U.S. Forest Service · San Bernardino National Forest · Idyllwild, CA

Black Mountain (San Bernardino)

4 Wheel Drive is recommended. 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.

Open nowReservable · Recreation.gov1 site12 ft maxPets okTents only

More like this: reservable in California · tent only in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California

Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Black Mountain (San Bernardino)Down slopping hill with trees.Black Mountain (San Bernardino)Picnic benches and fire ring.
Photos via Recreation.gov

Site mix

Group tent areas1
This site is booked as a single unit on Recreation.gov. The booking page shows which dates are open and how far ahead they release. How the booking window works

Site guide

1 site. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.

SiteSurfacePeople / vehiclesFires
1Gravel100 / 50No

Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

The site record lists 50 vehicles and no campfires. The campground description says parking holds 25 vehicles and the site has campfire circles.

Amenities & rules

Max vehicle length12 ft
EquipmentTents
PetsAllowed

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.

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

StatusOpen
ForestSan Bernardino National Forest
BookingAll sites are first-come, first-served.
Rules8 persons maximum. 2 vehicles maximum. Avoid parking on grasses and vegetation at all times. Yellow post campsites have a 14 day camping limit. Pack out what you pack in and Leave No Trace!

San Bernardino National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Black Mountain (San Bernardino)40°50°60°70°80°January: 4.74 inches of precipitation, 6.3 inches of snowFebruary: 5.35 inches of precipitation, 9.8 inches of snowMarch: 3.31 inches of precipitation, 4.1 inches of snowApril: 1.67 inches of precipitation, 3.5 inches of snowMay: 0.65 inches of precipitation, 0.5 inches of snowJune: 0.13 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.47 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.60 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.79 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowNovember: 1.92 inches of precipitation, 2.3 inches of snowDecember: 3.65 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 43.0°F averageFebruary: 42.5°F averageMarch: 45.6°F averageApril: 49.6°F averageMay: 55.9°F averageJune: 64.1°F averageJuly: 70.2°F averageAugust: 70.6°F averageSeptember: 65.4°F averageOctober: 56.8°F averageNovember: 48.3°F averageDecember: 42.2°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 in10 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Idyllwild Fire Dept, 6 miles from the campground at 5,380 feet, station USC00044211 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 24 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 31 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

From Idyllwild, California, travel north on Highway 243 about 9 miles. Take a sharp right turn onto Black Mountain Trail/Forest Route 4S01 and continue just over 2 miles. Forest Route 4S01 turns slightly left and becomes Black Mountain Truck Trail, which leads to the campground.

Nearest townIdyllwild, California
Coordinates33.8342° N, 116.7389° W · Directions ↗

Good to know

  • 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.

Supplies & services

Outdoor gearNomad Ventures ↗6.2 mi
RV sales & serviceMountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗12.3 mi
Dump stationDump station ↗23.1 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Black Mountain Campground/Campsites NC (See timestamps below for specific campsites)

Worth a stop

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.

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.5 mi
    PCT Section 26 ↗
    1.8 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 0.5 mi
    PCT Section 25 ↗
    15.7 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 1.3 mi
    Black Mountain
    3.7 mi trail
  • 1.4 mi
    PCT Section 27 ↗
    5.2 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
  • 1.7 mi
    Seven Pines
    1.2 mi trail
  • 2.9 mi
    Marion Mountain
    1.5 mi trail

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside San Bernardino National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

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.

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.

Guidebooks for California

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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

Sites at Black Mountain (San Bernardino) are reservable on Recreation.gov. All sites are first-come, first-served. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.

Source: Recreation.gov

What time is check-in at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 2:00 PM.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is Black Mountain (San Bernardino) open right now?

Open as of Oct 16, 2026.

Source: Forest Service status

How many sites does Black Mountain (San Bernardino) have?

1 site, including 1 group tent area.

Source: Recreation.gov

Will my RV fit at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

The longest site here provides 12 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.

Source: Will my RV fit

Are pets allowed at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

Yes, pets are allowed at Black Mountain (San Bernardino). Leash rules apply.

Source: Recreation.gov

Is there cell service at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.

Source: FCC Broadband Map

What is there to do at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

The Fuller Ridge Trail, which serves as part of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, is located just steps away from the campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.

Source: Recreation

What is the nearest town to Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?

Idyllwild, California. 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.

Source: Getting there

What if Black Mountain (San Bernardino) is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are Boulder Basin (1 mi), Dark Canyon Campground (2.1 mi, first-come), and Marion Mountain (3 mi, partly first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby