Redwood Bowmen Archery Club
4.8(95)google
4.6(29)yelp
Secluded & UncrowdedSports
Overview
Hidden serenely deep within the dense redwood forests of the Oakland Hills, this historic archery facility represents one of the oldest, most scenic continuous traditional archery clubs in California. Founded in the late 1930s, the rugged property features a dramatic outdoor field course winding up forested hillsides, testing archers with varying rustic targets and natural elevation changes. The club is fully dedicated to preserving the historical art of traditional bowmanship, offering regular public introductory lessons and hosting prestigious regional competitive tournaments.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 2-3 hours
Best TimeStrongly recommended for clear, sunny mornings. Tucked deep within a dense redwood forest canopy, the sight of morning sunbeams piercing the giant trees makes this outdoor archery range feel magical.
Getting ThereHidden deep in the hills at 10900 Redwood Rd. No public transit available; driving is mandatory. Follow Redwood Road deep into the hills; the entrance sign is small, leading to an unpaved forest parking clearing.
Travel Tips
- This professional forest archery range features zero equipment rentals; secular walk-ins must bring approved personal archery gear unless attending public clinic days.
- The archery lanes track down rugged redwood hillsides with absolute cellular blindspots; save all directional safety layouts locally before driving into the woods.
- The range enforces military-grade ceiling safety calls; crossing the shooting line to retrieve arrows mandates absolute synchronized group holds. Never wander out alone.
Reviews
Positive
- Tucked deep in the redwood canopy, the archery range landscape is breathtaking; shooting arrows among towering trees offers an unmatched tranquil vibe.
- Maintained completely by volunteers, it features diverse targets including 3D animals, making public days highly engaging with strong core sporting value.
- Public day fees are incredibly low compared to commercial ranges, maximizing value, and the woods feature wooden picnic benches and rest zones.
- The club's veteran archers are deeply welcoming to newcomers, patiently teaching safety protocols and shooting techniques to keep things highly orderly.
Heads up
- The location is extremely hidden at the end of a winding unlit park road; GPS often drops signal under the heavy canopy, lowering driver convenience.
- Set in a pristine nature reserve, restrooms are limited to primitive portable toilets, lacking modern running water or accessible facilities.
- During the rainy winter season, the dirt trails and range sod get muddy and slippery, presenting safety hazards without hardened pathway maintenance.
- Gear rental and lessons are strictly limited to select weekend public slots; it's club-member-only otherwise, limiting casual walk-in accessibility.