USDA Forest Service · California
Boulder Basin
USDA Forest Service · California, United States
- Sites
- 37
- Hookups
- 37 with water, 16 no hookups
- Season
- May 21 to October 25
- Max RV length
- 20 ft
- Drinking water
- Yes
- Restrooms
- Yes
- Pets
- Yes
- Elevation
- 7,539 ft
- Dark sky
- Bortle class 4
- Cell coverage
- T-Mobile weak · Verizon weak · AT&T none (carriers' 4G LTE filings to the FCC, 2025-12; not measured here)
- Access road
- BOULDER BASIN (NFSR 4S68) · 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
- Backpacking, Biking, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Picnicking, Wildlife Viewing
16 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. 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.
Weather, month by month
| Month | Typical high | Typical low | Coldest night | Hottest day | Years with a night below 32°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 26° | 13° | 63° | 11 of 11 |
| February | 44° | 25° | 7° | 64° | 11 of 11 |
| March | 45° | 27° | 16° | 76° | 10 of 11 |
| April | 54° | 31° | 21° | 70° | 10 of 11 |
| May | 62° | 37° | 25° | 76° | 4 of 11 |
| June | 74° | 46° | 33° | 87° | 0 of 11 |
| July | 80° | 55° | 42° | 89° | 0 of 11 |
| August | 77° | 53° | 42° | 88° | 0 of 11 |
| September | 72° | 48° | 36° | 81° | 0 of 11 |
| October | 63° | 39° | 24° | 77° | 5 of 10 |
| November | 56° | 32° | 17° | 67° | 9 of 10 |
| December | 47° | 26° | 13° | 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
- Black Mountain (San Bernardino) · USDA Forest Service · 1 mi · 1 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 2026-05-19. Confirm fees, rules and current status with the operator before you go.