Spectacular 320 acre isolated working ranch in Surprise Valley, w 2 cabins, no neighbors, total solitude, awesome panoramas of lush meadows, snow-capped peaks to W, rim-rock buttes to E, exuberant sunsets. Official Dark Sky Area = great star-gazing. Warm spring-fed swimming pool, park-like lawn/trees, chickens, tame milk cows, owned by artist (painter)... Great hikes in every direction. Perfect place to relax, de-stress, de-program, be creative, be with nature, & recover your own true nature. The space Enjoy vast vistas, immense skies, and solitude at the ranch in Surprise Valley.... This small working ranch encompasses 320 acres of high desert ranchland on the far northeast edge of California. High rim-rock tablelands of the Hays Range, towering peaks of the Warner Mountains, spring fed pastures and desert sand dunes are your welcoming views from a private rustic cabin. This cabin has off-grid electricity for lighting and internet, and good water which flows from a natural warm spring up the mountain. The bathhouse, with clawfoot tub (w/hot water), 2 toilets and 2 sinks, is located only fifty feet away. Shade trees and lawn surround a beautiful warm (80 degree) spring-fed pool 100 feet away for your enjoyment. Wander the ranch grounds, sit on an old corral fence, hike the nearby canyons and mesas of the Hayes Range or across the valley up into The Warner Wilderness, seek out the local wild hot springs, or just relax, absorb the magic & solitude, and have an epiphany or two... Guest access Bathhouse, swimming pool and surrounding lawn, adjacent corrals and most of property, including the best outdoor asphalt basketball court in Surprise Valley, are open for guest access. The pasture is usually hosting 80 head of cattle, so visiting with them is possible, though not recommended...The old ranch house, the new studio, the workshop, storage sheds, and ranch equipment and any posted areas are not open for guest incursions without invite... Other things to note There is another similar ranch cabin here that may also be available if this one is booked; you can find the description by searching for "Sanctuary Cottage at Artist's Remote Ranch Oasis." Each cabin has its own WiFi. Hotspotting from your phone is always an option, depending on your carrier (Verizon works well). IMPORTANT: Please don't bring/use any electric devices that use/produce heat -- toaster, coffee/espresso maker, tea kettle, electric pad or blanket, hair dryer, heater -- my electric system will not handle the extra load! Don't get stuck out here w/o gas/water. Don't drive too fast on the dirt roads ( too fast is over 45-50). Watch what you're doing, where you're walking. Try not to do anything too stupid -- it's a long way to town. Be very cautious w fire. (That includes not smoking cigarets, inside or outside....) We do allow dogs, but before you decide to bring your pet, we ask that you consider your dog's impact on the ranch and its residents as well. We have three canine residents and two frequent visitors, so with guests, that can add up to a lot of dogs! While we don't currently charge a pet fee, we do spend more time cleaning--indoors and out--after dogs visit. If you decide to bring your pet, please plan to keep him/her very close to your side while inside the fenced ranch area (there's TONS of space to run outside the fence) and to keep him/her off all furniture in the cabin. Two of our dogs have the job of warding off predators, so you can expect to hear barking part of the night--never constant, not every single night. It's the price we pay to prevent being overrun by coyotes and possibly visited by mountain lions. PROSPECTIVE WINTER GUESTS: It is starkly beautiful here in winter, but best not to entertain romantic notions. You'll enjoy your stay more if you're the type that comes prepared for "just in case." Isolation and mud can be real. You want a solid car, preferably 4-wheel drive. The dirt road in is good, but over the course of the winter, the quality diminishes, and it can be bumpy going. The heat for this cabin is primarily by woodstove, assisted by warm water running through the concrete floor; if you come during a cooler season, you'll be managing your heat. We lay the first fire and prepare a certain amount of kindling and split wood, but do expect to split most of your wood and kindling. (You wouldn't be splitting huge rounds--just smaller rounds and chunks of already-split wood that are too big to burn efficiently.) ***We stock firewood, but there is an additional charge, payable to John, of $150/month. If you want the wood split into fireplace-sized chunks, that's an additional $50/month.*** To repeat....this ranch is really remote , off-grid, NOT your typical corporate Ritz-Carleton "Western" dude ranch "experience".... solitude, plenty of dust, various types of free-range organic wild critters in wild country, not always too close to safety (similar to hiking/camping in wilderness, except you hopefully still have access to your vehicle, not to mention a swimming pool, electricity, a fully operable kitchen, internet usually, etc, etc....)