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
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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
Christopher V
VerifiedAugust 20, 2024 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Camped here Sunday-Tuesday in mid-August. The campground was mostly vacant on the weekdays. Maybe the lack of running water was an extra deterrent. It was very peaceful. Got my fill of nature just staying at the site the whole time. Recommend a campsite with tree shading during this time. Bathrooms were just fine. Some flies, but nothing a decent amount of bug spray couldn't take care of. Didn't run into any mosquito problems, thank goodness. Maybe the only con was there was still some minor light pollution as you can see city lights in the distance from the site. Still didn't stop me from getting some good stargazing in in the middle of the night and seeing some of the brightest shooting stars I've ever seen.
Christopher V
VerifiedAugust 20, 2024 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Camped here Sunday-Tuesday in mid-August. The campground was mostly vacant on the weekdays. Maybe the lack of running water was an extra deterrent. It was very peaceful. Got my fill of nature just staying at the site the whole time. Recommend a campsite with tree shading during this time. Bathrooms were just fine. Some flies, but nothing a decent amount of bug spray couldn't take care of. Didn't run into any mosquito problems, thank goodness. Maybe the only con was there was still some minor light pollution as you can see city lights in the distance from the site. Still didn't stop me from getting some good stargazing in in the middle of the night and seeing some of the brightest shooting stars I've ever seen.
Claudia M
VerifiedAugust 6, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
I really enjoyed the quiet and the sound of the forest. Specially the weather it was very pleasant.
Claudia M
VerifiedAugust 6, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
I really enjoyed the quiet and the sound of the forest. Specially the weather it was very pleasant.
Joanne J
VerifiedJuly 8, 2024 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Very nice little campground of about 20-some sites. Well shaded; two functioning vault toilets (upper & lower campground) that are cinder block and well maintained. Trash is picked up regularly. Most of the sites are on a slight incline, others are walking distance from your vehicle. Only two sites allow you to open a hatch and set up a tent directly to your vehicle. Concrete picnic tables in good condition. No water; no fires; no/minimal cell. I've seen large RVs come through, but bc of the incline, they either seek other campgrounds or grab the one or two sites that would accommodate their long rig. Mostly tents/roof tents stay for any period of time.
Joanne J
VerifiedJuly 8, 2024 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Very nice little campground of about 20-some sites. Well shaded; two functioning vault toilets (upper & lower campground) that are cinder block and well maintained. Trash is picked up regularly. Most of the sites are on a slight incline, others are walking distance from your vehicle. Only two sites allow you to open a hatch and set up a tent directly to your vehicle. Concrete picnic tables in good condition. No water; no fires; no/minimal cell. I've seen large RVs come through, but bc of the incline, they either seek other campgrounds or grab the one or two sites that would accommodate their long rig. Mostly tents/roof tents stay for any period of time.
Brian R
VerifiedJune 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: FERN
Site was advertised as rv/trailer but campsite was tiny, not allowing for a small trailer. All spots can accommodate a single care, maybe two. Not advised for folks with RVs or trailers.
Brian R
VerifiedJune 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: FERN
Site was advertised as rv/trailer but campsite was tiny, not allowing for a small trailer. All spots can accommodate a single care, maybe two. Not advised for folks with RVs or trailers.
Todd S
VerifiedNovember 13, 2023 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: FERN
Great campsite. The area is very dry and in need of some serious rain.
Todd S
VerifiedNovember 13, 2023 • Stayed at: 017, Loop: FERN
Great campsite. The area is very dry and in need of some serious rain.
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
Nearby destinations
Last updated: June 5, 2026
