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Boulder Basin
FSU.S. Forest Service — Idyllwild · California · San Bernardino National Forest
| Agency | FSU.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Area | San Bernardino National Forest |
| Location | Idyllwild · California · San Bernardino National Forest · 33.82639, -116.75389 · Map |
| Sites | 16 public sites counted from the federal listing — 9 tent only nonelectric; 7 standard nonelectric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 16 sites Water hookups at 0 of 16 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 16 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 16 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Longest reported site fits 20 ft Sites that fit at least — 25 ft: 0 sites · 30 ft: 0 sites · 35 ft: 0 sites · 40 ft: 0 sites |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 2:00 PM · Out 2:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Pets | Allowed at 16 sites, as reported |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 909-382-2922 |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-05-19.
From the official listing
Overview Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended with a minimum ground clearance of 6 inches. Drive at your own risk.
The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input. Please visit the https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf for more information and to submit comments regarding this proposal.
Boulder Basin Campground offers solitude and primitive camping in a scenic mountain landscape. The area provides ample recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking, boulder climbing and more. Black Mountain Road, which accesses Boulder Basin Campground, is a narrow rough dirt road which may not be suitable for all vehicles.
Recreation The campground provides access to a number of trailheads, including the Black Mountain Trail, a 3.6-mile, moderately strenuous hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trail that travels through the forested slopes of Black Mountain.
The trail provides excellent views of the Banning Pass and Mt. San Gorgonio. The trail provides access to the famed Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which begins at the Mexico border in Southern California and leads to Washington border of Canada. Facilities The campground offers multiple single-family campsites, available for tent and small RV / van camping. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets are also provided.
Natural Features The campground is located in a mixed conifer forest, which provides ample shade throughout the day. It is situated at an elevation of about 7,300 feet. Roads to the campground are not paved but the campground does have paved roads.
Nearby Attractions This group site is located approximately 50 miles southeast of San Bernardino, California, and 14 miles north of Idyllwild, where fuel and a variety of small town shops and restaurants are available.
Directions, from the listing
From Idyllwild, travel north for about 8 miles on State Route 243. Turn right onto Black Mountain Road/Forest Route 4S01 and continue about 5 miles to the campground. Black Mountain Road is an unpaved forest road, not recommended for low clearance vehicles or trailers.
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · Idyllwild CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceDark Canyon Campground
2 mi straight-line · CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceMarion Mountain
3 mi straight-line · Idyllwild CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceFern Basin
3 mi straight-line · IDYLLWILD CaliforniaFSU.S. Forest ServiceCoon Creek Group Campground
22 mi straight-line · ANGELUS OAKS California
Trip Card — Boulder Basin
Idyllwild · California · San Bernardino National Forest
| Agency | FS · U.S. Forest Service |
|---|---|
| Location | Idyllwild · California · San Bernardino National Forest |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Up to 20 ft |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 16 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232022 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.