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Zorthian Ranch

100%

·

4 reviews

· Altadena, Los Angeles, California · 45 acres

Hosted by Remi M.

Tent site

· 4 guests max

For ovyears, the Zorthian Ranch has stood as a haven for artists and intellectuals, functioning as both a community and arts center, and providing a natural respite from the city. Conveniently located just 15 miles from Downtown Los Angeles and bordering the Angeles National Forest, Zorthian Ranch spans 45 acres of mountains, valleys, forests, structures, and sculptures. Its distinctive architecture, handcrafted by the renowned Jirayr Zorthian, a popular and eccentric artist in the area, adds a unique touch. The ranch features vintage vehicles, a variety of farm animals, agriculture, and a diverse landscape, creating a vibrant setting for community events, art, music, and permaculture. Additionally, the ranch has served as a film location for over 20 years, hosting popular TV shows, movies, and music videos. Campers have various options for their stay. Those seeking a tranquil, wilderness-immersed experience can choose campsites accessible by foot trail, offering shaded areas and expansive overlooks with views stretching to Santa Catalina Island. For car campers, campsites within the developed portion of the ranch are accessible by vehicle and nestled in a lively garden oasis. The property boasts extensive wilderness with numerous private trails available to campers. Scenic outlooks and open flat rest areas with tables and chairs are scattered throughout the private wilderness trails. Campers also have access to a vast network of public trails and sites in the San Gabriel Mountains, including Millard Canyon Falls Trail, Sunset Ridge Trail, Mt Lowe Trail, and Echo Mountain Trail. The dominant plant communities within and around the ranch create a diverse mosaic, including chaparral, coastal sage scrub, coast live oak, Engelmann oak woodland, riparian habitat, and ephemeral wash habitat. The undeveloped foothill and mountainous terrain within the Angeles National Forest to the north serve as the core habitat for large mammals and birds. Wildlife movement within and through the ranch features daily and seasonal patterns for both large and small vertebrates, with shaded canyon bottoms acting as vital corridors. Regular wildlife sightings include bobcats, coyotes, bears, deer, rabbits, squirrels, and a variety of birds. In the developed portion of the ranch, terrain can be steep and uneven in certain areas, with dirt pathways that result in dust during hot summers and mud during the wet season. Campers should take this into consideration when packing and come prepared with sunscreen, hats, sturdy footwear, and water bottles for exploring the property.Set up a tent or hammock in our permaculture oasis with plenty of lounge areas immersed within the vibrant plants. This campsite is located very near to the parking location, even car camping is possible at this site. There is a picnic table, fire ring, rocket stove, firewood, cob furniture, and several other tables and chairs throughout the garden. There are several private trails within walking distance. This campsite is located on the lower ranch of Zorthian Ranch. This is a semi-private campsite. The garden is part of the ranch and sometimes people will come to view it or work in it, although not often. There will be other people around the lower ranch during the day working on various projects and tending to the gardens and animals. The toilet is a shared portapotty. We have a guardian dog on site for our ranch animals. If you plan to bring a pet please let me know; we allow pets only on a case-by-case basis. There is also plenty of wildlife here that frequently come through the ranch. If food is not properly stored, it might get snatched up by a bear, coyote, bobcat, or even the ravens. —————— More about the historic Zorthian Ranch: ~ For Over 70 Years The Zorthian Ranch Has Existed As A Haven For Artists & Intellectuals, A Community & Arts Center, And A Natural Respite From The City ~ Conveniently located 15 miles from Downtown Los Angeles and bordering the Angeles National Forest, Zorthian Ranch rests on 45 acres of mountains, valleys, forests, structures, and sculptures. It’s distinctive architecture was hand built by the great Jirayr Zorthian, once a popular and eccentric artist in the area. Vintage vehicles, a variety of farm animals, agriculture, and a diverse landscape provides a lively setting for community happenings, art, music and permaculture. The ranch has also been used as a movie location for over 20 years, with many popular TV shows, movies, and music videos filmed here. There are several different options for where to camp. For those seeking a quieter experience that is more deeply immersed in the wilderness, there are campsites accessible by foot trail with shaded areas as well as vast overlooks with views clear to the Santa Catalina island. For those looking to car camp, there are also campsites located within the developed portion of the ranch that are accessible by vehicle and nestled within a vibrant garden oasis. There is extensive wilderness throughout the property with many private trails, all available to our campers. There are several scenic outlooks and open flat rest areas with tables and chairs located throughout our private wilderness trails. Campers can also access a vast network of public trails and sites throughout the San Gabriel Mountains from the Zorthian Ranch property, including Millard Canyon Falls Trail, Sunset Ridge Trail, Mt Lowe Trail, and Echo Mountain Trail. The dominant plant communities within and adjacent to the ranch form a diverse mosaic consisting of chaparral, coastal sage scrub, coast live oak & Engelmann oak woodland, riparian habitat, and ephemeral wash habitat. The undeveloped foothill and mountainous terrain within the Angeles National Forest to the north is core habitat for large mammals and birds. Wildlife movement within and through the ranch property consists of daily as well as seasonal patterns for both large and small vertebrates. The shaded canyon bottoms with seasonal stream flow provide an important corridor for all wildlife species. There are regular sightings of bobcat, coyote, bear, deer, rabbit, squirrels, and a diversity of birds. The developed portion of the ranch includes terrain that is steep and uneven in several locations. Several of the pathways are dirt, which means during hot summers there is a lot of dust and during the wet season there is mud! Consider this when packing if you plan to explore the property. Sunscreen, hats, sturdy footwear, and water bottles are all nice things to have handy.

