Grass Valley to Rio Vista: a long day each way for a better bird dog
Rio Vista is about 2.3 hours and 105 miles from Grass Valley by road. Richard Gebhart trains bird dogs at Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, and dogs come to him from all over California for board-and-train.
- 4.9 12 Google reviews
- Training since 2002
- Qualified at an AKC Master National
Grass Valley by the numbers
From Grass Valley to Hastings Island
- Drive to Rio Vista
- about 2.3 hours105 miles, OpenStreetMap routing, no traffic
- County
- NevadaUS Census Bureau
- Population
- 14,113ACS 5-year 2024
- Median age
- 49.6ACS 5-year 2024
Drive estimate from road routing between town centers (no traffic), pulled October 2026. Census figures: American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Grass Valley, in Nevada County, has 14,113 residents and a median age of 49.6 (Census ACS 5-year 2024). It sits in the Sierra foothills with quail ground and pointing-breed events close by.
Making sense of 2.3 hours
A drive of about 2.3 hours is a long day each way. A round trip is roughly four and a half hours, which is why most plans pair the trip with something useful, like a handler lesson, rather than a stop-in visit. Estimates use OpenStreetMap routing with no traffic.
Google lists Richard's hours as 8 AM to 2 PM Monday and Wednesday through Sunday, closed Tuesday. Call Richard about drop-off and pick-up and he will fit it to your week.
Hunt tests at Penn Valley
The Northern California Brittany Club lists an AKC pointing-breed hunt test at Kick Back Ranch in Penn Valley, also in Nevada County, on the 2026 California calendar (bdarn.com, fetched October 27, 2026). A local owner can see one without leaving the county.
AKC hunting tests grade each dog against a standard rather than against other dogs. The AKC's pointing-breed hunt test page explains the levels, and the California hunt test calendar page shows who lists events and where.
Spenceville nearby
Spenceville Wildlife Area, roughly 11,900 acres in Nevada and Yuba counties, lists valley quail and dove hunting and designated areas for dog training and field trials (CDFW). It is a public place where a Grass Valley owner can put a dog on birds, subject to the rules on the property's page.
Planning the stay
Since the trip is long, a stay with Richard saves the most time. See board-and-train for how it works. Program lengths and weekly rates are published and Richard decides the plan for each dog, so a call is the way to find out what is realistic for yours.
Pair the drop-off or pick-up with a handler lesson if Richard agrees. handler lessons can be one-on-one or in a group, and they teach you the commands the dog has learned.
Checklist before you call
- Breed, age and how the dog hunts now
- Upland, waterfowl or both
- The season you want the dog ready for
- Your questions about the drive and drop-off
Sources (4)
- Bird Dog & Retriever News: bdarn.com/ca/trialtests/ (checked October 27, 2026)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife: wildlife.ca.gov/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Spenceville-WA (checked October 27, 2026)
- American Kennel Club: akc.org/sports/pointing-breeds/hunt-tests/ (checked October 27, 2026)
- Hastings Island Hunting Preserve: hihp.com/royal-gun-dogs-dog-training/ (checked October 27, 2026)
Where Richard trains
Hastings Island Hunting Preserve, 7758 Hastings Island Rd, near Rio Vista in Solano County. Call before you drive out.
DirectionsYour trainer
Richard Gebhart has trained dogs professionally since 2002, learned the Rex Carr method for Retriever Basics under Billy Sargenti, and has run and qualified at an AKC Master National.
Meet RichardHow far is Grass Valley from Rio Vista?
About 2.3 hours and 105 miles by road, from OpenStreetMap routing with no traffic.
Are there hunt tests near Grass Valley?
The California calendar lists a Northern California Brittany Club AKC pointing-breed hunt test at Kick Back Ranch, Penn Valley. Check AKC Event Search for current dates.
Is board-and-train a good fit at this distance?
With a long drive each way, a stay is simpler than repeated trips. Call Richard about drop-off and pick-up from Grass Valley.
Which breeds suit Grass Valley hunting?
That depends on your birds. The breed pages describe retrievers, pointers and spaniels, and Richard can help you choose.
Book a consult
Get your dog ready for next season.
Richard books by phone. Call, text, or leave your details and he will call you back.
(530) 341-4496- 4.9 12 Google reviews
- Training since 2002