Wilseyville, California
Strange Ranch - River and Gold
About Strange Ranch - River and Gold
Secluded private river and forest camping on the South Fork Mokelumne River. The site has incredible views with a pristine private gold-bearing trout stream with mining history and wildlife preserve located in the gold country of the Sierra Nevada foothills of northern Calaveras County. This unique property is adjacent to over 900 acres of public land and 2 miles of private stream for exploring. With a total of only 6 campsites, it is a great location for a group to reserve the entire campground. All campsites have potable well water spigots and access to a cool water shower, sites 4-6 have electricity. Guests enjoy the privacy while swimming, stream exploring, hiking, spelunking, forest immersion, fishing for wild trout, gold panning, or simply relaxing in a breathtaking environment – come fall in love with this special private ranch. After one stay, you will be a repeat guest. PLEASE NOTE: An All-Wheel Drive or 4-Wheel Drive vehicle is MANDATORY to access campsites 1 - 3, 5 & 6 due to the road incline and rock and gravel road surface. PLEASE PREPARE ACCORDINGLY! Campsite 4 is accessible with a 2-wd vehicle, and has potable well water and 20 amps of power. Sites have beautiful open views of the property and river canyon with natural shade in the morning and late afternoon. Sounds of the river will lull you to sleep. Although partially shaded, please plan to provide your own portable shade structure(s) during late morning and afternoon as the direct sun can be an inconvenience. The Stranges are professional fish and wildlife biologists and have decided to share this special place for others to enjoy. The property hosts a diversity of plant and wildlife species that might be observed during your stay. Prehistoric and historic resources can be observed along the river corridor. Please be aware that some wildlife species including rattlesnakes, bears, and mountain lions have been observed on the 117-acre property and could potentially be observed near the campsites. The Ranch's northern portion of the property supports a leased farming operation. Farming operations should not interfere with camping activities. Day trips are possible to Tahoe, Yosemite National Park, Calaveras Big Trees State Park, local caverns and wine tasting, and historic gold towns.
Accommodations on the property
- Primitive site
- RV site
Location
Wilseyville, California
Open in Google MapsWhat people say about their stay at Strange Ranch - River and Gold
Synthesized from 38 review mentions across 6 aspects.
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Setting & Nature
“A visit to Strange Ranch offers a blend of natural beauty and thoughtful amenities, making it a popular choice for campers. Reviews highlight the serene atmosphere, with many guest…”
15 mentions
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Host & Communication
“Terry and Erin, the hosts, receive widespread appreciation for their welcoming and accommodating nature. Campers are impressed by their knowledge of the area and willingness to sha…”
12 mentions
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Amenities
“came equipped with a brand new permanent shade structure”
3 mentions
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Family-Friendly
“we went on a camping trip and left meeting incredibly kind new friends”
3 mentions
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Cleanliness
“the campsite and surrounding area were spotless”
3 mentions
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Comfort & Sleep
“Site 3 was more space than we needed”
2 mentions
Gallery
Recent reviews
[hipcamp aggregate summary]
Beautiful spot, super clear instructions, communicative and friendly host, very clean facilities. River is special and serene, and was a great spot for the kids to explore. LOVED the campfire setup on the beach, it was perfect for us to safely roast some hot dogs and smores later in the season. Stairs down were very sturdy and while we had to keep an eye on the kids, the 3/4 year olds were able to safely navigate themselves up and down. Mentioning this because I found this helpful in other previous reviews :)
Beautiful camp, river is lovely and Terry, the host, is ultra accommodating. Can’t wait to come back when it’s a little warmer next year.
We had such an amazing time! The campsite and surrounding area were spotless, and the river and landscape were absolutely beautiful. Terry was a fantastic host—friendly, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable about the local area and ecology. We’re definitely making this trip a yearly tradition!
Incredible experience. The host was above and beyond accommodating, and his knowledge of the area made the experience extra special. We cannot thank him enough for how kind and welcoming he was, and he had so many interesting facts to share. This is a gem of a location, with a spectacular view and so much wildlife, particularly birds. You can spend a lot of time exploring the area, and the sound of the river was perfect to fall asleep to. This spot is also located near many caverns and historic towns if you don’t want to spend the entire time at the campground. We will definitely be back!
If you need time to get away and enjoy a beautiful piece of Northern California, this is the place. We spent a wonderful weekend at site #1, exploring the Mokelumne River and the peaceful surrounding including a gold mine. Terry responded quickly to our questions, gave clear directions for RV access, and even met us to guide us to the campsite. The site was spotless, very level and thoughtfully equipped — everything we needed was provided. We had such a great stay that we’ll be booking again soon. Highly recommended!
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Strange Ranch - River and Gold located?
Strange Ranch - River and Gold is located in Wilseyville, California.
What types of accommodations does Strange Ranch - River and Gold offer?
Strange Ranch - River and Gold offers Primitive site, RV site. Specifics vary — verify the exact unit availability with the operator before booking.
How is Strange Ranch - River and Gold rated?
Strange Ranch - River and Gold has a 5/5 rating from 104 reviews on aggregate. Ratings reflect aggregate sentiment from public review platforms; we don't moderate operator reviews.
How do I book Strange Ranch - River and Gold?
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