What to expect

Tent site

You'll have this Hipcamp all to yourself.

4 guests max

Campfires allowed

Firewood provided, firepit

Toilet available

Portable toilet, composting toilet

No pets

Potable water available

Spigot, hose. Spring water from the land

Cooking equipment present

Private. Cob counter with small brick rocket stove; no cookware provided

Picnic table present

No showers

Pack it out

No wifi

Laundry absent

Hot Tub absent

No playground

Things to know

Getting there

Check in: After 2:00 PM

Check out: Before 12:00 PM

On arrival: Meet with Host

Cancellation policy: Strict

Minimum nights: 1 night

Accepts bookings: 12 months out

Park at listing

No wheelchair access

Max 2 vehicles

2WD accessible

During your trip

Leave it better

Inclusion policyWe have a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination at Hipcamp. We are committed to helping our Host and Hipcamper communities be inclusive.

ExtrasAvailable at checkout

Private membershipexperience

$25.00

Private Membership

Reviews

100% Recommend4 ratings · 4 reviews

Emma O.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· February 2024

17 ft campervan

We loved staying at the Zorthian Ranch in their beautiful permaculture garden. There are so many hidden treasures here and kind, hospitable people. There's a lot of community among the people at this ranch and it was a beautiful opportunity to witness it. Art is the foundation of their land and it makes this experience very authentic and unique. In the garden is a handmade rocket stove, sitting area, table, etc. A really big bonus to staying here, is it's a perfect entrance to the Angeles forests from Altadena with many lookout spots, perfect for hikers who want a startoff point to the forest. Listen to the members of the community on directions for trails and their knowledge of the land. It should be without saying, but be respectful of their home and of the forests, its a hidden gem outside a very busy bustling city, let's leave it untouched! Sydnee was very kind, welcoming, and generous, thank you for making our getaway smooth and relaxing!

Darryl F.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2024

Tent

Perfect getaway outside the city 👌🏾 love the gardens

Caroline Kjær L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· January 2024

Welcoming host

21 ft Class C

Sydnee was very welcoming and showed us where to park the RV. The spot is quiet and surrounded by a lovely garden. Great spot.

Jesika H.

3 reviews

Recommends

· January 2024

Camping at an Art Ranch!

Tent

45 minutes and a world away from Los Angeles! Zorthian is a magical place full of art, animals and mystical energy and camping here was the respite i so desperately needed! Sydnee was a great host, met me at checkin and showed me around the property and suggested an easy hike with great views! Also, make sure you visit Apo’s Garden, just across the way from campsite. Keep in mind, that its camping in a semi wilderness setting, there’s no shower and the porta-potty is a tiny bit of a walk. If you want place to build a fire, cook a delicious lil camp meal and have a sleep under the stars, this place will definitely make you happy. Can’t wait to go back!

Location

Altadena, Los Angeles, California, United StatesTraditional, ancestral territory of Tongva (Gabrieleno) First Nations according to

Native Land Digital.

To respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking