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Camping

camping

The Forest Service manages a variety of developed and remote campgrounds and camping areas. Maps describing their locations are available at the Idyllwild Ranger Station, 54270 Pine Crest Ave., Idyllwild. For campsite information, call the Forest Service at (951) 659-2117 or TDD (951)659-5748.

Faced with the hustle and bustle of daily life, family and friends are often looking to hop in a car and get away from it all. Fortunately, a short drive up to Idyllwild offers a variety of campgrounds in which to stretch out under the stars, relax and get back to nature.

Forest Service
The Forest Service manages a variety of developed and remote campgrounds and camping areas. Maps describing their locations are available at the Idyllwild Ranger Station, 54270 Pine Crest Ave., Idyllwild. For campsite information, call the Forest Service at (909) 382-2921, (951) 659-2117 or TDD (951) 659-5748.
Seven developed campgrounds are maintained in the San Jacinto District of the San Bernardino National Forest. They all have fire rings, tables, piped water and vault toilets. Trailer and recreational vehicle hookups are not available.

The following developed Forest Service campgrounds require an overnight fee.
—Dark Canyon, Marion Mountain and Fern Basin campgrounds off Highway 243, about six miles north of Idyllwild, are at elevations ranging from 5,800 to 6,400 feet and have a total of 58 sites. Marion Mountain and Fern Basin sites can accommodate RVs up to 15 feet in length and Dark Canyon up to 22 feet. Campsites are limited. Some are available on a first-come basis and most by reservation. Call (877) 444-6777.
—Boulder Basin Campground, about 15 miles north of Idyllwild off Black Mountain Road, at an elevation of about 7,800 feet, has 34 sites. Some of the campsites are available on a first-come basis and most by reservation. Trailers are not recommended. Call (877) 444-6777.
—Black Mountain Group camp, beyond Boulder Basin Campground at about 7,500-foot elevation, has one site available for groups of 15 to 100. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (877) 444-6777.
—Pinyon Flats Campground, on Highway 74 east of Highway 371 is available for year-round camping. At an elevation of 4,000 feet, the campground has 18 sites and can accommodate trailers up to 15 feet in length.
—Ribbonwood Equestrian Campground, also on Highway 74 east of Highway 371. It has eight sites with corrals. Call the ranger station at (951) 659-2117 to ask about availability. It includes flush toilets, showers, tables and piped water. By reservations only, call (909) 382-2921 or (951) 659-2117.

IN ADDITION TO developed campsites, the Forest Service also offers primitive camping experiences at designated sites.

Forest Service officials advise bringing in water and checking with the ranger station. Each site has a metal fire ring.

In the remote sites, designated by yellow iron posts, open fires may be used only in the Forest Service metal campfire rings provided at the sites.
Chemical stoves require an annual California campfire permit. They may be used anywhere camping is allowed. The stove permit is free of charge at the ranger station.

THE FOLLOWING IS a partial list of designated sites. An Adventure Pass is required. For more information on designated sites, contact the Forest Service.
—Thomas Mountain Ridge has several designated sites located off Highway 74, 18 miles from Idyllwild at the top of Thomas Mountain. Tool Box Campground in Thomas Mountain offers a restroom, fire rings and tables. No water is at the site.
—Fuller Ridge, high up Black Mountain Road near the wilderness boundary, has several sites located between Boulder Basin and the Fuller Ridge trail head.
—Apple Canyon is located on the east end of Garner Valley. Three sites are at this location. Water should be brought in. Apple Canyon is near a fishing area and hiking trails.

Group size within dispersed areas should be limited to manageable sizes. Trash should be packed out and fires extinguished with water. Vehicles should only be operated on designated roads and parked in areas where vegetation will not be harmed.

State Park
    The Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness area has something to offer nature- and adventure-seekers of all kinds — whether it’s car camping, rock climbing or hiking and exploring.
    — Mt. San Jacinto State Park Idyllwild Campground, the 33-site state campground in Idyllwild, off Highway 243, has flush toilets, showers, tables, grills and food lockers. Although there are limited RV hookups, the sites can accommodate vehicles up to 24 feet long.
    — Stone Creek Campground is camping in a more remote setting, about six miles from Idyllwild on Highway 243. At an elevation of 6,000 feet, Stone Creek has 50 sites, each with a picnic table and stove. There also are vault toilets and water spigots.

    TO MAKE RESERVATIONS for a stay at Stone Creek or Idyllwild campgrounds, contact Reserve America at 1-800-444-7275. Reservations can be made up to seven months in advance. Fees are charged for overnight accommodations and an additional fee is charged for hook ups or extra motor vehicles. These fees are collected at the park.
    Campfire programs for adults and kids are on Saturday nights at either the Stone Creek or Idyllwild campgrounds and at Round Valley in the wilderness. State Park campgrounds offer a Junior Ranger program in the summer for children 7 to 12. Campers, visitors and residents are encouraged to attend and earn certificates of completion.
    Nature walks through Long Valley in the state wilderness are led by members of the Mt. San Jacinto Natural History Association. Visitors using the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway do not need a wilderness permit for these hikes.
    Times and subject matter for the interpretive programs vary, so check ahead with the State Park headquarters in Idyllwild at (951) 659-2607 for current schedules.

County Park
    The Riverside County Park system offers recreational opportunities at several sites in the mountain area. Campsites may be reserved April 1 through Oct. 31 by calling 1-800-234-PARK (7275), 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Reservations can be made up to one year in advance, but are required at least two days in advance.

    — Idyllwild County Park, 202 acres has been a resource to Riverside County residents and visitors since it was established nearly 70 years ago.
    The park offers showers, modern restrooms, fire rings with half-grills and picnic tables in a woodsy environment.
    The 96 sites are always busy in the summer. If any sites are left open after reserved sites are filled, they are then available on a first-come basis.
    Five miles of hiking trails wind through the park, including an easy half-mile trail connecting the campground with the county-run Nature Center.

    — Hurkey Creek Park in Garner Valley, four miles southeast of Mountain Center on Highway 74, also offers family camping.
    The 59-acre park is open year-round and has 112 campsites, five group camping areas and two day-use areas.
    Hurkey Creek campground offers showers, modern restrooms, fire rings with half-grills and picnic tables in a forest area. Individual and group campsites, along with group picnics, can be reserved.
    Hiking trails lead directly into the San Jacinto wilderness area. Hikers must obtain permits in advance from the Forest Service or Mt. San Jacinto State Park.
    Hurkey Creek flows almost year-round and attracts a variety of wildlife. Two archaeological sites are located in the park.

— McCall Memorial Park, named for former Riverside County Supervisor Fred McCall, who was instrumental in the park’s acquisition, is a special equestrian park, near Mountain Center. It provides opportunities for both overnight camping and riding.
Open year-round, the 88-acre park has 53 corrals, which can accommodate up to 125 horses. Two miles of riding trails are within the park’s boundaries and connect with 40 miles of Forest Service trails. Individual campsites are available on a first-come basis, but groups may reserve in advance.

    — Lawler Lodge & Lawler Alpine is open year-round group camping only. Reservations are required.
    About eight miles north of Idyllwild, on Highway 243, the lodge was donated to the county in 1954 by U.S. Attorney General Oscar Lawler. After the county acquired the lodge, an additional area was developed on the 80-acre site, so two separate groups, accommodating 126 people, can use the park at the same time.
    On the bank of Dark Creek Canyon, the lodge was designed and constructed by the same contractor who built Yosemite Lodge in Yosemite National Park. Construction began on Lawler Lodge in 1916, using all native cedar logs.

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