Cedarville: Discover History and Scenery

Cedarville combines a distinct local history with different ways to experience the surrounding area: historic buildings, activities in the Warner Mountains, and a scenic drive that begins and ends in Cedarville. If you’re looking for a vacation rental, first consider whether you want to focus your stay more on history, mountain activities, or a drive through Nevada. Each of these focuses gives the trip a different emphasis.

Local History and Traditions

Buildings in the Old West style have been preserved in historic downtown Cedarville. The Cressler and Bonner Trading Post offers a particularly tangible connection to the town’s early history: it was the first commercial enterprise in Modoc County and was located in the first building erected in Cedarville. In this way, two scales sit side by side: early development in Cedarville and the beginning of trade in Modoc County.

The CalVada History Foundation is dedicated to collecting and preserving the history of Surprise Valley. Alongside buildings and early trade, the valley’s history is also a regional focus. For travelers interested in history, these offer two different perspectives: one on Cedarville’s local history, the other on Surprise Valley.

The Modoc District Fairgrounds were established in Cedarville in 1933. The Modoc Heritage Foundation continues the Modoc District Fair as an annual tradition. If you’d like to include the fair in your travel plans, check upcoming dates with the Foundation.

Scenery and Activities

Surprise Valley is a high-elevation desert valley. It is bordered to the west by California’s Warner Mountains and to the east by Nevada’s Hays Canyon Range. This places the landscape along an east-west axis that encompasses two mountain ranges in different states.

Near Cedarville, the Warner Mountains offer opportunities for hiking, photography, and scenic drives. You can choose a different focus: getting out on foot, taking time for photo opportunities, or driving through the mountain scenery. These activities complement the town’s history with different ways to spend time outdoors.

The Barrel Springs Back Country Byway

The Barrel Springs Back Country Byway is an approximately 93-mile loop drive. From Cedarville, the route heads north to Fort Bidwell, then east into Nevada, then south through western Nevada, and finally back to Cedarville. Its approximate length gives you an idea of the full loop and helps you plan it as a dedicated driving excursion. Unlike hiking or photography, the byway is a continuous route with several changes of direction and a return to the starting point.

One Accommodation Feature

The overnight stay itself can also be a special part of the trip: at Surprise Valley Hot Springs, most rooms have private outdoor soaking tubs fed by healing mineral waters. This feature is specific to the rooms at the named property. It offers a different perspective on trip planning than outdoor activities or the scenic drive: here, a specific feature of the accommodation takes center stage.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Alturas, Mammoth, New Pine Creek

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