Buckboard Ranch Vacation Rental



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Buckboard Ranch and its surrounding areas are rich with opportunities for adventure. With so much to see and do, you may need several days to relax, enjoy, and explore the diversity of Northern California’s Sonoma County.

At the Ranch
Climate and Weather
Dry Creek Valley Wine Trail
Healdsburg, a World Class Destination
Lake Sonoma Recreation Area
Beautiful Coastal Areas

At The Ranch…

With breathtaking ‘forever’ views, this working cattle ranch provides a wealth of onsite activities and attractions. Explore Buckboard’s 12,000 acres of paradise, with miles of biking, hiking and horse trails; guests are welcome to bring their own horses. Also, wander through the 60 acres of Mountain Cabernet vineyards and the beautiful white vineyard barn for an up-close ‘grape escape’.

Abounding with birds and wildlife indigenous to the area, the ranch offers many opportunities for observing songbirds, quail, raptors, turkeys, deer, and more. Enjoy the 'cowboy experience' from afar during the summer round-up which usually occurs from June through August.

The ranch also offers 6 creeks with secluded swimming holes, beautiful and private picnic areas, and for the more adventurous, private campsites (bring your own tents and gear). Being away from the city lights, the stars are brilliant in the night sky, providing an ideal opportunity for stargazing with 2 telescopes for our guests’ use.

Climate and weather…

Blessed with the moderate weather of our Mediterranean climate, Buckboard is enjoyed year round, averaging 285 days of sunshine per year. At 1000 feet above sea level, the ranch is usually in full sun and above the coastal mist that sometimes hovers over the valleys just below.

The warmer season begins in late March-early April, and our ‘Indian’ summers linger into late October, through the grape harvest, with daytime temperatures ranging from the 70’s to the 90’s and sometimes hotter. Even on the warmest summer days, evenings are refreshingly cool. Our winter weather, from late fall through early spring, is generally mild, with daytime temperatures in the 50’s and 60’s, and the 30’s to 40’s at night. Even when it rains, the ranch is beautiful and ‘sings’ in the showers of cool clear water.

Dry Creek Valley Wine Trail…

Only about 15 miles from Buckboard, the Dry Creek Valley abounds with vineyards, award-winning wineries, and tasting rooms. Your journey to the ranch follows this spectacular ‘Wine Trail’ and you will probably want to spend a day picnicking and ‘drinking in’ all that this area has to offer.

Some of the featured wineries include: Amista Vineyards, Bella Vineyards, Dutcher Crossing, Ferrari Carrano, Lambert Bridge, Mauritson, Mounts Family Winery, Preston Winery, Quivira Vineyards, Rued Winery, and Zichichi Family Winery. The fertile Dry Creek Valley is ideal for grape growing both red and white varietals, producing many great wines.

Healdsburg…

Only 30 miles from Buckboard, the Dry Creek Valley Wine Trail ends in historic Healdsburg. This outstanding destination, founded in the mid-1800’s, preserves its Victorian, small-town charm while offering world-class restaurants, art galleries, antique and specialty shops, and spas. Healdsburg is the heart of Sonoma County Wine Country with over 60 world renowned wineries nearby in the Alexander, Russian River, and Dry Creek Valleys.

Open for wine tasting year round, dozens of tasting rooms are conveniently located in the downtown area. The hub of activity in Healdsburg is its beautiful town square, lined by mature Redwoods, with walkways, lawns, a central fountain, benches, and a gazebo and stage for free summer concerts. Antique shows, chile cook-offs, and ‘Art on the Square’ are some of the other summer events.

Lake Sonoma Recreational Area…

Only 15 miles from Buckboard, Lake Sonoma is nestled in the beautiful, coastal foothills and was created by the Warm Springs Dam in the early 1980’s. Lake Sonoma is the largest lake in Sonoma County and provides flood control, water for agriculture, and lots of recreational activities including water sports, fishing, and hiking.

The Lake Sonoma Marina offers a boat ramp, full service marina, rentals and a store. Available rentals include patio boats, ski boats, wakeboard boats, fishing boats, canoes, and kayaks.

The Milt Brand Visitors Center is located at the park entrance providing information, with interesting exhibits on the Pomo Indians and the cultural and natural history of the Dry Creek Valley.

The Congressman Don Clausen Fish Hatchery is run by the Department of Fish and Game and offers group tours during the salmon and steelhead spawning season, from January through April.

Beautiful Coastal Areas…

Following the ‘road less traveled’ through the rolling coastal hills, 15 miles west of Buckboard, you will reach Stewarts Point on the rugged Sonoma County coast, with a General Store built in 1868 and a one room schoolhouse. You can take scenic Highway 1, north or south, and enjoy the spectacular beauty, serenity and history of Northern California’s coastline.

Just a short drive to the south and you will reach Fort Ross Historic State Park. Fort Ross was established by the Russian-American Company in 1812, for hunting and trading. This eastern-most outpost of Tsarist Russia, is now a State Park whose restored buildings include a stockade, the commandant’s house, and a Russian Orthodox Chapel. Still further north, you will pass through Sea Ranch and the historic coastal towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg.

If you choose to head further south from Stewarts Point, you will soon reach the town of Jenner, just north of the mouth of the Russian River, where it empties into the Pacific Ocean. Following Highway 116 inland along the river, you will pass through Duncan Mills, on your way to Guerneville where you can experience the giant Redwoods of Armstrong Woods. This road also continues through the Russian River Valley with its many renowned wineries, to the 101 highway, 8 miles south of Healdsburg..

If instead you continue south on coastal Highway 1, you will soon reach Sonoma Coast State Beach, a 17 mile string of public beaches, considered one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in the state. Beachgoers on the Sonoma Coast should come prepared with warm clothing, as these beaches can be foggy and/or windy, especially in the mornings.

The fishing port of Bodega Bay is just a little further south, with bayside restaurants featuring fresh excellent seafood. Diners can watch fishing boats coming and going in the harbor. Ocean fishing trips are available year round and leave from Porto Bodega Marina.

ParkPoint Health Club

With our $15/day guest passes, you can also enjoy Healdsburg’s premier health club, ParkPoint, with lap, aqua exercise, and child pools, Jacuzzis and Saunas, exercise classes, machines and free weights, lounge and snack bar with large screen TV, massage services, childrens center, etc.
www.parkpointhealthclubs.com