Regions
Four main geologic regions make up California’s diverse lands: Coastal (Pacific Ocean), Mountain (Sierra Nevada Range), Central Valley (Great Valley), and Desert (Great Basin, Colorado, and Mojave deserts).
Agriculture
The Golden State’s agricultural industry is a major part of California’s economy, generating approximately $40.1 billion in revenues. There are approximately 76,400 farms, covering 43 million acres of California. The average size farm comprises 348 acres. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all 58 counties.
California’s most valuable commodities are dairy products, almonds, grapes, and cattle. In fact, the state produces about two-thirds of the nation’s fruit and nuts and about one-third of the nation’s vegetables. Most of the cropland is found in the central valley region.
Wildlife
California wildlife is abundant on both land and water. One-third of the entire state is forested, and another large portion is desert, creating diverse ecosystems for multiple species. Primary wildlife includes black bears, deer, cougars, coyotes, raccoons, weasels, beavers, and otters. Sadly, the California Grizzly depicted on the state’s flag became extinct in the 1920s. Whales and sharks can be found in the Pacific ocean.
Multiple conservation efforts are in place to protect California’s wildlife and land. Much of the recreational land is held publicly in the form of state and national parks which helps to aid in the state’s conservation programs.
Primary freshwater species include Chinook salmon, striped bass, California golden trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and white sturgeon. In northern California, you will even find Ice fishing opportunities for trout and other species during the winter months.
The primary saltwater species include halibut, redfish, speckled trout, blacktip shark, and cobia. Pacific Ocean access makes for diverse opportunities along the West Coast for the beach, pier, and offshore fishing.
Major Rivers and Lakes
The three main rivers in California are the Colorado River, Sacramento River, and San Joaquin River. Their tributaries include the Gunnison River, White River, Pit River, McCloud River, and Merced River.
The largest lake is Tulare Lake which is located in the San Joaquin valley. The surface area of this lake is approximately 439,680 acres (687 square miles). Other significant lakes include Salton Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Mono Lake.
Regions
Iowa consists of seven major landform regions: Northwest Iowa Plains, Des Moines Lobe, Iowan Surface, Paleozoic Plateau, Missouri Alluvial Plain, Loess Hills, and Southern Iowa Drift Plain.
State and National Parks
California has 280 state parks and 9 national parks.
National Parks:
- Channel Islands National Park
- Death Valley National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Pinnacles National Park
- Point Reyes National Seashore
- Redwood National Park
- Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
- Yosemite National Park
| State Summary | |
| Nickname | Golden State |
| Neighboring States | Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Baja California |
| Regions | Coastal, Mountain, Central Valley, and Desert |
| State Flower | California Poppy |
| State Bird | California Quail |
| Big Game | Deer, bear, wild pig, elk, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep |
| Small Game | Squirrels, rabbits, jackrabbits, ruffed grouse, pheasant, and bobwhite quail |
| Freshwater Fish | Chinook salmon, striped bass, California golden trout, rainbow trout, channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, and sturgeon |
| Saltwater Fish | Halibut, cod, mackerel, seabass, sharks, and striped bass |
| Hunting Information | https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting |
| Total Acreage | 100 million acres |
| Total Public Land Acreage | 15 million acres |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 35 inches |
| Farmland by Acreage | 43 million acres |
| Woodlands by Acreage | 33 million acres |
| Coastline | 840 miles |
| Conservation Program | https://conservationalmanac.org/programs/california/ |
| Primary Crops | Dairy products and Almonds |
| Main Rivers | Colorado River, Sacramento River, and San Joaquin River |
| Largest Lake | Tulare Lake |
| Other Lakes | Salton Lake, Lake Tahoe, and Mono Lake |
| Other Tributaries | Gunnison River, White River, Pit River, McCloud River, and Merced River |
Our Rural Real Estate Offices
Mossy Oak Properties California began with the goal of becoming a trusted resource for folks looking to buy or sell rural land for sale in California. Our land brokers and agents understand what people are looking for in rural property because we share the same lifestyle and love for the land as you do. We understand the importance of honor and integrity and that buying or selling land is an emotional and life-changing experience for consumers.
Only Mossy Oak Properties California can provide the powerful combination of brand strength, local expertise, quality service, and national exposure. Whether you want to buy or sell rural real estate, a Mossy Oak Properties land specialist is a must-have on your team.
Find a California land real estate agent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What regions of California have rural land available at moderate prices?
The most affordable rural California land is in the northeastern counties. Modoc, Siskiyou, Lassen and Trinity counties have massive amounts of rural land with much lower prices compared to the rest of the state. According to the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, these areas often price timber and grazing land at 500 to 2500 dollars per acre. These remote areas give you great hunting and ranching options because very few people live there. The foothill counties like Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador offer rural lots with better weather and easier road access at fair prices. Inland counties in Southern California, like Riverside and San Bernardino, also have desert parcels at various price points.
What makes rural California land challenging to buy and own compared to other states?
California has some of the strictest land use, water and environmental rules in the country. Wildfire risk is a massive hurdle across the state. According to CalFire, many rural counties now force you to clear defensible space around your home use fire-resistant building materials and upgrade your access roads before they will give you a building permit. Finding home insurance in these high fire risk zones is getting very hard and very expensive. Water rights are also highly regulated and the older senior rights are usually already taken. The California Environmental Quality Act can trigger long and costly environmental reviews for new building projects. You can still make a great investment here, but you have to do a lot more homework than you would in other states.
Are there areas of California where rural land remains a genuine value opportunity?
Yes the northeastern counties of Siskiyou, Modoc and Lassen offer incredible value if you do not mind living far from the city. These counties are surrounded by public land and offer great hunting for deer elk, bear and upland birds. The western parts of these counties have solid timber and you deal with a fraction of the red tape found on the coast or in central California. According to the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers the eastern foothill counties in the Sacramento Valley like Shasta and Tehama have working ranches and recreational land that cost way less than land near the Bay Area or Central Coast. The trick to finding a good deal in California is simply buying land far away from the major cities.
