USDA Forest Service · California
Black Mountain (San Bernardino)
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 1
- Hookups
- 1 no hookups
- Season
- May 21 to October 25
- Group sites
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,572 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · AT&T weak · Verizon good (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BLACK MOUNTAIN GROUP (NFSR 4S01B) · native material · suitable for passenger cars
- Lake
- San Bernardino National Forest
- Nearest town
- Idyllwild
- Address
- PO Box 518, Idyllwild, CA, 92549
- Phone
- 909-382-2922
- Activities
- Camping, Climbing, Fire Lookouts/Cabins Overnight, Fishing, Hiking, Picnicking
1 numbered sites are mapped one by one - open the site map to pick yours.
About
Overview
Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. 4 Wheel Drive is recommended. The road is currently a high-priority for maintenance, which should be occuring in June, 2023.
The Black Mountain Group Campground provides a picturesque camping location for large groups. Views from the campground encompass the desert divide, San Jacinto Mountains and, on a clear day, as far north as the San Gabriel Mountains.
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.
The surrounding area provides a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, climbing, fishing, biking and wilderness exploration.
Recreation
The Fuller Ridge Trail, which serves as part of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, is located just steps away from the campground. Starting at 7,600 feet, the trail follows the high, timbered ridge above Snow Creek, offering spectacular views of the desert. From there, it joins Deer Springs Trail and a strenuous climb to San Jacinto Peak, at 10,804 feet in elevation.
Facilities
The campground provides one large group campsite that can accommodate up to 100 guests for tent camping. A parking area can accommodate up to 25 vehicles, but rough roads to the site are not recommended for trailers of any kind.
The site is equipped with multiple tables and campfire circles with grills. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is not available in the campground, but can be found at the Cinco Posa Spring along Black Mountain Road, about two miles before the campground.
Natural Features
The campground is located in a heavily forested area of the mountains in southern California at an elevation of about 7,500 feet. The roads to and within the campground are not paved and much of the area is part of classified wilderness area.
Nearby Attractions
This group site is located approximately 50 miles southeast of San Bernardino, California, and 16 miles north of the small town of Idyllwild, which offers locally owned shops and restaurants.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46° | 28° | 14° | 62° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 45° | 25° | 10° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 48° | 28° | 16° | 76° | 9 of 11 |
| April | 55° | 32° | 22° | 71° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 64° | 39° | 26° | 76° | 4 of 11 |
| June | 77° | 48° | 35° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 82° | 55° | 44° | 91° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 78° | 53° | 44° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 73° | 48° | 37° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 63° | 39° | 26° | 77° | 4 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 33° | 18° | 66° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 48° | 29° | 15° | 62° | 10 of 10 |
Mid-month figures from 2016–2026 of daily weather at this spot (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, CC BY 4.0), in °F. Typical is the median; coldest and hottest are the extremes seen.
Nearby campgrounds
- Boulder Basin · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 37 sites
- Dark Canyon Campground · USDA Forest Service · 2 mi · 4 sites
- Marion Mountain · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 27 sites
- Fern Basin · USDA Forest Service · 3 mi · 23 sites
- Idyllwild Regional Park · City, County & Regional Parks · 6 mi
All public campgrounds in California · Every state and province · Facts read from the operator 2026-02-25. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.