Boulder Basin

Warning

General

A bear or multiple bears have been spotted in the area. Please be aware at all times, and visit our agency website for bear safety tips and more information.

Warning

General

A bear or multiple bears have been spotted in the area. Please be aware at all times, and visit our agency website for bear safety tips and more information.

View of Boulder Basin Campground with campground sign.
Campsite with picnic table.
Campsite with picnic table and parking area.
Campsite with picnic table and restroom.

Featured amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit

Sites & Rates

Average nightly rates

16 total sites

RV Sites

7 sites

Tent Sites

9 sites

About Boulder Basin

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.

Number of accommodations: 16

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Hiking

Hiking

Year-round
Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking

Year-round

Seasonal information

2026 (Current year)

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently open - May 21 to Oct 25

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Picnic Table Picnic Table
Restrooms Restrooms
Fire Pit Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Restrooms
Cooking and Fire

Cooking and Fire

  • Picnic Table
  • BBQ
  • Fire Pit
Missing information?

Rates, Sites & Availability

Select check-in and check-out dates to see real-time availability for each site.

16 Sites Available

Site
Price
003, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 005, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
008, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 009, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 013, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
🚐 015, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
017, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 022, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
023, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
025, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
026, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 027, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
028, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
🚐 029, Loop: BOUL RV
No Hookups
Price not available
030, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available
032, Loop: BOUL Tent
8 guests · Pet Friendly
Price not available

Reviews (38)

What Guests Are Saying

Boulder Basin Campground is praised for its beautiful, remote setting, well-maintained facilities, and ample space between campsites, making it ideal for families and nature lovers. Many enjoy the scenic hikes and peaceful ambiance among the trees and granite boulders. However, some visitors have encountered issues with site reservations and challenging access roads, which may deter those with lower-clearance vehicles. Overall, the campground offers a solid getaway experience for those prepared for its remote nature.

Review Summary

4.2
38 reviews
5
50.0%
19
4
34.2%
13
3
7.9%
3
2
5.3%
2
1
2.6%
1

Eric G

Verified

July 14, 2023 Stayed at: 028, Loop: BOUL

5

Great place to camp 🏕 and enjoy the grounds. Our site was just as the images shown. We hiked up the moutain to the look-out tower for the views. FYI the roads just before the camp site need a little TCL so had to drive a bit more carefully. Me and my gentleman can't wait to come back and enjoy next summer!

Paul G

Verified

July 18, 2023 Stayed at: 008, Loop: BOUL

4

Beautiful campground. It says water is available from a spring along Black Mountain Road. I couldn't find it. It would be nice if there was more information about where it is. The road was very rough. I made it in my 2wd SUV, but it is not for the faint of heart or passenger cars.

Mark J

Verified

August 20, 2023 Stayed at: 015, Loop: BOUL

5

Beautiful place and we had the place to ourselves.

James B

Verified

October 9, 2023 Stayed at: 030, Loop: BOUL

5

Boulder Basin was a perfect getaway! Went Tue-Thur and didn't have one person there aside from myself. The campgrounds were clean and you can easily tell this place is well maintained even though it's a bit of a trek to get to.

Be aware getting up to the campgrounds it is highly recommended to have a vehicle with a high clearance and to call the local rangers to see the status of the road as it is a dirt path and has parts that would be risky with a sedan.

Lole V

Verified

October 24, 2023 Stayed at: 003, Loop: BOUL

5

Amazing spot!

Road was PRETTY banged up. Going in my Corolla was a bit of a challenge but made it up fine. Definitely recommend 4x4 lifted vehicles

Jennifer H

Verified

August 18, 2024 Stayed at: 017, Loop: BOUL

3

I probably should have read the description a little more closely when I booked this. When I was due to drive to this place and camp for the night, it was there that I saw it was 20 miles off the freeway. No problem I had enough daylight to get there. However, I didn't realize it was close to 17 miles of small two-lane narrow road, up up and deep back into who knows where, and when I got to the turnoff to the four-wheel drive part (that I did remember reading about, I believe it said "the last bit is four-wheel drive only,") that bit turned out to be 5 miles. 5 MILES. About a thousand feet into yes a classic medium four-wheel drive rut filled, bouncy, holey road, I decided to turn around. It probably would have taken me about an hour to do that stretch, and by that time I was losing daylight. I turned around in a nice scary narrow bit in the road, came down the mountain, and slept a couple hours at a truck stop. It's probably a very nice, remote, quiet, peaceful campground but not for this chickie.

