On Site Grand Adventures

The following grand adventures are guided activities that are all available on site at Sierra Ranch Retreat.  Your group with get the opportunity to enjoy all of these guided activities exclusively.   These on site guided activities are complimentary with the Premiere Package and available as Ala Carte offerings for all other packages.

ATV ADVENTURE

• Ranch Ride:  This ride is available to anyone around the 1600 acre ranch, through creeks and meadows, enjoying the fresh mountain air as you trek over hills and through the forest for a great adventure—a great ride for all!

• Adventure Ride: Enjoy a 50-100 mile ATV ride through the forest, past high mountain lakes, streams, rivers to the top mountain peak where you’ll enjoy incredible vistas for over 100 miles in all directions – a memory that will last a life time. 

FISHING (Rod or Fly)
Enjoy great fishing for rainbow trout at any one of six different private ponds/lakes or in Indian or Ward Creek, all located on the ranch.  If you prefer, you can travel a relatively short distance for many other fishing opportunities. 

• Fishing in the famous Feather River- North Fork or Middle Fork (40 minutes away)
• Taylor Lake – From the shore or in float tubes in the remote, gorgeous, high mountain lake.
• By boat at Antelope Lake or Lake Almanor. 
• Taylor Lake (30 minutes away to a very remote, gorgeous, high mountain lake)

PAINTBALL WARS

• Experience paintball wars like never before in a village like none you’ve ever seen; a hidden village in the forest with four structures, a water tower, creek, and plenty of forest and trees to use for cover. (Guide and Protextive Equipment provided/required)

SHOOTING (Guide and Personal Protective Equipment including Eye and Ear Protection Provided)

• Trap and Skeet Shooting:
• Trap and skeet shooting across the meadow with a beautiful mountain backdrop
• Rifle and pistol target shooting

After a lesson in proper gun safety, you will enjoy shooting any of the following guns at log rounds or your personalized target you can take home with you to show off your marksmanship.

• .50 caliber Black Powder T/C arms scoped rifle
• .270 Winchester scoped rifle
• .22 caliber Winchester rifle
• .30-06  scoped rifle
• 12 gauge shot gun
• 20 gauge shotgun
• 38 caliber revolver
• .357 Magnum revolver

RIVER RAFTING (March through August)

• Enjoy a scenic ride on Indian Creek through gorgeous Genesee Valley with 8,000 foot mountain peaks.  View wildlife along the way with plenty of spots to stop and swim. Experienced guides make it a trip fun for everyone.  Full body-wetsuit provided for the faint of heart.

CANOEING

• Canoeing down beautiful Indian Creek for a picnic lunch. Up to an 8 mile journey.  Be sure to keep your eye out for wildlife.

EXTREMELY LARGE WINTER BONFIRES

• During the winter when there is no wildfire threat, enjoy a bonfire larger than you’ve ever seen before!  This experience ignites the pyro in all of us. (Guided Activity Only)

FIRE TRUCK RIDE

• Enjoy a ride on a 1926 American La Franc around the ranch or to the Historic Genesee Store for ice cream or lunch

ARCHERY

• Practice shooting hay bales or for more excitement use the compound crossbow

KNIFE AND HATCHET THROWING

• Try your skill at knife or hatchet throwing at our log target, safe for everyone. (Guided Activity Only)

HORSEBACK RIDING

• Horseback ride through the forest, across mountain meadows covered with wildflowers, crossing multiple creeks, through oaks, cottonwoods, cedars and various types of pines, always keeping your eye out to view wildlife.
• In the snow, through the forest, across the meadow, following animal tracks or just enjoying the tranquility

SINGING AROUND A LARGE CAMPFIRE

• Under the stars with the warmth of a fire, singing to your favorite songs led by a professional acoustic guitarist. 
  

