Zoppeland

James is a terrific host. He is warm and kind and very mellow. He takes care that his guests enjoy the scenery and the activities he can offer. It is a great place to bring your kids (big and small) to do fun outdoor play; very much needed in today's world of screens and gadgets. Our family thoroughly enjoyed the hiking (it's next to Los Padres National Forest), the archery, dirt skiing (ask James) and the peace, quiet, and big open sky. 1 1/2 hours from LA. We will be back for sure.

James was a wonderful host. We got there later than expected and he greeted us and guided us to the site in the dark. He made sure we knew how to get a fire started as well before leaving and the site was very well stocked with wood. He let us know that he would need to help us move to another site in the morning as other guests were arriving.

The second site was very secluded and beautiful but it is not a drive in site, something we hadn’t packed for. The site is a few hundred yards up a relatively narrow trail, easy to navigate, and one part is fairly uphill, but not extraordinarily difficult. Just keep in mind when packing. He provided a wheelbarrow for transporting our things and made sure we had all the tools we needed as well and when we got low on firewood there was plenty around to find with ease. He even walked us further up the trail past the site to show us an incredible landmark called the “Sandcastle” and pointed out a few other things we could explore.

We also participated in the horseback archery. It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. 100% worth every penny and it was really fairly priced. James really took his time with us and provided individual feedback to help us improve.

We would definitely come back again! He mentioned he just started with Hipcamp. I suspect it’ll be even better the next time we go.

Wow!! This place is amazing !! Everything from camping, hiking, archery, horseback riding. We did it all while we were there. I can't say enough good things about the host James. He was super friendly and helpful. James made sure we had what we needed and was a joy to be around and still was able to give us our space and privacy. He was very knowledgeable about the area and gave great instruction for archery and the horseback riding and continued to provide feedback while we did those activities. This was extremely helpful and fun with the archery. His horses were beautiful and were a joy to see, pet, & ride. I really liked the fact that we got to groom the horses before we rode them. It gave us a chance to spend some time with the horses and build a rapport with them before riding. Best family camping trip ever and we can't wait to go back.

We had the best time camping at James’ property. It was the perfect option for us, as all public campsites are currently closed due to COVID lockdowns. James was very friendly, respected our privacy, and supplied us with firewood and water for dishes. We camped at site #1 and were able to drive right up to the fire pit and unload our equipment from the vehicle. He showed us a few other sites and they were all nice and secluded too. There’s tons of great hiking nearby as his property is located less than 45 minutes away from the Mount Pinos Nordic Base and an hour away from Rose Valley. The stars were bright and the Milky Way visible. There’s not much of anything that I would change. I highly recommend this destination and will definitely visit again soon. Thank you James! 🙏

James is a superb host - welcoming, friendly and helpful. His land is beautiful and there are incredible trails into the Los Padres National Forest. He took us on a horseback ride that included amazing sandstone formations and a spectacular overlook. In the morning the 3 camping groups came together for some archery practice, which was quite entertaining. My daughter cried as we left and wants to go back immediately. I can't say enough good things about James and Zoppeland.

Zoppeland is amazing and James is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I have ever met. He spent time teaching my son and myself about horse care and we enjoyed every minute with James. The camping was great. The additional activities are so fun. The trail ride is special as you get an actual trail ride to an amazing geologic location with beautiful views on amazing horses. It was so much fun. I can't wait to go back. I highly recommend Zoppeland.