
Weekend availability at Boulder Basin
Live from Recreation.gov · checked Sep 18, 3:24 PM PTSold out 1 of the next 6 weekends — exactly when cancellation alerts earn their keep.
- Fri, Sep 18Sold out
- Fri, Sep 25Open5/16 sites
- Fri, Oct 2Open8/16 sites
- Fri, Oct 9Open6/16 sites
- Fri, Oct 16Open5/16 sites
- Fri, Oct 23Open10/16 sites
Friday + Saturday nights, sites bookable both nights. Counts come from a rotating sweep and can lag a cancellation by up to a day — alerts watch your exact dates within minutes.
Campsites & amenities
Site-level details from Recreation.gov's official catalog.
- Campsites
- 37
- Max rig length
- 20 ft
About this campground
Overview Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. A four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle is recommended with a minimum ground clearance of 6 inches. Drive at your own risk. The San Bernardino National Forest is submitting a proposal to increase fees at various sites across the Forest and is seeking public input. Please visit the https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf for more information and to submit comments regarding this proposal. Boulder Basin Campground offers solitude and primitive camping in a scenic mountain landscape. The area provides ample recreational opportunities, including hiking, mountain biking, boulder climbing and more. Black Mountain Road, which accesses Boulder Basin Campground, is a narrow rough dirt road which may not be suitable for all vehicles. Recreation The campground provides access to a number of trailheads, including the Black Mountain Trail, a 3.6-mile, moderately strenuous hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trail that travels through the forested slopes of Black Mountain. The trail provides excellent views of the Banning Pass and Mt. San Gorgonio. The trail provides access to the famed Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, which begins at the Mexico border in Southern California and leads to Washington border of Canada. Facilities The campground offers multiple single-family campsites, available for tent and small RV / van camping. Each site is equipped with tables and campfire rings with grills. Vault toilets are also provided. Natural Features The campground is located in a mixed conifer forest, which provides ample shade throughout the day. It is situated at an elevation of about 7,300 feet. Roads to the campground are not paved but the campground does have paved roads. Nearby Attractions This group site is located approximately 50 miles southeast of San Bernardino, California, and 14 miles north of Idyllwild, where fuel and a variety of small town shops and restaurants are available.
Getting there
From Idyllwild, travel north for about 8 miles on State Route 243. Turn right onto Black Mountain Road/Forest Route 4S01 and continue about 5 miles to the campground. Black Mountain Road is an unpaved forest road, not recommended for low clearance vehicles or trailers.
Activities
- WILDLIFE VIEWING
- PICNICKING
- HIKING
- FISHING
- CAMPING
- BIKING
- BACKPACKING
- MOUNTAIN BIKING
- HORSEBACK RIDING
Nearby federal campgrounds
- Black Mountain Fire LookoutSan Bernardino National Forest0 mi
- Black Mountain (San Bernardino)San Bernardino National Forest1 mi
- Fuller Mill Creek - National Wild & Scenic RiverSan Bernardino National Forest2 mi
- Indian Mountain OHV Road 4S21San Bernardino National Forest2 mi
- Indian Vista Scenic OverlookSan Bernardino National Forest2 mi
- Mellor Ranch OHV Road 4S05San Bernardino National Forest2 mi
Never miss an opening at Boulder Basin
Popular California campgrounds book out months ahead — but cancellations happen every day. We watch Boulder Basin around the clock and alert you the moment a sold-out site reopens for your dates, so you don't have to keep refreshing Recreation.gov.
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Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office or on Recreation.gov before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.