There are plenty of beautiful towns in America, from lush Magnolia Springs, Alabama, to breathtaking Florence, Oregon. One US state that offers an abundance of beautiful vacation spots is California. The state of California contains a strong mix of rural areas and cities. Some travelers prefer to explore a bustling city, riding around San Francisco via cable car and visiting murals in Los Angeles. Others crave a peaceful vacation in a remote part of the state.
California is known for the glitzy and glamorous Hollywood, yet the rural areas of the state are beautiful and worth visiting. From unbelievably beautiful hikes through Redwood National Park to Laguna’s Hidden Pools at 1000 Steps Beach, the Golden State’s natural beauty is incredible. Travelers seeking a secluded and nature-filled spot to stay in California should check out these ten beautiful and remote California mountain towns.
10 Truckee
The small town of Truckee is located near the California Nevada border. Visitors are blown away by the sky-high pine trees and magnificent views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. There is plenty to learn about Truckee and nearby Lake Tahoe prior to visiting, including outdoor activities to try and nearby attractions to see. Adventurous visitors enjoy skiing, snowboarding, sailing, and water skiing. The Truckee River is also a great spot for whitewater rafting. Embarking on a rafting tour is a great way to explore Truckee and view the natural beauty up close.
9 Burney
Another beautiful and remote California town is Burney. Located in Northern California, this area is known for its rushing waterfalls and towering pines. Aside from the stunning scenery, Burney is also known for its stellar fly fishing. For fishermen (or newbies) looking to get a guided lay of the land, there are guided fly fishing trips available through Confluence Outfitters. Burney Creek is the perfect spot for beginners to try their hand at fishing. The guided fly fishing trips at Burney Creek are offered year-round and include 1-2 expert angler guides.
- Hours: 8:30 am-6:30 pm daily
- Cost: $500
8 Willow Creek
The fauna in Willow Creek includes quail, pronghorn antelope, and Bigfoot. Well, a 25-foot-tall statue of Bigfoot. The town’s Willow Creek China Flat Museum is filled with Bigfoot artifacts and shares the history of this North American Creature. The museum hours vary, so call ahead before visiting (530-629-2653).
- Address: 38949 CA-299, Willow Creek, CA 95573
Willow Creek is also a great spot for camping, backpacking, hiking, and bird watching, as the town is part of the Six Rivers National Forest.
7 Three Rivers
The lovely town of Three Rivers is located near Sequoia National Park. Sequoia National Park has more to it than the world’s largest trees; the camping and backpacking opportunities are also incredible. A portion of Kings Canyon National Park is also located in Three Rivers. One unique way to explore these parks is by taking a scenic drive through the area while listening to a self-diving audio guide. These downloadable audio guides provide directions around the park, as well as interesting facts about the parks and local history.
6 Ojai
A 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, Ojai is the perfect remote mountain town getaway. One draw of Ojai is the charming vineyards. Many visitors enjoy wandering around the picturesque wineries and attending wine tastings. Appellation Wine Tours is a highly praised tour, offering exclusive tours led by a certified sommelier. Guests typically visit 2-4 wineries and get VIP treatment.
- Address: 410 Church Rd UNIT 61, Ojai, CA 93023
- Cost: 1-2 people- $675, 3 people- $775, 4 people- $900, 5-12 people- $200 each
5 Dunsmuir
Dunsmuir is known for having the “best water on earth.” The town boasts of its fresh drinking water, and visitors can sip a glass to be the judge of that. Dunsmuir’s population is under 2,000, and the town is so small there are no traffic lights!
The mountain views in Dunsmuir are incredible. Mount Shasta stands tall nearby, while Dunsmuir is tucked away in a cozy canyon. Visitors enjoy the wide array of outdoor activities in the area, including hiking, swimming, biking, and trout fishing.
4 Julian
A mountain town that offers apple picking is Julian, California. During the fall, tourists and locals alike enjoy scarecrow building, apple picking, crafting, and tasting apple tea at Apples and Art Orchards.
- Address: 1052 Julian Orchards Dr, Julian, CA 92036
- Cost: $15 to pick 5 pounds of apples (half a peck)
The charming town of Julian is also a quick drive from Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California’s largest state park. This park is a great spot to spread out a picnic, explore dirt trails, and take in the beauty of the California Desert.
3 Oak Glen
Oak Glen is another remote California mountain town offering apple picking. The town's slogan even reads, “Where Apples Grow a Mile High!” This small town sits in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains and boasts magnificent views of the majestic mountains. There is a slew of apple orchards in the area, including Willowbrook Apple Farm. The orchard has been around since 1910 and features apple picking each fall. In order to make the most out of apple picking, learn the right way to pick an apple and how to properly store them after picking.
- Address: 12099 Oak Glen Rd, Yucaipa, CA 92399
- Hours: Saturday and Sunday 10 am-4 pm
2 San Simeon
San Simeon offers plenty of easy and moderately difficult hiking trails. Exploring an area on foot is a great way to examine flora and fauna up close, as well as breathe in the fresh air. Boucher Trail at Piedras Blancas and Junge Ranch Trail are perfect trails for nonhikers.
San Simeon is also known for another breathtaking view- that of Hearst Castle. This historic estate is now a museum, offering tours of the castle and grounds.
- Address: 750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452
- Hours: Opens 9 am daily
- Cost: Adult- $30, child (5-12)- $15
1 Big Bear
A final, and very popular, beautiful California mountain town worth visiting is Big Bear in Southern California. The best time to visit is in the winter, and Big Bear might even be California’s most fun winter travel destination. Travelers flock to Big Bear for spectacular skiing and snowboarding. Sledding and riding down a snowy slope on an inflated inner tube are also fun winter activities one shouldn’t skip.
Big Bear is also a great spot to stay inside, sip some hot cocoa, stare out at the snowy landscape, and unwind. There are some stunning Airbnb rentals in Big Bear that range from cozy cabins to luxury lodges.