Whether you’re visiting Red Bluff for the first time or have lived here for years, there are plenty of things to do in this historic town.
Learn more about Red Bluff’s pioneer days by touring the William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park, which celebrates California’s pioneer history.
The Kelly Griggs House Museum is a fine example of classic Victorian architecture. It is a must-see on your visit to Red Bluff.
The historic home sits on the corner of Washington and Ash Streets and was built early in the 1880s by sheepman Sidney Allen Griggs.
This is a classical Victorian showplace with elegantly renovated rooms and authentic furnishings. Wander through the Emmet Pendleton Stairway Gallery with paintings spanning more than a century; the Ishi Room with the Isensee exhibit of "the last wild Indian" and other local Indian artifacts; and the Pioneer Room with priceless possessions and photographs from Tehama County's past.
The museum is open Sundays and Thursdays from 1 to 3 PM. The Kelly guides are always willing to give tours on request and can be reached through the museum's answering machine.
The Gaumers Jewelry Museum and Lapidary started out as a family business in 1967 and quickly evolved into a unique jewelry store that also houses a fascinating minerals museum. It is an excellent place for visitors of all ages to explore and appreciate the wonders of nature and the stone-shaping (lapidary) arts.
Terry Gaumer manages the store along with her husband John and son Bill. During their travels, they have collected some exceptional gem and mineral specimens.
“We want to share these amazing finds with people,” Terry says. In addition to the museum, the shop offers a large selection of fine gold and silver handcrafted jewelry, original gemstones, semiprecious stones, lapidary equipment and jewelry-making supplies.
Rock hunting is one of the most popular pastimes among locals, and Gaumer’s has a great collection of field guides to help get you started. The museum and shop also offer free school tours.
The Red Bluff Recreation Area is a great place to go for outdoor fun. It offers a 4-mile paved nature trail that will take you through wetlands and oak woodlands. It also has incredible views of Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Parks.
The campground is located along the Sacramento River and features shady oak and sycamore trees as well as grassy fields. The campground is a short drive from Red Bluff, making it a great location for camping.
To the east of Red Bluff, about a 51-minute drive, sits the massive Lassen Volcanic National Park. This national park is home to lunar terrain boils, steaming geysers and mud pots.
Red Bluff has a lot to offer visitors, including boutique wineries, historic landmarks, boating and fishing, and national parks. It’s also a great place to visit with the family!
Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park preserves riparian habitat on the Sacramento River and its tributary Big Chico Creek. The park is popular for bank and boat fishing for salmon, steelhead and shad; "cruising down the river" on inner tubes, canoes or kayaks; and for observing the natural beauty of the Sacramento River and its riparian plant and animal communities.
The Sacramento River is one of California's largest rivers, stretching 400 miles from Mount Shasta to its confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Delta. Rainfall in a 28,000 square-mile area of Northern and Central California drains into the Sacramento River, creating an incredible watershed for agriculture, wildlife, and recreation.
The uppermost 45 miles of the Sacramento River from Keswick Dam down to Red Bluff are prime salmon fishing waters, but there are also great spots for steelhead. December through January is the best time for fishing, when these fish spawn in their main tributaries.