SQUARE DANCE

• “Grab your partner doce doe.” Have you ever wanted to learn to square dance? Well there is no better time or place than at Sierra Ranch Retreat! We can arrange for a private lesson or instructional video where your group can learn at their own pace. Afterwards you can dance the night away, fun for all ages!

WINTER ATV RIDES

• Winter Adventure – Take in the winter scenery while enjoying an ATV through the snow, watching for fresh animal tracks. 

SNOWMOBILING

• Ranch Ride: Snowmobiling on pristine fresh powder on forest service roads, across mountain meadows, through the forest of the Northern Sierras, enjoying the crisp, fresh mountain air.  This is a ride everyone will enjoy.
• Adventure Ride: For the natural or experienced rider. Enjoy a 50-100 mile ride on untouched trails through the forest, across the meadows, up the mountainside and above the tree line. Stop and enjoy hot chocolate and coffee at one of the most spectacular vistas with views over a 100 miles in all directions.

ICE SKATING

• Enjoy the thrill of the most majestically beautiful, natural outdoor arena on a 2 acre frozen lake, surrounded by trees overlooking the meadow with a warm campfire waiting for you when you finish.

ICE FISHING

• Cut a hole in the lake and drop in your line and enjoy a different fishing experience than you’ve likely ever had

COWBOY ACTIVITIES

• Safely watch the cowboys move the cattle on horseback from field to field
• Be a spectator at a branding (Limited availability, time of year dependent)
  

On Site Adventures

The following adventures are all available on site at Sierra Ranch Retreat.  Your group will get the opportunity to enjoy all of these activities exclusively when booking a stay.

NATURAL STONE AND BOULDER JACUZZI WITH WATERFALL

• Relax in a Jacuzzi in a setting amongst the pines, at night gazing up at the stars.
• Holds 20 people (the record is 26)

FISHING (Rod or Fly)
Enjoy great fishing for rainbow trout at any one of six different ponds/lakes or in Indian or Ward Creek, all located on the ranch.  If you prefer, you can travel a relatively short distance for many other fishing opportunities. 

• Fishing in the famous Feather River- North Fork (20 minutes) or Middle Fork (40 minutes away)
• Taylor Lake – From the shore or in float tubes in the remote, gorgeous, high mountain lake. (30 minutes away to a very remote, gorgeous, high mountain lake)
• By boat at Antelope Lake or Lake Almanor. 
• Lake Almanor- (40 minutes away)

MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING

• Enjoy a 12-mile ride on relatively flat ground and circle Genesee Valley, crossing a creek, viewing wildlife, taking in the majestic views of the valley, meadows, river, and 8,000 foot mountain peaks all around. 
• Enjoy any other dirt trails around the valley and through the ranch.
• If you prefer a more leisurely ride, ride along one of the country roads.  For those who are in good shape take off up the mountain road for an exhilarating, heart-pounding experience.

PRIVATE ESTATE LAKE

• Swimming in crystal-clear, pristine water
• Canoes
• Paddle Boat
• Fish feeding
• Skipping rocks across the lake
• Float on the lake in lounge chairs
• Fishing
• Rock-skipping

9 HOLE DISC GOLF COURSE

• This Disc Golf course is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.  With T-Boxes and chained baskets that wander through the forest, across multiple creeks, around a lake and along the meadow

FLOATING DOWN THE CREEK IN INNER TUBES

• Enjoy the scenery, cool water, and just relaxing without a care in the world. 

HIKING

• Choose any one of many hiking opportunities: through the forest, up the mountain, across the meadow, along one of four creeks, by the lakes, or to the lookout. Our hand-held radio system keeps you in touch with each other and the ranch while exploring.
• For a real adventure, hike up to or down from Grizzly ridge (4,000 foot climb), and likely step foot where no man has before.  A fairly strenuous 4,000 foot descent (4-8 hrs)
• To the Lookout – (1 ¼ hours roundtrip)
• Various hikes around the estate and to the river, generally level ground (any length of time)

WILD ANIMAL VIEWING

• Enjoy viewing a variety of wildlife that call Genesee Valley home. Depending on the time of year you can look forward to seeing a variety of hawks and eagles, migratory birds, deer, turkey and the occasional coyote or bobcat. Be sure and bring your camera for breathtaking photographs.

