The property is absolutely beautiful. Cassie stopped at several spots to point out wildlife tracks or other items of interest. When we got to the trap range, most of the equipment was set up and we spent some time blasting clays. Then back on the atvs for more riding. Time flew by and before you know it, we’re pulling back into the barn area to say our goodbyes.

I can’t say enough about how nice these folks are! Anything we needed was taken care of. If your in the area and are looking for something fun and exciting to do with half your day, you got to try this place!

The hosts are as cool as the Itchy Back Saloon and the Barn it’s in. Ken and Kathy Smith take the lead and Ken’s mom, Maylou, is so awesome, so down-to-Earth, and cool; she sets the culture for the whole 1,500-acres. Her hubby, Farmer Jim pokes around too; they all have a great sense of humor. And Ken’s high school buddy, Scott Sampo, is super-friendly and helpful. These guys were a ton a help and had endless good stories to share.

We had a potluck street taco feed on Saturday night and the Ricochet Food Truck came by on Sunday morning to feed the party. The BBQ grill can feed the masses.
The Itchy Back Saloon and Barn is where the music and revelry carried on. What a place! It’s too cool to describe and takes you back west so you need to be ready for a shot-out at any moment. It was our own private Music Fest and it was a blast!

We recommend this place to any group ready to get loose – good place for a raging wedding too!

Explore! Sierra Touring Company is located south of State Route 70 between Portola and Beckwourth, on Calpine-Beckwourth road. If you’re driving south from 70, the Explore! Sierra Touring Company ranch is on the right side of the road, a few minutes south of 70. To get to the ranch, you need to drive on a dirt road for two minutes before your arrive at the barn.

When we arrived, the Explore! Sierra Touring Company owner, Ken, was building a feature for a future course. Ken stopped and gave us a tour of the barn area, and then he let us explore the area on our own until our tour time. A few minutes before our tour was scheduled to begin, our tour guide returned from the trails with the group before us.

Ken helped gear us up, with helmets, gloves, eye protection, and a bandana, and then we practiced driving our ATV around a small, circular trail. It’s really easy to drive an ATV, so if you’ve never done it before, you can get the hang of it after two minutes of driving it. Then it was time to go!

Our tour lasted for about 2 hours, and we rode through some flat areas, hilly areas, rocky areas, and forested areas. The tour guide stopped us occasionally to give us a tip on driving the next part of the trail, or to ask if we were doing fine. The views of the valley were gorgeous, especially when we were up on one of the large hills and returning down to the barn. Throughout the tour, there were three “play parks,” or terrain parks. These were extremely fun; you could go really fast through them!

When we returned to the barn, we were muddy and wet, but we had thoroughly enjoyed the experience! It’s super fun to ride an ATV, and the trails and staff members at Explore! Sierra Touring Company make your experience terrific. The two hours went by super quick!

If you’re in the area—whether you’re a child or adult, a beginner or expert ATV rider—you will really enjoy the Explore! Sierra Touring Company ATV ride!