Terms & Conditions

WELCOME!

GETTING TO THE RANCH

PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS WE PROVIDE. GPS, Google Maps & Apple Maps may suggest you take Van Dusen Canyon Road or Rim of the World Drive to get you to the Ranch. We advise against using these roads. Please reference our included maps and written guidance here: From Hwy 38 (aka North Shore Drive, TAKE POLIQUE CANYON ROAD for about 3.5 miles (15 minutes). Polique Canyon is a bumpy, dirt road. While manageable by both large Rvs and small sedans, we advise driving slow and carefully to avoid ruts, swales and rocks. The roads are quite bumpy and may get you lost. Polique Canyon is very direct. About 15 minutes (3.5 miles) up Polique Canyon, look out for the sign that says “Holcomb Valley” turn left here to enter the Ranch! Please reference this map. 

The roads leading into the Ranch and throughout the property are also dirt and of varying conditions and widths with overhanging branches in some locations. Please be aware that small, compact vehicles and large RV/trailers may have difficulty accessing and navigating the property. SUVs, trucks and other high clearance vehicles are recommended.

CHECKING IN

Please note, cell reception is limited on site. Guests who have Verizon as their service provider seem to have good coverage. We suggest that you call or text your camp host when you arrive at the base of POLIQUE CANYON ROAD at Highway 38 (aka North Shore Drive). You’ll have about a 15 minute (3.5 mile) drive to the camp from there. This will provide enough notice to our camp host to meet you at the front gate. If the camp host is not present when you arrive, please wait a few minutes for the camp host to return from escorting other guests to their campsites.

CAMPING

-Maximum number of people varies per site. We will coordinate with you to determine which campsites are best suited for your group size.

-Maximum number of vehicles per site is four (4). Vehicles are determined by license plate. So one (1) car with a trailer is considered two (2) vehicles. Certain sites may accommodate more with permission from the owner in advance of your stay.

-Maximum length of vehicle plus trailer is 50 ft. Not all campsites are able to accommodate vehicles of this length, please check site descriptions. Please notify the owner in advance to reserve a suitable campsite.

-Camp only in those places specifically marked or provided as for camping.

-Do not leave camping equipment unattended for more than 24 hours without permission from the site host.

-Remove all personal property and trash when leaving. If we find any remaining trash or equipment left behind you will be charged a $50 clean up fee. This will be charged to the card you used to make the reservation. 

-Speed limit: 10mph

-OHV’s are allowed. They count as one of the allowed vehicles per campsite and must adhere to the speed limit and remain on established roads while on the property. May not be driven from 8pm to 8am. It is strictly forbidden to ride your vehicles through the forest, meadow or off any established roads on or off property. Please research which of the surrounding forestry roads allow for your vehicle type to be driven on.  Please note, campsites on the west side of the meadow (F, G & H) are partially accessed by a forestry road that does not allow dirt bikes.

-Walk-to sites are tent only and require you to park your vehicle in a designated area and walk a short distance to the site. 

-4X4 sites require a high clearance 4WD/AWD vehicle.

-Do not move sites without prior camp host approval.

-Do not park in sites you are not registered for. 

-Please be respectful of your neighbor and do not walk between sites when navigating the park. 

Quiet Hours

Please be considerate of other campers by keeping quiet from 10pm to 8am. Please also restrict use of generators between 8-10am and 5-7pm.

Campfires & Fire Safety

-Campfires must be contained within the fire rings provided. Living trees, shrubs and plants may not be cut or damaged. Remove all flammable material from around the campfire. Fires must be attended at all times and extinguished completely before leaving or going to sleep. Fires may be prohibited during burn ban conditions. Obey any special restrictions that have been issued or posted. The following is prohibited: 

-Building, attending, maintaining, or using a fire outside of a fire ring or outside of a stove, grill or fireplace.

-Carelessly or negligently burning any hazardous objects or materials that are dangerous. 

-Causing timber, trees, slash, brush or grass to burn except as authorized by permit.

-Leaving a fire without completely extinguishing it. If we find your fire has not been completely extinguished or if your fire is left unattended you will receive a $50 fine. This will be charged to the card you used to make the reservation. 

-Causing and failing to maintain control of a fire that damages the Forest System.

-Building, attending, maintaining, or using a campfire without removing all flammable material from around the campfire adequate to prevent its escape.

-We are now selling firewood on site but if you need more than 1-2 bundles we recommend bringing your own.

Fireworks, Firearms and Archery

Fireworks and explosives are prohibited.

The discharging of firearms, BB guns, paintball guns, bow and arrows, sling shots, or any devices that use burning powder, explosives, compressed gasses, etc. is prohibited.

Bathrooms & Showers

Bathrooms and showers are located near most campsites, and portable toilets will be provided throughout the property. If it would give you comfort to bring your own cleaning supplies to wipe down any surfaces, we encourage you to do so. Please use toilets properly, and do not throw away garbage, litter or other foreign substances into toilets and plumbing fixtures. 