GEOCACHING TREASURE HUNT

• Using a GPS unit and set of coordinates this fun adventure will lead you on an exhilarating treasure hunt around the beautiful ranch estate, through the woods, across the creek until you find your “treasure.”  Hidden are waterproof containing various “treasures” and log books to sign documenting your discovery.  A fun activity for all ages!

INFRARED BINOCULARS

• Experience the latest infrared technology, searching for wildlife in the forest that is difficult to see with the naked eye.  With heat-sensing infrared binoculars, it will stand out like a sore thumb.

CAMPFIRE

• Sitting around the campfire, enjoying wonderful conversation, sipping on your favorite drink, roasting marshmallows and making s ‘mores.  (Guided Activity Only; Not available during fire season or July, August, or September)

NIGHT VISION HEADSET

• Using the latest technology designed for our armed forces in Iraq, view the night when it’s pitch-black outside and see as if it was noon day. 

ROAD BIKING

• Enjoy beautiful country roads around Genesee Valley, Indian Valley, North Arm, through the forest, peaceful meadows and quite country towns

JUST RELAX

• Swing in the Hammock by the lake
• Relax by the lake and enjoy the view
• Sit in rocking chairs on the porch
• Laying on the warm asphalt county road at night watching the stars
• Nap in one of the many window seats (Log Home only)

SWIMMING
Take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear mountain water that surrounds the estate.  Pack a pick nick lunch and head to one of the many location to choose from:

• Private Estate Lake
• 6 On Site Ponds
• Indian Creek

STARGAZING in the clear night sky

• Stargaze the old-fashioned way or with the latest technology that helps you find many constellations and stars.  With no lights anywhere in the distance and crystal clear skies you will likely see more stars than you’ve ever seen before.  The Milky Way looks like you could reach out and touch it. 

LUNCH AT THE GENESEE STORE

• Enjoy a country lunch at the Genesee Store that was built in 1871 and was an original stop for the stagecoach traveling from Reno to Portland.  The inviting porch welcomes you to relax, enjoy the spectacular valley view and surrounding mountain peaks.

BADMITTON ON THE LAWN

SAND VOLLEYBALL COURT

BIRD WATCHING

• Over dozens of different species, from the tiny little finch to the Canadian honking geese and bald eagles. 

BOARD GAMES AND PUZZLES

CAMPING

• Go camping overnight in the forest or mountain meadow,  either on the ranch or off the ranch

CRAWDAD HUNTING

• Hunt for crawdads in Indian Creek, bringing them home for a special treat (poor-man’s lobster).

CROQUET

• Challenge your group to a game of croquet on our beautiful estate lawn overlooking the estate lake and valley meadows

HORSESHOES

• Try your skill shooting for a ringer

LYING IN THE HAMMOCK

• Relaxing or napping in the afternoon sun in a hammock large enough for  two

PICKING WILD FRUIT

• Apples in fall
• Berries in late summer

POKER/CARD TABLE AND CHIPS

POOL TABLES

• Enjoy both a large pool table and a bumper pool table (Log Home only)

PORCH TIME

• Rock in the rocking chair, swing in the porch swing, relax on the log lounge furniture sipping on your favorite drink while enjoying the peaceful view or conversation with good friends

SILVER BUCKLE RODEO

• Be a spectator at a professional rodeo held in the quaint town of Taylorsville, 7 miles from the ranch. Enjoy the beautiful mountain setting while watching bull riding, bareback riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, team roping, etc.  The rodeo is only available on July 4th, and for an extra treat enjoy the Taylorsville, 4th of July, back-home country parade. 

