River's Bend Retreat Center asks all visitors and guests to kindly call ahead to schedule a visit, overnight stay or retreat.
Parking
We have sufficient parking space for cars, however we encourage guests to carpool! Guests may drive near their cabins or to the campground to drop off luggage and are then asked to return cars to the parking lot. Four parking spaces are available at the campground.
We have sufficient parking space for cars, however we encourage guests to carpool! Guests may drive near their cabins or to the campground to drop off luggage and are then asked to return cars to the parking lot. Four parking spaces are available at the campground.
Swimming
River's Bend has a delightful swimming hole at our bend in the Navarro River, as well as various access points to the river and places to sit or swim. There is no lifeguard on duty at the river, so parents are required to be present with minors and swimming with a buddy is always recommended.
Fish
The Navarro River is spawning ground for steelhead. There are plenty of amazing birds and wildlife to watch, but no fishing is allowed. Folks who are looking for a place to fish can go further towards Mendocino. Click here for more info on fishing in Mendocino
River's Bend has a delightful swimming hole at our bend in the Navarro River, as well as various access points to the river and places to sit or swim. There is no lifeguard on duty at the river, so parents are required to be present with minors and swimming with a buddy is always recommended.
Fish
The Navarro River is spawning ground for steelhead. There are plenty of amazing birds and wildlife to watch, but no fishing is allowed. Folks who are looking for a place to fish can go further towards Mendocino. Click here for more info on fishing in Mendocino
Pets
River's Bend does NOT allow guest pets on the land. If you are visiting just for the day and need to bring your dog with you, you may keep your dog on a leash around the main parking lot and meadow trail to campground only. Please do not take dogs to the swimming hole or buildings. We apologize for any inconvenience and hope guests understand the concerns for wildlife and other guests.
Hendy Woods, Anderson Valley and Mendocino
- Hendy Woods State Park (Click here for information on Hendy Woods)
Hendy Woods surrounds River's Bend on two sides, and a small section of the state park can be
accessed through a short hike in the woods from River's Bend. During the summer, guests can cross the river at our bridge and walk into the large groves in a 1.5 -2 hour (round trip) hike. The big groves and camping areas can also be accessed by driving just up Highway 128. - Anderson Valley - Click here for information on Vineyards, Restaurants, activities and more.
- Mendocino is just 45 minutes away, continuing on the 128 West. Click here for activities and restaurants in Mendocino
- Weather - (Click here to connect to current weather conditions in Philo)
Library/Internet
Limited Bandwidth of Wireless Internet is available in the Library, which is a common space for guests. Very little bandwidth is available in rural areas here, so you are welcome to access email, but we cannot allow skype, streaming of video or downloading large documents. If you are a retreat leader who needs internet capability for retreat activities, talk to us about options.
What to Bring
To ensure a comfortable stay, please click here for a list of what to bring.
A few essential items: Flashlights, comfortable shoes, lightweight jacket for cool coastal evenings, towels, bedding if you are in a Rustic cabin, Tent cabin or bringing your own tent.
To ensure a comfortable stay, please click here for a list of what to bring.
A few essential items: Flashlights, comfortable shoes, lightweight jacket for cool coastal evenings, towels, bedding if you are in a Rustic cabin, Tent cabin or bringing your own tent.
Stewardship of the Land Conservation -
River's Bend land is part of the Anderson Valley Land Trust; a conservation easement on the land ensures habitat protection for fish, animals, plants. We also protect our beautiful night sky with minimal night-time lighting. We ask all guests to support our efforts to create a habitat for all creatures here by conserving water, electricity, following trails, and by following a general ethic of "be mindful and leave no trace!"