Trash & Sanitation 

-Please do not defecate, urinate, shower or dispose of dirty dishwater in the woods or open areas. Gather all garbage and litter in bags or containers. There may be dumpsters provided near the entrance to the property for disposal. If unavailable during your stay, please pack out all your trash when you leave. 

-Discard solid foods and waste in garbage bags, and wash food and personal items away from drinking water supplies. 

-Prevent pollution - keep garbage, litter, and foreign substances out of lakes, streams, and other water sources.

-No greywater dumping.

Exploring the Property & Restricted Areas

This property used to be a ranch in the 1800s during the gold rush era. There are historic structures on the property still remaining, but they are in unsafe and uninhabitable condition. The property also served as a Boy Scout camp for the last 50 years, and there are numerous structures on site which were built by the Boy Scouts. Many of those structures are also in unsafe and uninhabitable condition. Through the decades, miscellaneous materials, debris, equipment, etc has been accumulated throughout the property. The buildings and the debris are unsafe, and guests are prohibited and highly discouraged from exploring buildings or handling found objects. While horses are out to pasture in the fenced meadow, guests or their pets are not permitted to enter the meadow. Guests must not approach the horses. Do not feed or pet the horses, take photos only!

The history of this property is a part of the experience. Please enjoy exploring the grounds while adhering to the rules.

Horses

The horses which may be roaming the meadow during your stay are not property of Holcomb Valley Ranch. When horses are present, guests and their pets are prohibited from entering the meadow. Please do not approach, interact, feed or touch the horses. This is for your safety and the safety of the horses. 

Weather

Please check the local weather for current conditions. Summer days are typically sunny and warm with temperatures in the 70 degrees. The sun can be very intense at this elevation (bring sunscreen!)  Evenings can be quite chilly, with temperatures in the 30-50 degrees. 

Pets and Animals

-Maximum of two (2) pets and animals per campsite. Pets must be restrained or on a leash while in developed recreation sites.

-Pets (except guide dogs) are not allowed in buildings or structures, in swimming areas or the protected meadow.

-Saddle or pack animals are allowed in recreation sites only where authorized by posted instructions.

-The pet owner is solely responsible for the safety and protection of their animal.

-Clean up after your pet.

-Someone must remain with the pet at all times.

-If any pet demonstrates aggressive behavior toward another pet or camper, you will be asked to leave the campground. 

-No excessive barking.

-Do not feed or encourage wild animals into the campground. 

Bear Safety

Holcomb Valley Ranch is located in bear country. They are infrequent visitors, but please prepare properly. Food and trash storage restrictions help reduce odors that attract bears. The following are prohibited: 

-Possessing, storing or leaving any food (including food for pets), refuse or bear attractant unattended unless it is:

-properly stored in a bear-resistant container;

-stored in a closed, motor vehicle with a solid top;

-stored in a closed, hard-body trailer; or

-suspended at least ten (10) feet clear of the ground at all points, suspended at least four (4) feet horizontally from the supporting tree, and suspended at least four (4) feet from any other tree adjacent to the supporting pole or tree.

-Discarding or abandoning any food, refuse, or bear attractant unless it is disposed of in a bear-resistant trash receptacle or other receptacle which has been provided by the Holcomb Valley Ranch;

-Burning or burying foods, refuse, or bear attractants.

Public Behavior

-No fighting or boisterous behavior.

-Keep noise at a reasonable level. 

-Excessive volumes on radios, televisions, musical instruments, etc. are not permitted. Shutdown of these items may be necessary depending on your proximity to other campers.

-Please be considerate of fellow visitors.

-Business permits are required for any commercial activity.

-Drones or similar devices are prohibited without prior approval.

Water Quality

Water which flows from spigots throughout the camp is sourced from a well on site and is unfiltered. Our water is tested for quality annually and is clean and suitable for drinking as of the most recent test.

Emergencies

Holcomb Valley Ranch is a rural property in the mountains. There is very little cellular phone reception and no internet service which makes communication in an emergency difficult. As with any other trip into the backcountry, prepare yourself for emergencies such as injury, sickness, vehicle malfunction, etc. Guests are advised to bring their own first aid kits and to be prepared in how to respond in case of an emergency. 

The nearest urgent care facility is: 

Bear Mountain Family Medicine Urgent Care

41949 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

The nearest 24 hour urgent care is:

Rapid Care Urgent Care 

10841 White Oak Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.

The nearest animal hospital is:

VCA Lakeside Animal Hospital 

42160 N Shore Dr, Big Bear, CA 92314. 

The nearest animal hospital with extended hours is:

Emergency Pet Hospital of Redlands

2072 W Redlands Blvd, Redlands, CA 92373. 

Fires and Immediate threats to life and safety—Immediately Dial 9-1-1

To report all other activities, call the local ranger station during business hours at (909) 382-2600 or after hours at (909) 383-5654.