Boulder Basin

Joshua Tree

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Boulder Basin

Joshua Tree

About this campsite

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.

Location

BOULDER BASIN•CA

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Common questions about BOULDER BASIN

Can you book BOULDER BASIN online?

We hold no online booking link for BOULDER BASIN, so it is not bookable through this page. For sites like this, turning up early in the day is the surest way to get a spot, particularly in peak season. If a managing authority takes bookings by phone, their number is the fastest way to confirm a site.

Where is BOULDER BASIN?

BOULDER BASIN sits in CA. The map on this page shows the exact spot, and the coordinates travel straight into your navigation app. Check road conditions before you set out if you are towing, since access tracks can change with the weather.

Nearby Campsites

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Black Mountain Yellow Post #4

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Black Mountain Yellow Post #5

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BLACK MOUNTAIN (SAN BERNARDINO)

Overview Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. 4 Wheel Drive is recommended. The road is currently a high-priority for maintenance, which should be occuring in June, 2023. The Black Mountain Group Campground provides a picturesque camping location for large groups. Views from the campground encompass the desert divide, San Jacinto Mountains and, on a clear day, as far north as the San Gabriel Mountains. 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. The surrounding area provides a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, climbing, fishing, biking and wilderness exploration. Recreation The Fuller Ridge Trail, which serves as part of the famous Pacific Crest Trail, is located just steps away from the campground. Starting at 7,600 feet, the trail follows the high, timbered ridge above Snow Creek, offering spectacular views of the desert. From there, it joins Deer Springs Trail and a strenuous climb to San Jacinto Peak, at 10,804 feet in elevation. Facilities The campground provides one large group campsite that can accommodate up to 100 guests for tent camping. A parking area can accommodate up to 25 vehicles, but rough roads to the site are not recommended for trailers of any kind. The site is equipped with multiple tables and campfire circles with grills. Vault toilets are provided. Drinking water is not available in the campground, but can be found at the Cinco Posa Spring along Black Mountain Road, about two miles before the campground. Natural Features The campground is located in a heavily forested area of the mountains in southern California at an elevation of about 7,500 feet. The roads to and within the campground are not paved and much of the area is part of classified wilderness area. Nearby Attractions This group site is located approximately 50 miles southeast of San Bernardino, California, and 16 miles north of the small town of Idyllwild, which offers locally owned shops and restaurants.