SLEEPING OUT DOORS

• Enjoy the spectacular night sky and lull of the night sounds on a cot under the stars

SPLIT FIREWOOD

• The old-fashioned way with wedge and splitting maul

SWINGING IN THE BARN  

• Swing on one of the tallest swings you will ever find inside the “swing barn” a historic barn built in the 1900’s, or outdoors by the lake on a 25 foot dual swing! 

TRAPPING PELTS

• Have fun trying to identify over 20 different pelts

VIDEO/DVD LIBRARY

• 100’s to choose from

KARAOKE

WALKS

• Enjoy a morning walk around the ranch breathing in the crisp mountain air and beauty of the valley (any length of time)

WATCHING A MOVIE OUTDOORS

• Watch a movie on an 8 foot screen, outdoors under the stores, wrapped up in a cozy blanket or sleeping bag.

ROCK COLLECTING

• Rich with a variety of mineral deposits our valley provides a unique opportunity to collect an array of unique rocks ranging from pink to green with stripes or polka-dots!

WEIGHT ROOM, CARDIOVASCULAR, AND PUNCHING BAG

• Start your day with a workout in our onsite fitness room complete with flat screen TV.

CORNHOLE BEAN BAG TOSS

• Simply separate into teams, each with a set of bean bags, the goal toss the bean bag through the hole across from you. The idea is simple, the enjoyment endless!

GOLD PANNNING

• Experience a part of California’s history with fun activity.

ORGANIC GARDENING

• Spend a peaceful morning in our local organic garden learning about organic gardening techniques, tending to the crops and aiding in the harvest of fresh local vegetables!

CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

• Make your own tracks across the meadows, through the forest, along one of many creeks,  or along the trail on the backside of the valley. (Guides available)

SNOW-SHOE TREKKING

• Explore the wide-variety of terrain, across the meadows, alongside the creeks or through the forest, or trek to a mountain the lookout point. (Guides available)

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES:

• Build a fort in the woods
• Ride Bikes around Estate
• Water Balloon and Squirt Gun War
• Farm Animal Petting Zoo
• Wiffle Ball
• Kite Flying
• Catching lizards
• Catching Insects
• Rock Hunting
• Picking Wildflowers
  

Winter On Site Grand Activities

These on site activities are complimentary with the Premiere Package and available as Ala Carte offerings for all other packages.

EXTREMELY LARGE WINTER BONFIRES

• Light a bonfire larger than you’ve ever seen before.  This experience ignites the pyro in all of us.

SNOWMOBILING

• Short Ride: Snowmobiling on pristine fresh powder on forest service roads, across mountain meadows, through the forest throughout the Northern Sierras, breathe deep of the crisp, fresh mountain air.  This is a ride everyone will enjoy.
• Long Ride: For the natural or experienced rider. Enjoy a 50-100 miles ride on untouched trails through the forest, across the meadows, up the mountainside and above the tree line. Stop and enjoy hot chocolate and coffee at one of the most spectacular vistas with views over a 100 miles in all directions.

ICE SKATING

• Enjoy our beautiful, natural outdoor arena on a 2 acre frozen lake, surrounded by trees overlooking the meadow with a warm campfire waiting for you when you finish.

ICE FISHING

• Cut a hole in the lake and drop in your line and enjoy a different fishing experience than you’ve likely ever had.

HORSEBACK RIDES

• In the snow, through the forest, across the meadow, following animal tracks or just enjoying the tranquility

Team Building Activities

Blindfold Canoe Races
Paintball Target Practice
Knife & Hatchet Throwing
Rubber Duck Races down Indian Creek
Shotgun Beachball Shooting
Paintball Wars
Rock-throwing at Lake Target or Rock Skipping
Frisbee Golf Challenge
Rifle Shooting Challenge
Fishing Contest

Off the Ranch Activities

Golf - 15 minutes
Tennis – 8 minutes
Local Museum in Taylorsville – 10 minutes
Water Skiing at Almanore Lake – 45 minutes