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
Stephanie P
VerifiedJuly 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: FERN
We were not allowed to have a campfire or use charcoal to cook with so it was incredibly boring.
Chenyuan G
VerifiedJuly 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: FERN
The view in summer is beautiful. By that time, water is shunted off so that is not much convenient. Also, there are lots of mosquitoes so be prepared.
Stephanie P
VerifiedJuly 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 009, Loop: FERN
We were not allowed to have a campfire or use charcoal to cook with so it was incredibly boring.
Chenyuan G
VerifiedJuly 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 019, Loop: FERN
The view in summer is beautiful. By that time, water is shunted off so that is not much convenient. Also, there are lots of mosquitoes so be prepared.
Vicky P
VerifiedJuly 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
This is a beautiful location for camping.
When making reservations, I indicated we had a 18’ trailer, obviously pulled by our tow vehicle. I did not see cautions on the web site that parking at sites was extremely small and not meant to accommodate our vehicles. We did manage to get parked within our designated space. When neighbors arrived with their trailer, they were equally uninformed of the situation. Fortunately, they were able to move their reservation to another site. If they had parked in the adjacent site, we would not have been able to get out ourselves.
Having the limit posts just a few feet farther back and angling the spaces to the narrow road would better accommodate a trailers need to be backed in.
This campground seems designed for cars, vans and tents. The site photos are not useful because they do not show the parking situations which are often some distance from the camp site.
All of that aside, it is a beautiful place, worth the time if you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature among the pines. It is dry camping and water was not available when we visited, but the pit toilets were maintained. We visited in June and mosquitoes were still pretty intense.
Vicky P
VerifiedJuly 11, 2022 • Stayed at: 015, Loop: FERN
This is a beautiful location for camping.
When making reservations, I indicated we had a 18’ trailer, obviously pulled by our tow vehicle. I did not see cautions on the web site that parking at sites was extremely small and not meant to accommodate our vehicles. We did manage to get parked within our designated space. When neighbors arrived with their trailer, they were equally uninformed of the situation. Fortunately, they were able to move their reservation to another site. If they had parked in the adjacent site, we would not have been able to get out ourselves.
Having the limit posts just a few feet farther back and angling the spaces to the narrow road would better accommodate a trailers need to be backed in.
This campground seems designed for cars, vans and tents. The site photos are not useful because they do not show the parking situations which are often some distance from the camp site.
All of that aside, it is a beautiful place, worth the time if you enjoy the sights and sounds of nature among the pines. It is dry camping and water was not available when we visited, but the pit toilets were maintained. We visited in June and mosquitoes were still pretty intense.
Cathy C
VerifiedJuly 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: FERN
We went on the July 4th weekend in 2022. Amazing location and a huge campsite #4. Not too many even spaces but it was fine for us. We were surrounded by hundred years old Pine and Oat trees and massive manzanita. Several interesting bird species but I can't identify them. No firewood burning was allowed during this time but I totally understood the need to protect this majestic forest. Also no potable water but that's fine for us. The ranger mentioned water issue will solve in 2023. Great shade covering, nice stargazing, quiet and scenic site... what else you can ask for a great camping trip!
Cathy C
VerifiedJuly 7, 2022 • Stayed at: 004, Loop: FERN
We went on the July 4th weekend in 2022. Amazing location and a huge campsite #4. Not too many even spaces but it was fine for us. We were surrounded by hundred years old Pine and Oat trees and massive manzanita. Several interesting bird species but I can't identify them. No firewood burning was allowed during this time but I totally understood the need to protect this majestic forest. Also no potable water but that's fine for us. The ranger mentioned water issue will solve in 2023. Great shade covering, nice stargazing, quiet and scenic site... what else you can ask for a great camping trip!
Mark A
VerifiedJune 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: FERN
Clean.
Mark A
VerifiedJune 18, 2022 • Stayed at: 013, Loop: FERN
Clean.
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
