Strange Ranch - River and Gold

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!

Magdalena H.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· October 2025

Wild in Wilseyville

Tent · With kids ·

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.

Henry F.

2 reviews

Recommends

· October 2025

Beautiful spot

Tent · With pets ·

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 :)

Hannah J.

11 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Wonderful creekside getaway

Tent · With pets ·

A wonderful location and an even more wonderful host, Terry! He’s so welcoming and made sure we were well taken care of. The shared shower, porta potty and sink are all clean and well maintained. We had campsite #2 which was perfect for our part of two with plenty of space. During the day, we explored trails along the creek and enjoyed the beautiful nature around us. The creek water is clear and had fish too! While we did share the swimming hole and “beach side” area and chairs with others, it was still very enjoyable. One thing to that would help is better signage to exit the property. Other than that, it’s a big thumbs up for us!

Betsy C.

5 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent ·

Amazing location and Terry was an awesome host. River was beautiful and so clear!

Careena O.

4 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

16 ft car ·

It is a good place to relax and unwind. :)

Moises A.

4 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent ·

Loved this place! Really beautiful and really peaceful. They are totally right about AWD or 4x4 access unless your idea of a fun time is getting stuck in dirt on an incline. Will definitely be back!

Alex P.

11 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent · With pets ·

My husband, son (3) and I really loved our stay on Terry’s land! We stayed at campsite 3 and it was perfect for us. It was private but still close enough to the river/bathrooms. We got super lucky and had the river to ourselves one day. Terry and his family are so kind that they leave chairs set up for use by the river so you don’t have to lug your stuff & his son even brought us down a lighter when we forgot ours. The land itself is stunning. The river goes on and on. The water is perfectly cold for these hot summers days and there are so many critters on the land. Can’t wait to come back in the future!

Ariana L.

4 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent ·

Beautiful property!! Amazing place to spend the summer days down at the creek for swimming and fishing Hosts were so friendly and welcoming!

Paige L.

6 reviews

Recommends

· September 2025

Peaceful camping retreat

Tent · With pets ·

Beautiful quiet spot on a river, would recommend! Terry and his wife Erin were great hosts. We loved unplugging, but be warned there was no cell service at our site (#2) and an SUV/ all wheel drive is required to get to sites near the river and the swimming hole. The hosts graciously shuttled our things to and from our site since we drive a sedan, but if being able to come and go from your site keep that in mind.

Madeline B.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent · With kids ·

I took my two sons camping here for our first ever camping trip and had the time of our lives! It is such a great spot, the owners are helpful and care for the property, and the river truly is spectacular. We look forward to visiting again hopefully!

Kristen W.

5 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2025

Hidden Gem

Tent · With kids ·

This place is an absolute gem. Terry iand his dog Whisky are super nice and friendly. We had a great time swimming, hiking down the stream, and exploring the old gold mine. Beautiful property., great host, well likley be back.

Michael B.

8 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2025

Tent ·

We had an amazing time at Terry’s property, everything was so peaceful and well kept! Terry even took the time to show us around…the water was just perfect and we were lucky to have the river just for ourselves in the second day. We’ll definitely come back!

Shantala Luana C.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2025

Tent ·

Stayed at Site 1 for the Perseid meteor shower and it was perfect. Directions were clear, and we arrived to a clean, secluded paradise. Bathroom/shower were great. Clean running water in the sink. We lucked out and were the only people booked for a couple days, and got to meet host Erin and her pup Whiskey. Erin was lovely and really easy to communicate with, and our dog loved running around with Whiskey. There were some provided doggy bags by the shower. I would advise bringing some shade esp for sunnier days. Otherwise, site 1 was perfect. River access is essentially right there, bathroom and trash a close walk, beautiful open space. Def bring a 4WD vehicle. The river and swimming hole were an easy walk down the stairs, the big rocks offered great shade, and the fire pit was a nice touch. There were some chairs on both sides of the bank. We swam with minnows, got to see the most beautiful, colorful dragonflies, and found a couple crawfish. We regret not renting some gold panning gear from the hosts, the shallow pools and rocks were glittering with endless flecks of gold. Saw a lot of cool animals including deer, bats, birds, and lizards. The entire grounds was beautiful, none of the pictures really do it justice. Mad peaceful. Def a must stay spot.

