Ranch Rules & Policies

🕒Check-In & Check-Out

• Check-in: 3:00 PM or later on your arrival day.
• Check-out: 12:00 PM on your departure day.

🏕General Ranch Rules

• Speed limit is 15 mph everywhere on the ranch — watch for children, dogs, and cattle.
• No firearms and no fireworks, at any time, anywhere on the property.
• Never drive on the ranch after drinking alcohol. Zero tolerance — park it for the night.
• No drones. They stress livestock and wildlife and intrude on other campers.
• Give the cattle their space. Do not approach, feed, chase, or otherwise disturb the cows or any wildlife.
• Leave the landscape as you found it — no painting or marking rocks, trees, or any natural feature.
• Swim at your own risk. The Cosumnes is a wild, unguarded river — conditions change with the season. Keep a close eye on children.

🎣Fishing the Cosumnes River

Fishing is welcome on our stretch of the Cosumnes River, the last undammed river on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Every riverfront campsite and cabin at Cosumnes River Ranch is a short walk from the water, where anglers work the deeper pools for rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and sunfish. Guests are also welcome to fish our designated pond. Early morning is best.

A valid California fishing license is required for anyone 16 and up, and we ask guests to follow current CDFW regulations for the Amador County stretch.

🐕Pet Policy

Well-behaved dogs are welcome. To keep every guest — and our cattle — safe:

• Maximum of 2 dogs per campsite.
• No aggressive dogs are permitted on the property.
• Leash required whenever you're walking your dog anywhere on the ranch.
• Keep pets under full control at all times. They may not wander to neighboring campsites.
• Dogs must never disturb, chase, or interact with cattle or wildlife — no exceptions.

🚗Vehicles & Driving

• 15 mph speed limit on all ranch roads.
• Stay on established roads. Driving or parking off-road is strictly prohibited — it scars the land and creates fire risk.
• Off-road driving carries a minimum fine of $300, up to $1,000.
• If your vehicle requires a tow out of your site, towing is billed at $200 per hour.
• Absolutely no driving after drinking alcohol — anywhere on the ranch, at any time.

🔥Fire Policy

• Fires are permitted only in the fire rings provided at your site — never on open ground.
• Never leave a fire unattended, and fully extinguish it (cold to the touch) before sleeping or leaving your site.
• During seasonal fire bans, wood and charcoal fires are prohibited; propane fire rings, propane stoves, and campfire candles remain permitted.
• We follow Amador County fire restrictions — when conditions change, the ban status above changes with them.

♻️Trash & Leave It Better

We follow Hipcamp's "Leave It Better" principles and Leave No Trace: pack out everything you bring in, and leave your site better than you found it.

• Pack out all trash — there is no garbage service at the sites. Trash left at your campsite (including food scraps and grease) is charged at a minimum of $50 and up to $200.
• Never dump cooking grease on the ground or in the river. Let it cool, seal it, and pack it out with your trash.
• No trash in the porta-potty — a $200 fine applies. It's a sanitation system, not a garbage can.
• No feminine-hygiene products in the porta-potty. Please bag and pack them out.

🚻Restrooms

We're off the grid out here, but that doesn't mean you're on your own. Every camping area has a clean, well-maintained portable restroom, serviced on a regular schedule.

A few things keep them pleasant for everyone:

• Toilet paper only. Wipes — including the ones labeled flushable — along with diapers, feminine products, food scraps, and trash all go in your own trash bag. A single wipe can put a unit out of service for the whole camp until we can get a truck out there.
• Close the lid and latch the door when you're done. Keeps the flies out, the smell down, and the unit venting the way it's built to.
• No running water at the units, so bring hand sanitizer for your site.
• Please don't move them. They sit where they sit so the service truck can reach them.

🚧Gates

Gates on the ranch manage where the cattle graze, so their position is deliberate:

• If you come to a gate that is closed, close it behind you.
• If it is open, leave it open.

🎵Music & Quiet Hours

• No loud music after 9:00 pm.
• Sound carries a long way over the river — please keep music at a level your neighbors can't hear, day or night.

✍️Reservation & Waiver Policy

1. Booking Requests. All stays at Cosumnes River Ranch are request-based. Submitting a request does not guarantee availability or create a reservation.

2. Acceptance & Payment. When your request is accepted, your payment method will be charged in full. At this stage your reservation is accepted but not yet confirmed.

3. Waiver Requirement. To confirm your reservation, every member of your party must sign the Cosumnes River Ranch liability waiver. A minor’s waiver must be signed by their parent or legal guardian. Signing links will be provided after acceptance.

4. Confirmation. Once all waivers are signed, you will receive a confirmation email containing directions to the Ranch, your campsite assignment, and your gate access code. Access to the property will not be provided until your reservation is confirmed.

5. Failure to Sign. If any member of your party has not signed the waiver prior to your scheduled arrival, your reservation will be canceled and the full amount charged will be forfeited. No refunds will be issued and no exceptions will be made.

By submitting a booking request, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this policy.

📅Cancellation Policy

• 7 or more days before check-in: full refund.
• Within 7 days of check-in, or no-show: no refund, for any reason.

Refunds are issued to your original payment method right away, and typically appear on your statement within 5–10 business days depending on your bank.

Need to move your dates instead? Reach out — we're a family operation and we'll always do our best to work with you on new dates.