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
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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
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
Claudia M
VerifiedOctober 17, 2024 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: FERN
We had bad experience. When I arrived at the camp site that I had reserved on line. I found other people camping there. I told the guy that I have reserved the camp spot. All he said was that he filled out a form and that he already paid. I told him that I was going to call a ranger to come and help us. When I called the office I was told that it was closed. Then I saw a state peace officer and asked him to help me then he said that he would be able to help me because he worked for the state and I have reservations in a government camp site. The peace officer gave me phone number that they could help me. All I found out was that the person that supposedly could helped me was in Big Bear and that was going take him like 3hrs to get to our camp site. So it was best for me to spend the night on a first come first serve camp site. By that time it was Dark. So I went and set my tent up so I could spend the night there. And I thought that I had a safe spot reserved for me and my daughter. What a night.
Claudia M
VerifiedOctober 17, 2024 • Stayed at: 018, Loop: FERN
We had bad experience. When I arrived at the camp site that I had reserved on line. I found other people camping there. I told the guy that I have reserved the camp spot. All he said was that he filled out a form and that he already paid. I told him that I was going to call a ranger to come and help us. When I called the office I was told that it was closed. Then I saw a state peace officer and asked him to help me then he said that he would be able to help me because he worked for the state and I have reservations in a government camp site. The peace officer gave me phone number that they could help me. All I found out was that the person that supposedly could helped me was in Big Bear and that was going take him like 3hrs to get to our camp site. So it was best for me to spend the night on a first come first serve camp site. By that time it was Dark. So I went and set my tent up so I could spend the night there. And I thought that I had a safe spot reserved for me and my daughter. What a night.
Nicole B
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
Love this campground! Site 15 and 14 have parking right next to each other. It is such a great spot for a big group trying to camp together. This campground is shaded pretty heavily.
Nicole B
VerifiedSeptember 26, 2024 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
Love this campground! Site 15 and 14 have parking right next to each other. It is such a great spot for a big group trying to camp together. This campground is shaded pretty heavily.
Naomi L
VerifiedSeptember 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Very cute secluded campsite with clean restrooms
Naomi L
VerifiedSeptember 25, 2024 • Stayed at: 007, Loop: FERN
Very cute secluded campsite with clean restrooms
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.
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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