Alejandra C

Verified

November 3, 2024 Stayed at: 023, Loop: BOUL

5

Best campground for kids, there is so much to explore. The hike to the tower is a must. It’s beautiful.
There is 30 minutes of dirt road right before getting there, a low clearance or sedan type car may have difficulty getting there.
We were there in October.

Shah Fahad M

Verified

June 2, 2025 Stayed at: 027, Loop: BOUL

5

Amazing secluded campsite with tons of trees. You have to drive 5 miles on unpaved path similar to hiking paths. But overall great site for family as the campsites are adequately spaced from each other. Will definitely come again!

Terry W

Verified

June 11, 2025 Stayed at: 027, Loop: BOUL

4

The Boulder Basin campground is my favorite in southern California. It is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from north San Diego county. The last half hour drive up the dirt and rock road to reach the campground was a bit of a challenge for me. I was thankful I had an SUV with all wheel drive and reasonable ground clearance. Still all the bouncing around at slow speed took away my appetite. The Boulder Basin campground looked nicely maintained with lots of new guideposts to separate campsites from the roadway. There was a peaceful sense that everything amongst the large granite boulders and tall pines was as it was meant to be. Occasionally the sound of the wind blowing gently through the pines adds its relaxing music. The restroom near my campsite was clean and deodorized. The metal trash cans around me all had new liners and lids that could be securely closed. The sign at the campground entrance declared a bear warning and said proper food storage required. Just what that means was left unmentioned. No bears were seen or heard. When I reserved my campsite, the page said that water could be collected from a spring a half mile back down the road from Boulder Basin and that fires were not permitted. The entrance sign was silent on fires, so I stayed dark. Early the next morning, I walked the road up to the fire lookout tower on top of Black Mountain which was closed. It was a beautiful morning, filled with new sunshine and awesome views. You can see for dozens of miles, from I-10 way down below and across to Mt. San Gorgonio with snow still hanging on around its peak. Think about packing a camera and binoculars along with your water and snacks. After enjoying the magnificent view and sunshine, I went back down the road, still trying to find my appetite.

Peter R

Verified

June 15, 2025 Stayed at: 030, Loop: BOUL

5

Great spot, fun 4x4 trail to get there, quiet campsite with plenty of space between the sites.

Location Boulder Basin

Address:
Po Box 518
Idyllwild, CA, 92549
United States

Elevation: 2282 feet

Distance to downtown

13 mi drive to downtown Idyllwild (about 41 min)

Policies & Rules

General

  • Fire Restrictions are in effect, check in with the San Jacinto Ranger District by calling (909) 382-2921 to confirm. Wood and charcoal fires are NOT permitted. Cooking stoves or fireplaces using gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are still allowed. 
  • Water is not provided at this campground. Potable (tested monthly) water may be available from a natural spring along Black Mountain road. Bring your own containers.
  • Sites may be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Camping fees of $10.00 / night and $5.00 / night / extra vehicle is due within 30 minutes of arrival at the campground.  
  • Basic camping fee ($10.00) covers the first vehicle. Extra vehicle fee of $5.00 / night / vehicle should be deposited into the fee tube located at the entrance to the campground within 30 minutes of arrival.
  • Click here for more information on the San Bernardino National Forest
  • Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.

Warnings & Advisories

Warning

General

A bear or multiple bears have been spotted in the area. Please be aware at all times, and visit our agency website for bear safety tips and more information.

Warning

General

A bear or multiple bears have been spotted in the area. Please be aware at all times, and visit our agency website for bear safety tips and more information.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: August 30, 2026

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Managed by USDA Forest Service