— Monkeyflower Ranch
Monkeyflower Ranch sits at the southern tip of the Sequoia National Forest, beside the Brightstar Wilderness. Its 90 acres of high desert open onto thousands of square miles of BLM land. It’s remote, quiet, and largely unchanged, and this site is my record of it.
The land. A year-round creek runs through the property, rare water in dry country, drawing deer, coyotes, golden eagles and a remarkable number of birds. Fed by snowmelt from the Piute Mountains, it keeps the valley green long after the hills turn gold. Monkeyflowers bloom along its banks, which is where the ranch gets its name. Explore the land
The people who were here first. Long before the ranch, this valley was home to the Tübatulabal people. Their grinding stones are still here, worn smooth by centuries of use. I’m documenting what remains carefully, and with respect for the people whose history it is. Read about the ranch’s heritage
The night sky. We’re in a Bortle Class 2 zone, about as dark as it gets outside Death Valley. On a clear night the Milky Way casts shadows, and meteors are easier to count than to miss. It’s a gift for astrophotography, or for lying under a blanket and looking up. Our dark skies
Trails in every direction. Desert mountain trails cross the property and continue into the Brightstar Wilderness and the federal land beyond. The Pacific Crest Trail is 8 miles away, and riders will find miles of open country. Hiking in the high desert
High Desert Vibe. Field notes, night photography, local history, and what it’s really like to live with 90 acres of desert. New stories from the ranch, as they happen. Read the blog
A palm-sized stone, worn smooth by thousands of hours of grinding seeds and piñón nuts, turned up on an old Tübatulabal settlement at the Monkey Flower Ranch.
One of the nicest things about having jet lag at the Monkey Flower Ranch is that when waking up at 3am, there is always something
Common ravens (Corvus corax) have thrived in this region for millennia. There is a family of Ravens who have been here for years.
— Desert ranch experience
The A-frame log house and glamping pods are available for occasional stays through Airbnb. Lake Isabella is 25 minutes away, Kernville 45, and the Trail of 100 Giants 90. The ranch is also available as a location for film and photo productions. Film & photo enquiries
— What we offer…
Click (or tap) the icons below to see what amazing adventures might just be waiting for you out here.
Ranch House Getaway
Glamping Pods
Explore the Property
Hiking around our ranch
Dark Skies
