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
Brian P
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
we've been to Fern Basin many times over the years. it's a great spot, not too crowded, well maintained.
we certainly appreciate this and other campgrounds in the area.
John S
VerifiedJanuary 23, 2020 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: FERN
Great place. We'll definitely go back soon.
Autumn N
VerifiedJanuary 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
Great quiet campground.
kelli c
VerifiedJanuary 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: FERN
Great campground, reasonably close to idyllwild, but removed enough to feel like a getaway. Campsites are a little close together, and they're not all created equal, so i would check a camp map before booking and find the better sites (far end). Bathrooms were decent, running water, and there's a little walk-about trail.
Autumn N
VerifiedJanuary 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
Great quiet campground.
kelli c
VerifiedJanuary 17, 2020 • Stayed at: 012, Loop: FERN
Great campground, reasonably close to idyllwild, but removed enough to feel like a getaway. Campsites are a little close together, and they're not all created equal, so i would check a camp map before booking and find the better sites (far end). Bathrooms were decent, running water, and there's a little walk-about trail.
David R
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
The campground was very nice. the campsites were spread out well so noise from neighbors was minimal. Everyone was polite and respectful while we were there. This was our first experience at a campground that had vault toilets. We went at the end of the season so they were pretty awful by the time we were there. Lots of flies in the bathroom and down in the vaults that would fly up out of the toilets. Make sure you bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Maybe bug repellent. We actually went into town and bought an air freshener to make it more bearable. My wife and I will probably bring a chemical toilet if we stay again where there are vaults.
David R
VerifiedJanuary 16, 2020 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
The campground was very nice. the campsites were spread out well so noise from neighbors was minimal. Everyone was polite and respectful while we were there. This was our first experience at a campground that had vault toilets. We went at the end of the season so they were pretty awful by the time we were there. Lots of flies in the bathroom and down in the vaults that would fly up out of the toilets. Make sure you bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer. Maybe bug repellent. We actually went into town and bought an air freshener to make it more bearable. My wife and I will probably bring a chemical toilet if we stay again where there are vaults.
brittny r
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: FERN
This campsite is beautiful . We were sad that camp fires were banned during this time but we made the best of our time here at Fern Basin ! We will be back soon .
brittny r
VerifiedJanuary 15, 2020 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: FERN
This campsite is beautiful . We were sad that camp fires were banned during this time but we made the best of our time here at Fern Basin ! We will be back soon .
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.
Nearby Campgrounds
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Last updated: June 5, 2026
