Black Bear Ranch is located in Northern California on 80 acres of land in the Salmon River Watershed not far from the Oregon border. It is a region of spectacular mountain peaks and ridges, pristine rivers, creeks and alpine lakes, hugely diverse softwood and hardwood forests that, in spite of the heavy impacts of generations of colonialism, mining, logging and other human activity remains one of the most biologically diverse regions of flora, fauna and geography in the world. The region was once the primary source of sustenance and spiritual power for the Karuk people.
A Rich and Challenging History
Black Bear itself has a multifaceted post-colonial history. The discovery of gold in the region in the 19th century attracted miners, loggers, settlers, government and others who used the land without respect for the lives of the indigenous people. The the land on which the ranch now stands was once a mill site fed by ore carts traveling along steel capped wooden rails from the nearby Black Bear Mine. At that time, Black Bear was an incorporated town, at one time supporting a post office, general store and thousands of people. The mill site was owned by John Dagget, the Lieutenant governor of California, who raised two daughters there. During that same period a huge sawmill operated out of the nearby town of Sawyers Bar. Powered by hydroelectricity generated by the waters of the Salmon River the mill flourished. With timber depleted and the closure of Black Bear mine large mining and timber production ceased, replaced by recreational mining and much more limited logging under the management of the Forest Service. The rich soils of the area allowed it to once again become a flourishing forest of second growth timber.
In 1968 the land known as Black Bear Ranch was collectively purchased by members of the San Francisco Digger diaspora who came to live on the land. Now held in trust by past and current residents, it has supported a changing residential commune for over 50 years.
The Salmon River Community
There is a thriving community along the Salmon and Klamath Rivers of which Black Bear is a part. To learn more, visit the BBR & the Salmon River Community page.
Our Future: Changing times
Since 1968 Black Bear Ranch has been open to almost anyone wanting to live communally in a non-hierarchical community of shared responsibility. We have had successes and failures over more than 50 years but the reality of owning and maintaining the property while respecting the concerns of the Karuk Tribe and the broader Salmon River community now requires a different approach. We have shifted our focus away from open commune, to collective, ecological stewardship of the land in harmony with the natural environment and the local community, in particular members of the Karuk Tribe.
Managing Black Bear into the future, in alignment with these values and the values of Black Bear Ranch’s founding is now our focus. At this point, infrastructure work and general caretaking is going on at Black Bear Ranch as we explore ways to support the Black Bear Vision going into the future. This work continues supported collectively by the broader Black Bear family along with ranch residents. This broader approach to collective stewardship is now possible because of internet access and we meet regularly over the internet with email and sometimes voice communication more frequently. In the past communication was by two way radio and local telephones connected by wires stretching through the forests supported by insulators hung from trees or 6 mile hikes down Black Bear Creek to the Salmon River. We have entered the modern age.
We are interested in connecting with individuals and groups with similar interests as ours and who might be interested in joining us as part of this process, possibly a short visit to the ranch or staying as residents for a longer visit. If this interests you, let us know. We would love to connect.
To Contact Us: Send us an email at info@blackbearranch.org or by clicking here.
Interested in visiting or Living at Black Bear Ranch Click here