Sites & Rates
Average nightly rates15 total sites
RV Sites
15 sites
About Fern Basin
Number of accommodations: 15
Activities & Attractions
Nearby
Hiking
Year-round
Hiking
Seasonal information
2026 Season availability
Campground Amenities
Most popular amenities
Picnic Table
Restrooms
Fire Pit
Water and Hygiene
- Potable Water
- Restrooms
Cooking and Fire
- Picnic Table
- BBQ
- Fire Pit
On Site Services
- Fish Cleaning Station
Rates, Sites & Availability
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Site Details
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15 Sites Available
No available sites
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Reviews (179)
What Guests Are Saying
Fern Basin is a lovely, quiet campground located close to town, ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat in a beautiful area with ample shade and large, secluded sites. While some facilities, such as running water and campfires, were lacking, the well-maintained vault toilets and friendly park rangers contributed to a positive experience. Visitors appreciated the clean environment and proximity to hiking trails, though they noted issues like mosquitoes and tight roads that may require caution while driving.
What Guests Are Saying
Fern Basin is a lovely, quiet campground located close to town, ideal for those seeking a peaceful retreat in a beautiful area with ample shade and large, secluded sites. While some facilities, such as running water and campfires, were lacking, the well-maintained vault toilets and friendly park rangers contributed to a positive experience. Visitors appreciated the clean environment and proximity to hiking trails, though they noted issues like mosquitoes and tight roads that may require caution while driving.
Review Summary
Troy D
VerifiedJune 15, 2025 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Nice campsite. #7 is great with a shady spot for the tent and just a nice layout overall. Campground overall was great.
Joanne J
VerifiedJune 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
I spent another mid-week string of 4 days in Fern Basin beginning June 2. Late May > early June are wonderful times to see these mountains, bc of the heavy blooms on the Manzanita bushes, and dark purple lupine. Cones are plentiful, and the camp is quiet. There were four other campsites occupied than mine (#10) and everyone was quiet nature lovers. Always a good time in Fern Basin...this visit did not disappoint!
Melina K
VerifiedJune 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: FERN
Quiet with few people. Lots of places to explore nearby. Clean restrooms. It rained the first night creating mosquitoes. Bring your repellent and thermacell.
Joanne J
VerifiedJune 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
I spent another mid-week string of 4 days in Fern Basin beginning June 2. Late May > early June are wonderful times to see these mountains, bc of the heavy blooms on the Manzanita bushes, and dark purple lupine. Cones are plentiful, and the camp is quiet. There were four other campsites occupied than mine (#10) and everyone was quiet nature lovers. Always a good time in Fern Basin...this visit did not disappoint!
Melina K
VerifiedJune 13, 2025 • Stayed at: 006, Loop: FERN
Quiet with few people. Lots of places to explore nearby. Clean restrooms. It rained the first night creating mosquitoes. Bring your repellent and thermacell.
Claudia M
VerifiedJune 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: FERN
I really enjoyed our stay. Happy that we have finally water back in the campground.
Claudia M
VerifiedJune 2, 2025 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: FERN
I really enjoyed our stay. Happy that we have finally water back in the campground.
Deeanna S
VerifiedNovember 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Campsite was clean, close enough to bathrooms, and had beautiful views all around it. The road to get there is a paved, one lane road, but smooth and well maintained. Flat area for a tent, big enough campsite to spread out a bit. Boulders were fun to climb and explore. First weekend in November and it got seriously cold - 34 degrees in the morning. Windy at night, so be prepared. No other campers staying around us, but if it were during peak season, site 5 & 6 park right next to 7 car space and is VERY close to site 7, so people walking right by your campsite would be a regular thing. Overall, beautiful, quiet, and close enough to town to enjoy the shops before heading to the woods.
Deeanna S
VerifiedNovember 7, 2024 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Campsite was clean, close enough to bathrooms, and had beautiful views all around it. The road to get there is a paved, one lane road, but smooth and well maintained. Flat area for a tent, big enough campsite to spread out a bit. Boulders were fun to climb and explore. First weekend in November and it got seriously cold - 34 degrees in the morning. Windy at night, so be prepared. No other campers staying around us, but if it were during peak season, site 5 & 6 park right next to 7 car space and is VERY close to site 7, so people walking right by your campsite would be a regular thing. Overall, beautiful, quiet, and close enough to town to enjoy the shops before heading to the woods.
Annie G
VerifiedOctober 28, 2024 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
I liked this place, I'm a car camper and so it seemed this place is aimed more for tent campers. You park in your area, and walk to your site. They had clean and well maintained bathrooms, but trash bins where all over flowing with only 3 campers there. Beautiful area, no service at all with at&t, ear wigs fall down from the trees a lot in mornings, beware of that lol
There are precious deer and wood peckers, very beautiful place
Location & Directions for Fern Basin
P.O. Box 518, Idyllwild, CA 92549 United States
Elevation: 1,906 ft
Getting There
From Idyllwild, travel north on State Route 243 about 4 mi. 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 tur...
From Idyllwild, travel north on State Route 243 about 4 mi. 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.
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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Last updated: October 16, 2026
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