Black Mountain (San Bernardino)
San Bernardino National Forest — fishing, hiking
Location: Idyllwild, CA, CA
Price: From $20 per night
Rating: 3.8 out of 5 (5 reviews)
Season: May through October
Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. 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.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Fishing
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/black-mountain-san-bernardino to be notified when sites open up.
Black Mountain Group Campground offers picturesque views encompassing the desert divide, San Jacinto Mountains, and on clear days extends north to the San Gabriel Mountains. The location provides access to climbing, hiking, fishing, and fire lookout cabins.
Wildlife alert: Red Diamond Rattlesnake, Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, Coastal Rosy Boa, Steller's Jay, and Northern Saw-whet Owl present in area
Insider tips for Black Mountain (San Bernardino): Book early as this is a federal campground with high demand Black Mountain Road is in poor condition; 4-wheel drive recommended Road maintenance was high-priority as of June 2023
Skip Black Mountain (San Bernardino) if: You require hookups - no hookups available. You need winter camping - seasonal operations May through October only. You have low-clearance vehicles - 4WD recommended for road access.
Best time to visit Black Mountain (San Bernardino): May-October — Official seasonal operations period.
Nearby campgrounds: Boulder Basin (Idyllwild, CA), Dark Canyon Campground (Idyllwild, CA), Marion Mountain (Idyllwild, CA), Fern Basin (IDYLLWILD, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)
Cell signal at Black Mountain (San Bernardino) (Idyllwild, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage
Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.
Black Mountain Road is is poor condition at this time. 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.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early as this is a federal campground with high demand
Black Mountain Road is in poor condition; 4-wheel drive recommended
Road maintenance was high-priority as of June 2023
Official seasonal operations period
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
From Idyllwild, California, travel north on Highway 243 about 9 miles. Take a sharp right turn onto Black Mountain Trail/Forest Route 4S01 and continue just over 2 miles. Forest Route 4S01 turns slightly left and becomes Black Mountain Truck Trail, which leads to the campground.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)Pro tips
- Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — San Bernardino National Forest fills fast in peak season.
- Check current road conditions at San Bernardino National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
Frequently asked questions
RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakableHow much does Black Mountain (San Bernardino) cost per night?+
What season is Black Mountain (San Bernardino) open?+
Does Black Mountain (San Bernardino) have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?+
How do I make reservations at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?+
What is the cell service like at Black Mountain (San Bernardino)?+
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●Data sources on this page
CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.
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