Camp Trinity on the Bar 717 Ranch is the oldest accredited co-educational summer camp in California. Since 1930, the Gates family has welcomed children ages 8 to 16 to live, work, and play on 450 acres of pristine wilderness as part of our large ranch family.
Today, the pioneer traditions of cooperation, resourcefulness, and respect for the land are the foundation for wholesome summers filled with fun and friendship, rewarding new experiences, and a deep connection with nature.A longtime member of the Camp Trinity community, Marlys Smith passed away during the summer of 2021.
Today, the pioneer traditions of cooperation, resourcefulness, and respect for the land are the foundation for wholesome summers filled with fun and friendship, rewarding new experiences, and a deep connection with nature.A longtime member of the Camp Trinity community, Marlys Smith passed away during the summer of 2021.
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For more than 80 years, the Bar 717 Ranch has welcomed children to 450 acres in the beautiful mountains of Trinity County to experience nature, form deep friendships, and have big fun. We spend our days swimming, hiking, riding, caring for animals, gardening, and making music and art. We live, work, and play in a co-educational, non-competitive setting where kids are free to be themselves.
Camp Trinity on the Bar 717 Ranch is a residential summer camp for kids ages 8-16 in Northern California. For more than 90 years, the Bar 717 Ranch has welcomed children to 450 acres in the beautiful mountains of Trinity County to experience nature, form deep friendships, and have big fun. Life on the Ranch is all about community and freedom.
If you have registered for a session of camp in the past, you can access your existing account by logging into our online system. If you have any questions about enrolling, please contact us or visit our FAQ page for parents. Financial aid is available through our Campership Program. If you are interested you can apply for a campership here, or you can find more information about donating here.
At the ranch, campers are free to decide where they want to go and what activities they want to do, every day. There are always fun camp activities happening at the ranch. Besides taking care of all the ranch animals and tending the gardens, there are plenty of classic summer camp activities to explore.
Campers and Staff live together on the ranch all summer. We work, play, and create a community with each new session. At camp, nature is our constant companion, we live outdoors and interact with our mountain ranch environment every day. The ranch is a big part of our camp program. Throughout each session campers can help care for the ranch by fixing fences, splitting wood, and even building camp buildings.
Reviews (11)
Michael Alpert
Jun 22, 2021
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A camp, community and location full of down-to-earth magic. Went there as a camper in the mid-1960s. It changed my life, and the skills and lessons I learned there are with me every day still. I’m delighted to see that the vision and uniqueness of the Bar 717 has been nurtured thru the decades and into the present day as a place for kids to experience wonder in nature, work and creativity. I live in far-off Europe now but plan to return to that bright, dear place of my California youth at next opportunity!
Wayne Oggy
Jun 11, 2021
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Samuel Ephraim
Apr 21, 2021
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Phillip Lloyd
Feb 10, 2021
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Best summer camp EVER!!! Went as a kid every year for the 2-week summer camp. A couple times went for an entire month, and will never forget the memories I had there. Archery, horseback riding, dance night, friesides, you name it...they have it. The staff is incredible, meals amazing, and you will never experience more beautiful camping area than the Trinity national forest. Can’t wait to take my children there for as many years as they’d like.
Keep supporting Bar 717!!
Keep supporting Bar 717!!
Everett Watterson
Oct 12, 2020
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Matthew Noah Smith
Jun 17, 2019
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John Stafford
Feb 02, 2019
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Visited during the off season late September. Kent the owner was very accommodating and went out of his way to make sure I had what I needed. The property is set in a country setting with pastures and fish ponds. They have horses available and hiking trails however I didn't use them.
My room was clean and very quiet at night. It was such a pleasure to have a good night sleep without all the noise and drama that comes with other places.
My room was clean and very quiet at night. It was such a pleasure to have a good night sleep without all the noise and drama that comes with other places.
Trace Garcia
Oct 22, 2018
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Neil Crawford Tachometer
Aug 28, 2016
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Elisabeth D.
Apr 07, 2016
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I went to Bar 717 as a child and both of my kids have attended. It's a wonderful, down-to-earth place that exposes kids to a different kind of lifestyle and they can enjoy a variety of wholesome non-competitive activities (e.g. arts & crafts, swimming hole, overnight camping, wood shop, etc.). It has a wonderful slower pace, with a large variety of activities so kids can explore in a bunch of different areas. The setting is gorgeous and the owners impart great values about the outdoors, animals, art, hiking, etc, and being okay with slowing down. It's such a special place and
Nowell G.
Dec 19, 2014
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We sent our kids to Camp Trinity at the Bar 717 Ranch for years. They went by default because there mother, aunts and uncle went there as kids. At first i was skeptical because it definitely sounded different than all of the traditional "color war" type camps I had gone to as a youngster.
It was definitely a sacrifice most years to send the kids away for even parts of the summer. But after their first summer, it became overwhelmingly obvious how important this experience was. Aside from the positive feelings and excitement they had upon their return, it was an opportunity to live in
It was definitely a sacrifice most years to send the kids away for even parts of the summer. But after their first summer, it became overwhelmingly obvious how important this experience was. Aside from the positive feelings and excitement they had upon their return, it was an opportunity to live in