HmPage Tabs
Forest-view Home with Private Trails, Creek, 10-minute drive to Yuba River, 10-minute drive to Nevada City
(Sleeps up to 20, 7 private bedrooms with 3 kings, 4 queens, 2 sofa foldouts, plus camping)
Our 7-bedroom homestead is on 100 wooded acres, with a sunny deck overlooking a forest of pines and oaks. Just a few steps from the front door, guests can enjoy a 25-mile network of beautiful, private hiking trails that follow the creek, with spring waterfalls to enjoy as well as visiting a Maidu dwelling made from cedar bark and a moss hut made from gold mining remains. Includes on-site game room with pool & ping pong table; dart board, frisbee golf, hammock village, and mountain-view deck. Drive just 10-minutes to river swimming at the South Yuba River State Park and 10-minutes to historic Nevada City.
Four private campsites are conveniently located adjacent to the retreat homestead, with private bathhouse.
For all booking inquiries, please contact Alicia.
River-view cabins made of local stone with 15-minute hike to private swimming hole (up to 4 guests, 2 queen beds)
Two round cabins, the 'moon' and the 'sun,' visible in a design within the rock walls, are constructed of stone gathered from the land. Each cabin has a queen bed with organic sheets and towels, desk, chairs, and mini-kitchen with stove, sink, and refrigerator. The bath house has an indoor shower, sink, and compost toilet, along with an outdoor shower with views of the river. Enjoy a private deck, bbq and electricity from the sun. Guests can walk 15 minutes to a secluded Yuba River swimming hole with sun-warmed rocks, picnic area and hammocks. Access to 25-miles of private hike and mountain bike trails available outside the cabin door.
For all booking inquiries, please contact Alicia.
Donner Summit View Cabins, Hiking, Biking and Horseback Trails for all levels, 10-minute drive to river.
(Sleeps up to 6, two queen beds plus campsites)
Retreat to the secluded beauty of two cabins and bath house made of natural materials, hand gathered from the land, with power from the sun and a wildflower roof. Each cabin is constructed of native clay (cob), hand-gathered stones, wood floors and beams of cedar, milled on the land. The bath house is made from straw bale with native clay and includes a claw foot bathtub and reading bench.
Cabin 1 is a earthen studio with a flower roof, earth-carved benches, queen bed and kitchen with stove and refrigerator. Cabin 2 is a home that includes a living room with deck overlooking a blue oak meadow, full chef's kitchen, and a private bedroom with handcrafted sugar pine bed. Guests are also welcome to camp in the meadow.
Enjoy morning tea or coffee on the deck, looking out at the horses and orchard, or grill a dinner while viewing the river canyon and mountain vistas. This unbelievable destination with views of the river canyon and unparalleled hiking, biking and horseback trails through wildflower meadows, is just ten minutes from the Yuba River and 30 minutes from Nevada City.
For all booking inquiries, please contact Alicia.
Organic Farmhouse with seasonal produce, 25-miles of private hike or bike trails, 10-minute walk to creek; 5-minute drive to Yuba River
Our solar-powered farmhouse overlooks the mountains and an organic orchard and garden where you can gather produce for your daily meal. Sleep soundly, two queen bedrooms downstairs, made of hand-milled sugar pine from the land, one queen bed upstairs & high speed wifi, dish tv/netflix. Walk to refreshing creek swimming hole with sandy beach and hammock or enjoy Yuba River swimming access at state park. Seasonal organic produce, hammock relaxation, waterfall gazing, and private 25-mile network of trails to hike or bike.
For all booking inquiries, please contact Alicia.
Custom Adventures
Guided Nature Hike – Yuba River Adventure
WHAT: Wild Edible Plants, Waterfalls & Yuba Swim Holes
WHEN: 9:30 am or 1 pm start time; hike, picnic and optional swim lasts approx. 2 hours
WHERE: Meet outside your retreat. Guests will be shuttled back to their retreat. Note: Access to this beach is only available as a guided tour with pre-registration.
COST: $50 per person includes guided history and native plant hike, picnic at private river deck overlooking the confluence of Rock Creek and the South Yuba River. We’ll enjoy a refreshing seasonal beverage made from native plants.
3-person minimum; appropriate for kids age 10 and older; or babies carried in backpack.
Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. Reserve Now
Enjoy a guided outing designed for your group as a moderate to challenging hike on private forest trails with an optional swim in the South Yuba River. As we walk the trails from the retreat to the river, we’ll identify wild food and medicinal plants and learn their traditional uses, catching glimpses of private creek pools and waterfalls as we go. We’ll hear stories of the Gold Rush at the Moss Hut, made from 1800s-era mine tailings. We’ll learn about the indigenous people of this land as we look for acorn grinding holes in the rocks and walk inside a traditional Maidu Indian home made of cedar bark.
This trip ends at a private overlook deck and sandy beach at the confluence of Rock Creek and the South Yuba River, with sips of a refreshing cold beverage made from wild plants. Guests are welcome to swim, conditions permitting. You won’t find private beach access like this anywhere on the Yuba River. We’ll provide the cold beverages, so all you have to do is relax, explore, and enjoy this memorable day.
What’s Provided: Histories from the land, wild and edible plant identification, and drinks, car ride back to retreat. All experiences include one free copy of Living Wild, signed by the author.
Capture the Memories. We happily take photos upon request.
What to Bring: We’ll be in touch with you soon with all the details for the day.
Custom Horseback Tour – Murphy Ranch Adventure
WHAT: Custom Horseback Tour
WHEN: 9:30 am start time; lasts approx. 2 hours
WHERE: Meet at Murphy Ranch.
COST: $100 per person includes guided horseback trail ride for riders of all levels or $75 children/ adult horse encounter to learn basic horsemanship & communication
Available for up to 4 riders at a time with pre-registration. Reserve Now
See the Yuba River canyon and the peaks of Donner Summit, while riding through wildflower meadows. Learn to identify seasonal wild plants used traditionally for food and visit a meadow home to indigenous inhabitants for the past 7,000 years. Our horses are sweet companions and guides for any level of rider. This trip ends with sips of a cold beverage, overlooking the mountains.
What’s Provided: Horses, helmets, historical stories from the land, wild and edible plant identification. All experiences include one free copy of Living Wild, signed by the author.
About Us
Our adventures are designed for people who love nature. We want to share our passion for protecting the dramatic beauty of the wild and scenic South Yuba River watershed and its diverse ecosystems found nowhere else in the world. We offer guided tours and catered experiences that get you close to the land in a quiet setting, far from the crowds. Join us as we unwind, relax, and immerse ourselves in this peaceful place that few people ever see. We’ll get you off the beaten path to explore epic surroundings in a fun, safe, exhilarating way - creating memories the whole way.
Other offerings Want to explore more of the area? Ask us about River Float Tours and Organic Garden Tasting Tours