Tiff D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2025

Tent · With kids ·

I took my 6yo son for a mommy-son weekend camping trip and we both wished we never had to leave. The stargazing was magical, the views from and privacy at site 4 were exactly what I was wishing they would be. Floating in the swimming hole, gold panning, and rock scrambling to the old mining cave were great activities. Terry taught us about freshwater ecology and showed us artifacts of the local indigenous people on site. This is a very special place, with very special hosts. Thank you so much, Terry and Erin, for sharing your beautiful land with us. We can’t wait to come back!

Erin I.

5 months on Hipcamp

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· August 2025

Starry night and beautiful river…

Tent · Group trip ·

We had a fabulous weekend at Strange Ranch. Others have summed up the logistics pretty well so I won’t repeat those things. Please do read the description and Terrys thoughtfully prepared instructions…they will make your experience much smoother. This spot is truly special and Terry and Erin make it all the more so. They are gifted stewards of the land and we would definitely return to spend time here. The river, the stars, the fire pit next to the river, the mine, the amenities they provide…just all top notch!

Carlina H.

8 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2025

Beautiful Swimmimg Hole

Tent · With pets ·

Our group had a fabulous weekend at Strange Ranch site #2. It’s along the road just above the steps (many but well-constructed concrete) down to the swimming hole and has a couple of shady options for tents. Potable water at the site and the adjacent shower and Porta potty made camping very convenient. All-wheel or four-wheel-drive only to all the sites except #4 at the top of the hill. Lots of shade around the creek, so comfortable relaxing down there during the heat of the day. The creek is just beautiful and is the main attraction for sure. Highly recommended!

Mary H.

5 reviews

Recommends

· August 2025

Tent · With kids ·

A huge thank you to our host Terry and Erin. We had such a wonderful time and thank you for your warm hospitality. The campsite was beautiful, peaceful and just as advertised. Thank you for sharing with us your beautiful property. We cannot wait to come back hopefully sooner rather than later!

Louie J.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2025

Loved it!

18 ft pop-up camper ·

Great place to stay! Clean, well maintained and the swimming hole was perfect. So many nice little touches for Hipcamp guests. Thanks Terry for sharing your wonderful property with us. We hope to be back some day 🩷

Gina L.

4 reviews

Recommends

· August 2025

Hot days, cold water, & dark skies

Tent · With pets ·

Beautiful location. It is excellent for dogs, be a responsible pet owner, and clean up after your pets. It is the only way people like Terry allow us all to visit and use their property. It is one of the best swimming holes ever, with deep places to jump in, shallow places to play, beautiful spots to fly fish, and cold water for hot days. An abundance of wild critters, so be smart with your critters and kids. Sites 1 & 2 have the easiest water access, and I recommend getting both for four or more people; otherwise, the walk is steep from the other camping spots, but I would recommend driving down to the stairs because after the stairs to the water, you won’t want to walk back to your site uphill. Terry and his son Merrick gave great tips on what to check out and what to look out for. We would 100% recommend it if you love stargazing too, or are into a bit of gold mining history. Not gonna lie, my son-in-law and I chickened out on going too far into the mine. We made too many jokes before going to check it out.

Shannon A.

2 reviews

Recommends

· August 2025

Always wondeful

20 ft campervan ·

Always a good time. We were lucky enough to have cooler temps for our visit. Make sure to bring sun shades. Wonderful spot and a wonderful host. I a repeat booker!

Ezra S.

