Boulder Basin
A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended with a minimum ground clearance of 6 inches. Drive at your own risk. 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.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Tent-only | 9 |
| Standard, no hookups | 7 |
| Host/management | 21 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 20 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
16 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 003 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No | ||
| 005 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No |
| 008 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No | ||
| 009 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No |
| 013 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No |
| 015 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No |
| 017 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No | ||
| 022 | Standard | Back-in | 20 | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No |
| 023 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No | ||
| 025 | Tent only | Gravel | No / – | 8 / 1 | No |
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 records list no campfires. The campground description says sites have campfire rings.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 20 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Open |
| Forest | San Bernardino National Forest |
| Booking | Call 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Reservations can be made as early as 6 months or 3 days in advance. |
| Fees | $10 per night (incudes 1 vehicle) + $5 for each additional vehicle. |
| Rules | A site must be reserved for a minimum of 3 nights on major holidays. The fee allows for a maximum of 8 people per campsite and entry for 1 vehicle and 1 legally towed vehicle. Additional fees of $5 per extra vehicle will be collected at the campground. There are no refunds for inclement weather. |
Weather by month
Getting there
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 town | Idyllwild, California |
| Coordinates | 33.8264° N, 116.7539° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Outdoor gear | Nomad Ventures ↗ | 6 mi |
| RV sales & service | Mountain Air Mobile Home Sales ↗ | 11.9 mi |
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 22.8 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Boulder Basin Campground - San Bernardino National Forest, CA
Worth a stop
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.
- 2.4 miMellor Ranch Ohv Road 4S05 ↗OHV / range
- 2.4 miIndian Mountain Ohv Road 4S21 ↗OHV / range
- 5.8 miHumber Park Trailhead Parking ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.3 miBlack Mountain3.7 mi trail
- 1.3 miPCT Section 26 ↗1.8 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
- 1.3 miPCT Section 25 ↗15.7 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
- 1.6 miSeven Pines1.2 mi trail
- 2.3 miPCT Section 27 ↗5.2 mi trail · national_scenic_or_historic
- 2.7 miMarion Mountain1.5 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
This campground sits inside San Bernardino National Forest.
- inSan Bernardino National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 805,483 acres
- 1.2 miSan Jacinto Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 32,186 acres
- 7.9 miSouth Fork San Jacinto Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 20,158 acres
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.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
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.
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.
Guidebooks for California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Boulder Basin?
Sites at Boulder Basin are reservable on Recreation.gov. Call 1-877-444-6777 or www.recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Boulder Basin?
$10 per night (incudes 1 vehicle) + $5 for each additional vehicle.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Boulder Basin?
Check-in 0:00 AM, checkout 0:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Boulder Basin open right now?
Open as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Boulder Basin have?
37 sites, including 9 tent-only sites and 7 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Boulder Basin?
The longest site here provides 20 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 Boulder Basin?
Yes, pets are allowed at Boulder Basin. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Boulder Basin?
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 Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Boulder Basin?
Idyllwild, California. 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.
Source: Getting there
What if Boulder Basin is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Black Mountain (San Bernardino) (1 mi), Dark Canyon Campground (2 mi, first-come), and Marion Mountain (2.7 mi, partly first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby