This campsite is one of a few areas near the base of the south rim of Tahquitz. If planning on doing an overnight in Idyllwild and want to skip the crowded campgrounds in town, as well as skip the permitting process for the popular Devil's Slide trail, then this is your spot. Just a few miles from the ranger station (you will still need to get a permit from there even if you are just hiking the south rim) there are a series of "yellow-post" camping sites that are quiet and free of charge. Along with being free, these sites need no reservations but are first come first serve and only 8 parties are allowed up on the road per night. For perspective, we stayed at this site in August and had the entire area to ourselves. The road to get up to the sites is an uneven dirt and rocky (very steep at times) road, but can be accomplished even with a smaller car. The road turns from dirt to pavement before turning to dirt again to the campsites and finally to the south rim trailhead.

If you are planning on camping like this then you probably already know what you're getting yourself into in regards to water and food/no amenities, but the road is very nice and the site we stayed at was at the end of a sort of dirt cul-de-sac overlooking the ridge. The ridge has plenty of flat (not rocky which was nice) ground for small tents, but also is interspersed with a very large rocky outcrop which makes cooking dinner and watching the sunset/sunrise just perfect. The only negative thing I can think of to mention for this site was the fact that is indeed very buggy at the campsites (and for the first 1/3 of the hike up to Tahquitz if that is what you're planning) so plan accordingly with spray. Campfires are not allowed because it is so dry, so keeping the bugs away can be challenging at times. There were some mosquitoes, but it is mostly gnats and flies that are seemingly endless as well as relentless at times. However, this absolutely shouldn't deter you from staying at this beautiful site.