4 reviews

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· July 2025

Site #1 Premier Riverview site

20 ft campervan · With pets ·

We looooved this entire camping experience. The campsite is uphill above the river. It is on the edge of a cliff and you take stairs down to the water. We had young kids and dogs with us and we all navigated it well, just definitely worth being aware of. The site next to us was not booked so we had lots of privacy. We saw so many fun creatures! Little lobsters, bats, turtles, fish jumping, a praying mantis, little water spiders.. it was so fun. I was a little worried about the “communal fire pit” and the current fire ban, but it all worked out perfectly. We did actually get to have a fire it’s just a designated area at the bottom by the river. It was even more intimate and secluded we loved it. Navigating there was a tiny bit tricky. Terry was very thorough about his instructions though, just gotta be prepared! And screen shot directions because you lose service. Also the roads are a bit rough and bumpy. We did fine in our van and SUV but it would be tricky if you had a little car or a low power, stick shift. The chairs at the bottom in the water were one of my favorite surprises. It was just so thoughtful and we went and had our morning coffee there every morning. Terry was sooo accommodating and responsive always. He always seemed to show up at the perfect times! Was super pleasant and a perfect host. One of those places where it’s hard because you want to try new places right?? But we will definitely end up coming back here for a repeat.

Tawni H.

7 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Perfect Family Camping

Tent · With pets ·

Terry’s Campsite #1 and #2 are both awesome spots, especially the beach area. We decided to set up our tent there because the kids loved being close to the sound of the running water. Even though we didn’t get to meet Terry since he was traveling abroad, he made sure to send us all the info we needed what we could do, the rules, and some great tips. We really appreciated that. The kids had an amazing time! They swam almost the whole day and even tried a bit of snorkeling with the fish. My family definitely wants to come back we all loved the campsite. It was also extra special because it was the girls’ first time camping, and we’ll always remember it.

Anne D.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Tent · With pets ·

We loved camping at Strange Ranch! The camp grounds were gorgeous and private. We had easy access to a beautiful swimming hole/river. I highly recommend reserving a spot!

Lauren P.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Tent · With kids ·

Kids had fun. Really beautiful river spot with a nice swimming area. Exploring the mine was fun and spooky, curious how deep it goes, after a few mins walking in it had some deeper water and we turned back. Happened to be a very hot weekend and it is true camp 3 has no shade, definitely bring one or five shade canopies. The walk down to the river from camp 3 is not terrible but not super fun in the heat. Overall awesome place, thanks

Bryce K.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Amazing swimming hole access!

16 ft car ·

What a wonderful spot to escape and enjoy the beauty of the canyon, flowing creek, swimming hole and a star-filled night sky! The sites were flat, well maintained and even had some shady cover at different points of the day. The shower, porta-potty and sink were extra luxury features to have, for sure. Steps down to the water, while steep, are in great repair with a nice sturdy cable hand rail. Hanging out in the river or by the fire pit was our high light for sure. Would absolutely recommend and we plan to return!

Rick C.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Nieblas camping trip 2025!

Tent · Group trip ·

Absolutely the most wonderful camping trip we’ve had as a family. The campsite is meticulously kept up, the port-a-potty near our campsite was very clean, the shower was glorious, and who knew having a sink while camping was something I needed?! Best addition! We loved the beautiful views, clean air, and the temp. Even though it was so hot in the sun in the shade near the river it was the perfect temp! We would come back time and time again.

Kat H.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Such a gem!

Tent · Group trip ·

We had a beautiful weekend on Terry’s land! This place is so special and Terry has done a great job in making guests feel welcomed and taken care of. Site 4 had an incredible view of the valley below and we loved that it was secluded and tucked away from other sites. We really enjoyed hanging out by the river especially on such a hot day (make sure you have a 4wd vehicle to get down there). We’ll absolutely be back! Thank you Terry!

Bridget Y.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Beautiful riverside campsite

Tent ·

Great private site with river access and swimming hole. Very clean. Intimate setting. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a private place to unplug and relax. Recommend shade structure for sun protection.

Dawn C.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Amazing!

13 ft pop-up camper · With pets ·