Paicines, CA · 4 units · Tents, MotorhomesDark skies, ancient blue oaks, forest bathing, and birdwatching in an Audubon Important Bird Area, about an hour from Pinnacles National Park.
Pitch your tent or park your camper amid the ancient blue oaks of California. In the oak-studded Diablo Range, gentle breezes wind through the trees, giving you days of dappled sunshine and nights crisp and cool. Warm yourself by the campfire and drink in some of the darkest skies in the state, where the Milky Way, shooting stars, galaxies and even Saturn’s rings are yours for the watching.
Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is at the heart of our camping program.
Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese practice of slow, mindful immersion in nature, and a blue oak woodland is a wonderful place to try it. There’s no destination and nothing to accomplish. Wander wherever you want or simply sit under the oaks: the dappled light, the scent of the oaks, birdsong, the breeze moving through the branches. Research links time spent this way to lower stress and better mental and physical health. Also look for signs or ask your host about our self-guided tour.
Bring your binoculars. We’re in an Important Bird Area, and birding here is a quiet joy. Blue oak woodland is some of the richest bird habitat in California: watch for acorn woodpeckers, western bluebirds, oak titmice, California quail, and hawks and golden eagles circling overhead. Whether you’re a dedicated birder keeping a life list or just love waking to the dawn chorus, birdwatching under the oaks fits right in with a slow morning and a cup of coffee.
Shake the dust off your work-worn spirit. Let the celebration begin. Dance to the music in your heart and sing along with the songs of the ancients. Regenerate. Breathe and hear yourself breathe. It’s time to take time, to play and enjoy with friends and family, and to talk late into the night as the campfire slowly dies.
Our four spacious sites each have a fire pit with grill and a picnic table with benches, and plenty of room to find your privacy. We also have a flush toilet, outdoor hot shower, and clean clear water from the faucet. Perfect for group gatherings of up to 20, and just as welcome for families, singles, couples, and well-behaved, on-leash dog friends. Watch for wild rabbits, squirrels, the occasional fox, and listen for coyotes singing in the night.
Our firewood ($15 a bundle) is sustainably harvested from downed trees and branches. No healthy live trees are harmed, and no native trees are felled.
Before you come: we’re remote, and GPS, Apple Maps, and Google Maps are spotty. We’ll send directions right to your campsite after you submit your SmartWaivers, so please submit them before you leave and bring everything you need, since there are no stores nearby. If you forget something, ask Veronica, your on-site host. We can almost always find something for you. Pricing is per person, not per site. Wi-Fi is available if you want it. Dress in layers, and bring warm clothes and blankets for the evenings.
Use us as a home base for Pinnacles (watch for California condors), birding in the Panoche Valley, Monterey, Carmel, San Juan Bautista, and the ocean, or rest and relax the world away, forest bathing under the oaks by day, birdwatching at dawn, and stargazing by night. Come with your cares and leave clear and regenerated.
Brought to you by Wildfarmers, an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) public charity.