Boulder Basin
Campground · California · 16 bookable sites ·
Managed by the USDA Forest Service
San Bernardino National Forest (NF) · Open Access
- 16
- Bookable sites
- 20 ft
- Max rig length
- up to 8
- People per site
- 7,534 ft
- Elevation
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.The facts
- 16 bookable sites
- 37 sites in total, including non-bookable
- Vehicles up to 20 ft
- Up to 8 people per site
- Loops: AREA BOULDER BASIN, BOUL, S&P
Site types
- 21 Management
- 9 Tent Only Nonelectric
- 7 Standard Nonelectric
Amenities
- Fire pits
- Picnic tables
- Pets allowed
- Water hookups — not available
- Campfires allowed — not available
Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, sewer hookups, grills, shade.
37 campsites at Boulder Basin
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Surface | Max rig | People | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 020 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 021 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 024 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 031 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 033 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 034 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX1 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX10 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX11 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX12 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX14 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX15 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX16 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX18 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX19 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX2 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX4 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX6 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| XXX7 | AREA BOULDER BASIN | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| 003 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 005 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 008 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 009 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 013 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 015 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 017 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 022 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 023 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 025 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 026 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 027 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 028 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 029 | BOUL | Standard Nonelectric | Back In | Gravel | 20 ft | 8 | 🐾 |
| 030 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| 032 | BOUL | Tent Only Nonelectric | — | Gravel | — | 8 | 🐾 |
| Scan & Pay Standard | S&P | Management | — | — | — | — | |
| Scan & Pay Tent | S&P | Management | — | — | — | — |
Getting there
33.82639, -116.75389 · 33°49'35.0"N 116°45'14.0"W
Typical weather
Typically 86°F in Aug, down to 54°F in Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 55 | 55 | 59 | 64 | 71 | 80 | 85 | 86 | 81 | 72 | 62 | 54 |
| Low °F | 31 | 30 | 32 | 35 | 41 | 48 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 42 | 35 | 30 |
| Precip in | 4.7 | 5.3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 3.6 |
1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 5.5 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.
Map
More photos
Member photos
Common questions about Boulder Basin
- Can you reserve a site at Boulder Basin?
- Yes, Boulder Basin is reservable through Recreation.gov.
- How many campsites does Boulder Basin have?
- 37 sites in total, of which 16 can be booked.
- What is the maximum RV length at Boulder Basin?
- 20 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
- Are pets allowed at Boulder Basin?
- Yes, pets are allowed at Boulder Basin.
- Does Boulder Basin have hookups?
- No hookups are recorded here.
- Are campfires allowed at Boulder Basin?
- Campfires are not allowed at Boulder Basin.
Also listed by
Boulder Basin also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Boulder Basin's operator.
USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026
- $10 per night (incudes 1 vehicle) + $5 for each additional vehicle.
Restrictions:
- A site must be reserved for a minimum of 3 nights on major holidays. The fee allows for a maximum of 8 people per campsite and entry for 1 vehicle and 1 legally towed vehicle. Additional fees of $5 per extra vehicle will be collected at the campground. There are no refunds for inclement weather. Fir
Camping near Boulder Basin
- Black Mountain (San Bernardino) 1 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Dark Canyon Campground 2 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Marion Mountain 2.7 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Fern Basin 2.8 mi · Campground · we watch it
- Black Mountain Fire Lookout 0.3 mi · Facility
- Black Mountain Yellow Post Sites 0.5 mi · Campground
- Fuller Mill Creek - National Wild & Scenic River 2 mi · Facility
- San Jacinto River North Fork - Wild & Scenic River 2.2 mi · Facility
- Indian Vista Scenic Overlook 2.4 mi · Facility
- Marion Mountain Campground 3.2 mi · Campground
- Humber Park Trailhead Parking 5.8 mi · Facility
- Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout 6.6 mi · Facility
Contact
- Phone 909-382-2922
- Book Recreation.gov
Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-19.
Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.
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