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
Renata M
VerifiedNovember 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: FERN
We arrived lately, then the check hour, and wasn't anybody there. Even on the next day. We verified the area, and we couldn't found anybody for check-in. It was very creepy and the ground wasn't flat. No water, no signal just after 10 minutes driving, no one else there so we left the campground earlier with one day.
Renata M
VerifiedNovember 13, 2022 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: FERN
We arrived lately, then the check hour, and wasn't anybody there. Even on the next day. We verified the area, and we couldn't found anybody for check-in. It was very creepy and the ground wasn't flat. No water, no signal just after 10 minutes driving, no one else there so we left the campground earlier with one day.
Erin H
VerifiedNovember 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: FERN
Loved it! I went with a group of friends and we had a great time.
The campground was a little hard for us to find. It's set back a ways from the main road, down a narrow, windy road through what appears to be a (very spread-out) residential area. There is a clearly marked sign for Fern Basin at the fork in that road, but there weren't signs along the way. It really isn't bad in hindsight, but we couldn't make it until dark and the lack of signs made us worry that we were lost. Just don't second-guess yourself and don't listen to your GPS if it says you've arrived halfway down the road :)
The camp itself is so beautiful, and I really appreciated that there are paved and clearly-marked parking spots next to the sites. The sites are huge. Many of them are pretty hilly though, so keep that in mind when finding a spot for your tent.
The area is gorgeous and very peaceful. It's not far from Idyllwild (with supplies and a cute town center if you want that "luxury") but it felt tucked away in another world. Even when we went to Mt. San Jacinto up the road, we only saw a handful of people. (Highly recommend taking that hike, by the way!) Our time there was exactly what we needed and we definitely want to come back again.
Erin H
VerifiedNovember 8, 2022 • Stayed at: 008, Loop: FERN
Loved it! I went with a group of friends and we had a great time.
The campground was a little hard for us to find. It's set back a ways from the main road, down a narrow, windy road through what appears to be a (very spread-out) residential area. There is a clearly marked sign for Fern Basin at the fork in that road, but there weren't signs along the way. It really isn't bad in hindsight, but we couldn't make it until dark and the lack of signs made us worry that we were lost. Just don't second-guess yourself and don't listen to your GPS if it says you've arrived halfway down the road :)
The camp itself is so beautiful, and I really appreciated that there are paved and clearly-marked parking spots next to the sites. The sites are huge. Many of them are pretty hilly though, so keep that in mind when finding a spot for your tent.
The area is gorgeous and very peaceful. It's not far from Idyllwild (with supplies and a cute town center if you want that "luxury") but it felt tucked away in another world. Even when we went to Mt. San Jacinto up the road, we only saw a handful of people. (Highly recommend taking that hike, by the way!) Our time there was exactly what we needed and we definitely want to come back again.
Joanne J
VerifiedOctober 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Lovely mountain experience. Bathroom structures are cinder block & tile, locking doors, and two vault toilets each building, They are checked by Forest Rangers minimum three days each week. Recreation.gov labeling of campsites was accurate, but because I'm local, I actually visited Fern Valley to scope out the best site , and its condition overall before reserving. I camped alone for three nights (S, S & M) in mid-October, and most of the time, I had the entire campground to myself. I watched weather websites closely to gauge storms and temps and for mountain conditions; they were very accurate. Owls at night, squirrels, I heard raccoons at dusk but didn't see them. I took caution and stored food inside my vehicle all the time. Parking spaces are level; sites are within about 70% deep shade. Tent sites, however, are mostly on a slight incline; I walked and looked at all of them. If that bothers you, bring a rake and maybe a flat edge shovel. Loose scree, and some on small gravel, camping is clean (not dusty). Cell reception bars were almost nil; only a teensy bar and that, only sporadically. No water, no fires, great place to commune with nature. I will definitely be returning.
Joanne J
VerifiedOctober 21, 2022 • Stayed at: 010, Loop: FERN
Lovely mountain experience. Bathroom structures are cinder block & tile, locking doors, and two vault toilets each building, They are checked by Forest Rangers minimum three days each week. Recreation.gov labeling of campsites was accurate, but because I'm local, I actually visited Fern Valley to scope out the best site , and its condition overall before reserving. I camped alone for three nights (S, S & M) in mid-October, and most of the time, I had the entire campground to myself. I watched weather websites closely to gauge storms and temps and for mountain conditions; they were very accurate. Owls at night, squirrels, I heard raccoons at dusk but didn't see them. I took caution and stored food inside my vehicle all the time. Parking spaces are level; sites are within about 70% deep shade. Tent sites, however, are mostly on a slight incline; I walked and looked at all of them. If that bothers you, bring a rake and maybe a flat edge shovel. Loose scree, and some on small gravel, camping is clean (not dusty). Cell reception bars were almost nil; only a teensy bar and that, only sporadically. No water, no fires, great place to commune with nature. I will definitely be returning.
Marie J S
VerifiedOctober 17, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: FERN
Fun and small campground. Despite the whole campground seemed online to be booked for the entire weekend we were supposed to be there, barely any other campers showed up. Nice and quiet therefore!
Unfortunately, that we couldn't make a campfire and that there was no water, but as we knew this in advance, we could prep for it (brought extra water).
Marie J S
VerifiedOctober 17, 2022 • Stayed at: 005, Loop: FERN
Fun and small campground. Despite the whole campground seemed online to be booked for the entire weekend we were supposed to be there, barely any other campers showed up. Nice and quiet therefore!
Unfortunately, that we couldn't make a campfire and that there was no water, but as we knew this in advance, we could prep for it (brought extra water).
Kai L
VerifiedOctober 3, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: FERN
Water didn't work.
Bathroom is pretty dirty, lots of bugs. Can install a solar powered motion sensor light?
No campfires allowed.
Kai L
VerifiedOctober 3, 2022 • Stayed at: 016, Loop: FERN
Water didn't work.
Bathroom is pretty dirty, lots of bugs. Can install a solar powered motion sensor light?
No campfires allowed.
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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Last updated: June 5, 2026
