Discover Tehama

Tehama combines river landscapes and protected areas with places steeped in California history and local events. The Sacramento River offers a range of nature and recreation experiences, from an oak woodland park to an expansive wildlife refuge. Museums and traditions also tell the story of the region’s cultural heritage and agriculture. When looking for a hotel in Tehama, you can first consider whether nature and wildlife viewing, river activities, history, or an event date will be the focus of your trip.

River Landscapes and Wildlife

The Tehama Wildlife Area encompasses about 44,500 acres of grassland, oak woodland, and chaparral. It serves as a wintering area for mule deer; wild pigs, turkeys, bald eagles, golden eagles, prairie falcons, and peregrine falcons are also found there. The range of landscapes and species makes the area appealing to travelers who want to include nature and wildlife in their travel plans. The campgrounds are located mainly at Fischer Campground and Facht Place Campground.

Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, an oak woodland park covering 324 acres, is also located on the Sacramento River. It has a campground and just over a mile of hiking trails. By contrast, the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge extends along an 80-mile stretch of the Sacramento River between Red Bluff and Princeton, in Tehama, Butte, Glenn, and Colusa counties. The scale differs: one focuses on a single park and its trails, the other on a long stretch of river.

Hunting, fishing, hiking, photography, and wildlife viewing are permitted in 24 publicly accessible units of the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge. The Sacramento River Bend Area complements the river landscape with opportunities for hiking, boating, camping, picnicking, hunting, and wildlife viewing. Public boat ramps are available at Balls Ferry, Bend Bridge Park, and the Lake Red Bluff Recreation Area.

Historic Sites and Museums

The William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park offers an introduction to the history of an 1852 adobe house associated with a leader of the Bear Flag Revolt. The buildings on the homestead are accessible on guided tours during visitor center hours. If this visit is part of your plans, take into account the visitor center hours and the guided tours.

The Tehama County Museum preserves and displays artifacts representing the cultural heritage of Tehama County. It is housed in an 1859 building known as the Masonic Lodge / School House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This connects the museum’s collection with a specific historic building.

The Red Bluff Round-Up Museum & Historical Society Building opened in September 2026 and preserves the history of the Red Bluff Round-Up for future generations. Along with the county museum and William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park, it forms a distinct focus for travelers interested in local history and how it is shared.

Local Traditions and Travel Planning

The Tehama District Fair showcases local agricultural products and has been held annually since 1921. In Corning, the Corning Olive Festival & Car Show is an annual community tradition. If an event is important to your travel dates, check the dates for your intended travel period.

Decide which stops are most important to your itinerary, then check which hotel area best suits your plans. This way, you can tailor your search to what you want to experience in Tehama.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Red Bluff, Corning, Santa Cruz, Alpine County, Sacramento, Merced, Plumas, Fresno.

For the main travel overview: California.