctuary I felt compelled to.

This is not an off the highway RV site for big RVs. We pull a 5th wheel with good maneuverability and had no issues coming in the 5 miles or getting to a remote site. If you are looking for a quick off the highway stop this is not it, if you like quiet and sitting by the fire looking at the stars, search no more. Dana is a very concerned host , coming around with wood and taking trash, always trying to make sure all is well. WRT to another review here, the bathrooms are very clean and the hot tub is 103 F; not sure what the issue was with them. We are dry camping and come up to use the WiFi, clean up, do the dishes and use the bathrooms everyday. We never saw the bath rooms (or anywhere) dirty. The pool/BBQ area is very nice, and the game room, but yes the water in the pool is very cool and I could not handle more than dipping my feet in (February). There is some dog barking, but we brought our dog and are dog folks so it was not a bother for us. Other guests have dogs, Dana describes the place as "having 7 friendly dogs" so be aware of that.

I find this place a great value and a very nice way to kick back in Arizona (from the Seattle area), nice hot days and cool nights.

What a cool place. Desert Sanctuary is one of the more unique, fascinating places I've ever come across.

Originally an ashram founded by Timothy Leary, turned into a small university that was abandoned for a long while and restored over the last 4.5 years by Dana, the host and owner, I couldn't believe what my friends and I stumbled upon and got to experience this weekend.

From an Olympic sized swimming pool in the middle of a rural, high desert ranch to the freestanding fireplace in the dining hall that we hung out around into the wee hours of the night, to jacuzzi in which we warmed up after a cold hike on a most unprecedented rainy winters day, this place was truly special. I have a hunch this was just my first of many visits to come.

Lastly, Dana is a kind, generous host. His hospitality turned what would have been rained out camping into a time I won't forget.

If you want something truly amazing you will drive the 5 mile dirt road to the Desert Sanctuary. We drove this road several times, during our month stay, encountered mostly dry roads, sometimes muddy and slick when wet, but no areas of flooding. At no time did I doubt we could not handle the conditions thrown at us.
We have a 25 foot travel trailer and found the site spacious but is like boondocking with amenities. The site consists of dirt with trimmed scrub grass. There is a large swimming pool not heated, Hot tub and a Common room with Library, pool table, and Entertainment Center.
My husband walked and biked the many trails that are on this 130 acre site.
Every window of my trailer had stunning views. Absolute quiet and due to the small numbers of spots cultivated for RV’s there is privacy galore.
Our host Dana has a heart of gold and would do anything for you. He hosted a meet and greet for everyone at the Sanctuary and I must say his Barbecue ribs and chicken were amazingly delicious.
Dana would check on us everyday, pick up our garbage and generally warn us if he was going to make any loud noise. He’s there when you arrive to drive you in his golf cart to all the available sites and then helps you negotiate to your site. He is also there to offer help when you leave.
Lots of wildlife and the firewood is free.
Be sure to visit Happy valley which is located on Mescal road N. (Instead of turning left to the Desert Sanctuary stay on the paved road which quickly turns into a dirt road) which you can drive for hours on. I saw several cars on this road but you might feel safer with a larger vehicle as there are a few small creeks to cross. Nothing deep.
So if you are expecting an RV park of gravel and concrete you will disagree with my review. If you are wanting something that you will never forget. This is the place for you.

I had the pleasure of staying at the Desert Sanctuary for 5 months while on a work contract in Tucson. I work as a travel nurse, living full time out of my Scamp, and have never felt more at home in any other place I have camped. The location is beautiful. Secluded and rustic, but with all the amenities I needed to be more than comfortable for almost half a year. The outdoor bathrooms are clean and well maintained - albeit a tad dusty because of, ya know, the desert. The showers are hot with good pressure and again, are outside, so yes there will be leaves that fall and critters that fly by. I loved it. The pool area is large and community oriented with lounge chairs, a hot tub for cool evenings, and two grills for cooking. Even when the property is fully booked, there is plenty of space to stretch out without being on top of other people. I've never heard such intense quiet or seen so many stars. That being said, this is not a property for anyone looking for an easy on and off from the highway, wide/paved roads, and a resort feel. It is RUSTIC, and would not be nearly as magical if it wasn't - it is natural, untouched, unmanicured desert. You can literally walk out the back of the property into the national forest. It doesn't get much better than that.

My site was full hook up and easy to navigate while towing, however, I have a small trailer. Anything over 25 feet will require a seasoned driver. The roads are narrow and some of the sites are hard to back into for large RVs. Those who are willing to work a bit to get to their site will be rewarded by peace, quiet, and beautiful desert views.

The crown jewel of the property is Dana. There are not enough adjectives to describe this wonderful man. He will check in regularly, collect your garbage, build you a fire ring, invite you into his home for Christmas when you are alone and 3,000 miles away from your family, walk your dog, host a barbeque for all the guests, and do it all again the very next day. Some of my favorite days at the Sanctuary involved sharing stories, food, and good conversation with him and the other guests. I have since moved on to a new location and new job, but I can't help think that life will pull me back to the Desert Sanctuary time and time again. It has my heart and I don't doubt that it will have yours, too.