About Fern Basin
Number of accommodations: 15
Nearby Activities & Attractions
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
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Rates, Sites & Availability
15 Sites Available
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Site Details
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15 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (162)
What Guests Are Saying
Fern Basin is a charming and peaceful campground ideal for tent campers, offering friendly park rangers and clean vault toilets. Visitors appreciate the shaded sites, beautiful surroundings, and opportunities for nature exploration, with many highlighting the tranquility and lack of noise. Some challenges include tight roads, limited privacy, and occasional mosquito issues, but overall, it is well-regarded for a restful camping experience.
What Guests Are Saying
Fern Basin is a charming and peaceful campground ideal for tent campers, offering friendly park rangers and clean vault toilets. Visitors appreciate the shaded sites, beautiful surroundings, and opportunities for nature exploration, with many highlighting the tranquility and lack of noise. Some challenges include tight roads, limited privacy, and occasional mosquito issues, but overall, it is well-regarded for a restful camping experience.
Review Summary
Chris F
VerifiedNovember 18, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: FERN
The park rangers were very friendly and the campground was wonderful
Chris F
VerifiedNovember 18, 2025 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: FERN
The park rangers were very friendly and the campground was wonderful
Tracy N
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: FERN
Great camping spot close to idyllwild. Ideal for tent campers, as the loops are pretty small. The bathrooms are vault toilet but clean and the spot we had was close to the water spigot. Fern Basin is perfect for a quick overnight.
Tracy N
VerifiedOctober 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: FERN
Great camping spot close to idyllwild. Ideal for tent campers, as the loops are pretty small. The bathrooms are vault toilet but clean and the spot we had was close to the water spigot. Fern Basin is perfect for a quick overnight.
Luanne O
VerifiedAugust 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Love this funky little campground. It was our first visit to Fern Basin. Don't understand the name; it is not in a basin and I didn't see a single fern. But the peace and quiet were amazing. The campsites are not appropriate for large trailers or motorhomes. No loud generators or noisy groups. Just restful quiet. We are a retired couple, not looking for excitement, just a lovely. shady place to sit under a tree and read a good book. Perfect.
Luanne O
VerifiedAugust 3, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Love this funky little campground. It was our first visit to Fern Basin. Don't understand the name; it is not in a basin and I didn't see a single fern. But the peace and quiet were amazing. The campsites are not appropriate for large trailers or motorhomes. No loud generators or noisy groups. Just restful quiet. We are a retired couple, not looking for excitement, just a lovely. shady place to sit under a tree and read a good book. Perfect.
Richard C
VerifiedJuly 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
It is a peaceful camp ground tucked into the mountains. It is a nice spot to camp with family. The roads around the campground were tight and in need of repair. Site 10’s parking spot was in bad shape. The site was decent but offered no privacy. The campground is in a ravine so no views other than trees. Overall not a bad campground. But it’s not my cup of tea.
Richard C
VerifiedJuly 28, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
It is a peaceful camp ground tucked into the mountains. It is a nice spot to camp with family. The roads around the campground were tight and in need of repair. Site 10’s parking spot was in bad shape. The site was decent but offered no privacy. The campground is in a ravine so no views other than trees. Overall not a bad campground. But it’s not my cup of tea.
Blake C
VerifiedJuly 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Really nice quiet campground! I was very happy with site 7, the rocks on the site are perfect to climb and sit on, the little one loved it! We walked around the campsite and there’s plenty of off road paths to explore down. My only complaint, which is nothing to do with the camp, is the mosquitoes. i thought other reviewers were dramatic, and thought “it’s nature, how can you complain about bugs” i was wrong. brought average bug spray and didn’t make a lick of difference. bring deep woods spray and an extra can or two.
Blake C
VerifiedJuly 19, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Really nice quiet campground! I was very happy with site 7, the rocks on the site are perfect to climb and sit on, the little one loved it! We walked around the campsite and there’s plenty of off road paths to explore down. My only complaint, which is nothing to do with the camp, is the mosquitoes. i thought other reviewers were dramatic, and thought “it’s nature, how can you complain about bugs” i was wrong. brought average bug spray and didn’t make a lick of difference. bring deep woods spray and an extra can or two.
Location Fern Basin
Address:
P.O. Box 518
Idyllwild, CA, 92549
United States
From Idyllwild, travel north on State Route 243 about 4 miles. Turn right at the campground sign and continue to Forest Service Road 4S02. Turn left and proceed less than a mile to an intersection. Continue straight on the Forest Service Road and turn left into the campground.
Latitude & Longitude: 33.7886 / -116.738
Elevation: 1906 feet
Policies & Rules
Cancellation policy
- Reservation fees are non-refundable. For campsites, cabins, lookouts, yurts, group sites, and similar stays, we charge a reservation service fee of $8.
- Standard cancellations usually have a $10 cancellation fee. Customers can generally cancel before the check-in date online.
- Late cancellation rules differ by stay type.
- Individual campsites: cancelling after 12:00am local time the day before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- Cabins, lookouts, and yurts: cancelling less than 14 days before arrival usually means a $10 cancellation fee plus forfeiting the first night's fee.
- One-night reservations: a late cancellation usually forfeits the full amount paid, up to the total original reservation cost.
- Modifications are allowed before the cut-off window, but fees depend on the change. Changing to dates completely outside the original reservation dates may trigger a $10 change fee. Extending or shortening a stay that still includes original dates usually has no change fee, though refunds may depend on timing and facility rules. Switching to the same type of campsite for the same dates usually has no change fee, but price differences are charged or refunded.
- Early departures may or may not be refunded. At certain facilities, partial refunds may be possible if staff can mark the site available for other visitors. No refund is given for a night if the early departure is requested after that day's check-out time.
- Security deposits are separate. Security deposits may be refunded to the original payment method if the facility is left in acceptable condition, as determined by the property.
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Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 5, 2026
