Imagine yourself and your group, tents facing the fire pit, on a 12,000 sq. ft. mowed circle amid 100 acres of gorgeous pasture - it's like sleeping in a planetarium! Shade sails provided in summer. Ideal for those who truly love the outdoors and sleeping under the stars. Please read the Accommodations section for details. This site is self-contained.
- Check in: After 3PM
- Check out: Before 12PM
- Cancellation policy: Flexible
- On arrival: Go straight to camp
- Minimum nights: 1 night
- Accepts bookings: 3 months out Weeknight discount: 20% off
- Response time: Within an hour
- Response rate: 100%
Activities
Offered on the Host's property or nearby.
Biking
Superb mountain biking on the trails in the Giant Sequoia National Monument up the road.
Boating
Success Reservoir has houseboats for rent by the hour or day. Five miles back on Hwy 190.
Fishing
Early Spring trout on the ranch. Bluegill in late Spring through Fall. Bit 'o Bass now and then. Carp in summer. Superb fishing...Read more
Swimming
Mid-late summer means the river is low; we provide a list of our favorite nearby water spots.
Terrain
Natural features you'll find at RR Starry Night in California.
Forest
Hmmm, 1.3 million acres next door: mixed conifer/hardwood forest with giant sequoia ranging from 4,000'-7,000' elevation. Lots ...Read more
Hot spring
California Hot Springs is open year-round for swimming and tub soaking. A great day trip.
Lake
Lake Success is 6 or 7 miles away for swimming, sailing, houseboat rentals, fishing.
Swimming hole
Swim in the North Fork Tule as it runs through the ranch (depending upon season) at our Starry Beach site near your camp or exp...Read more
Waterfall
What is a waterfall? We have them in Winter and Spring on the ranch, along the North Fork. Or, there's the much larger Angel Fa...Read more
Ranch
River Ridge is a 722-acre nature preserve and working ranch. We host, educate, demonstrate and try to provide leadership in sus...Read more
Places to see near River Ridge Ranch & Institute
28 Reviews
Starry Night is a great location if you're looking for a tranquil location with beautiful night sky views.
This is a premier spot for camping. Gary has created the ideal setup of necessities within nature's perfection. The site is expansive and also private. It's great for groups, though we only had 3. The porta potty was the cleanest i've seen in my life. The dishwashing station and shower were ideal and also great for filling up with drinkable water since it was very hot. It was great to hear/see the moo of the cows, crow of the roosters, scurrying of the ground squirrels and my favorite was the wild turkeys that would cross the site in morning and evening. Gary just finished making this bar/food cart out of a horse trailer - well done! It's about a 90 min super scenic windy drive to Sequoia Nat'l Park or to the "Trail of 100 Giants" to see the Sequoia trees, there are natural pools and some great local cafes nearby.
Confusing to find, inaccurate pictures. Not what we expected based on the listing.
We had such a wonderful time here at Gary’s camp. We had it all to ourselves and it was the perfect relaxing weekend. It was very hot but we knew and prepared for that. We spent most of our day at the lakes in the area but the late afternoon and nights were incredible. Most importantly, our fur babies had a blast running around free. I also LOvED the shower and having cold water available to keep us cool when it got hot. He provides all the essentials to be comfortable. Definitely recommend this place for families or large gathering to bbq and enjoy the nice scenery. Thanks for having us Gary 💖
I booked a last-minute camping trip at Starry Night and it was amazing! I wish I could've stayed an extra day! The site is massive and there is so much to explore. Gary has a binder on the site that has a bunch of nearby places to check out, which was really helpful.
We didn't use the grill but the fire pit, shower, bathrooms, etc. were perfect. Despite it being a large open space, it was very private and still close to the nearby town (which is great to stop by and pick up snacks, more firewood, etc). We were able to play music, hang out by the fire pit, and really enjoyed the stars.
Hands down the coolest place to camp. We definitely would love to go back. If you are on the fence about whether to go here or not, just book it! You won't regret it.
Beautiful place and wonderful host Gary. All the information related to the property and surrounding areas is in the black binder book located at the camp site.
Went with fairly large group, kids and everyone had a wonderful time. Sun shades, porta potties, and shower were perfect for entire group.
What an amazing experience. What an incredible location. Gary is so kind and attentive and so patient even with inexperienced campers like myself. If you’re on the fence about this place, get off the fence and book it. It’s totally awesome and worth it.The granite slide was the most fun watering hole I’ve ever seen. Amazing.
Very beautiful site seemed secluded and peaceful. Recommend highly to anyone visiting sequoia. Shower worked great, grill onsite, and fire pit.




Beautiful site, with a very helpful host! Gary checked in with us in the afternoon, and made sure we were situated. For a small fee, he provides more than enough firewood needed for a nights fire (around 5hrs of fuel total, I would say).
Plenty of potable water, as well as a cold water shower that is very refreshing.
There is a long table, a smaller metal table, and plenty of chairs. There is also a trash can, recycling, and a food storage container available.
Awards
- Property
- River Ridge Ranch & Institute
- State
- California
- Country
- United States
- $60/night
- 1 Site