Where to Move on the West Coast If You Want to Be Totally Off-Grid and Slightly Feral
Feature pic: “Sapphire Lake — Suicide Ridge — Trinity Alps” by Beyond the Trail is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Dreaming of a life without neighbors, HOA meetings, or a single bar of cell service? The West Coast still has wild corners where you can go full hermit—high desert hideaways, deep forest outposts, and tiny communities where nobody’s checking for your Wi-Fi password. Whether you want to build a yurt, raise goats, or just scream into the wind without being judged, these are your spots.
Table of Contents
- 1. Twentynine Palms, California
- 2. Klamath Mountains, California/Oregon Border
- 3. Christmas Valley, Oregon
- 4. Slab City, California
- 5. Lopez Island, Washington
- 6. Modoc County, California
- 7. North Cascades Backcountry, Washington
- 8. Alsea, Oregon
- 9. Trinity Alps, California
- 10. Hart Mountain, Oregon
- MORE ON THE WEST COAST:
1. Twentynine Palms, California
Bordering Joshua Tree National Park and surrounded by the Mojave, this desert town is hot, dry, and full of off-grid energy. Plenty of folks here live in RVs, shipping containers, or self-built homes powered by solar (when the sun isn’t frying everything). It’s artsy, a little dusty, and definitely has a ‘we don’t ask questions’ vibe.
2. Klamath Mountains, California/Oregon Border
This remote region near the Siskiyou Wilderness is thick with forest, thin on humans. Cabins dot the landscape, and many are miles from paved roads or internet access. Winters can be harsh, and summers bring wildfire risk—but if you want to disappear into the trees, this is prime territory.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
3. Christmas Valley, Oregon
Flat, wide-open high desert in central Oregon where the land is cheap, the neighbors are few, and the vibe is pure Mad Max homesteader. Expect dirt roads, wind, and the occasional sand dune. There’s a surprising number of off-grid builds and a “don’t bother me and I won’t bother you” culture.
4. Slab City, California
If you want full-blown feral, this is the final boss. Slab City is an off-grid squatter community in the Sonoran Desert with no electricity, no plumbing, and no rules. It’s part Burning Man, part apocalyptic village. You’ll find artists, wanderers, retirees, and people who really don’t want to be found.
📍 GET THE ULTIMATE PNW MAP 🗺️
Get our curated list of the best adventures, things to do, and places to grab a brew loaded onto your maps with just two clicks!
✅ Waterfalls ✅ Hikes ✅ Viewpoints
✅ Craft breweries ✅ National Parks ✅ 1400+ Pins
5. Lopez Island, Washington
Not quite feral—but definitely off-grid friendly. Lopez is the chillest of the San Juan Islands, where some folks live without electricity or internet by choice. You’ll find farms, remote beach cabins, and a low-key hippie vibe. There’s a ferry, but once you’re there, it feels like another planet.
6. Modoc County, California
In the far northeastern corner of the state, this high-elevation county is all sagebrush, mountains, and big skies. Towns are tiny, winters are real, and the roads can be a mess. But land is dirt cheap, and if you want to raise chickens and vanish into the scrubland, nobody will stop you.
7. North Cascades Backcountry, Washington
If you really want no one around, the North Cascades have your back. We’re talking dense forest, limited access, and communities so small they barely register. Most people here are serious about their solitude. You’ll need survival skills, snow gear, and a tolerance for zero cell signal for days on end.
8. Alsea, Oregon
Deep in the Coast Range and surrounded by mossy woods, Alsea is where Oregonians go when they want true privacy. Think off-grid cabins, self-sufficient farming, and roads that turn to mud if you look at them wrong. You’ll probably need a generator and a wood stove, but peace and quiet? Guaranteed.
9. Trinity Alps, California
With massive wilderness areas, no cell service, and a history of gold mining, the Trinity Alps region is still home to some of the most isolated homesteads in California. You’ll find cabins accessible only by foot or mule—and if you want to go feral and fish for dinner, you’re all set.
10. Hart Mountain, Oregon
In southeastern Oregon’s high desert, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge sits near one of the state’s most remote and wild regions. There are a few scattered homes and ranches nearby, but you’ll mostly be hanging with bighorn sheep, antelope, and your own thoughts. Zero services. All the freedom.
MORE ON THE WEST COAST:
READ MORE: The Best of Oregon
READ MORE: The Best of Washington
READ MORE: The Best of California
*GRAB THE BEST WEST COAST ADVENTURE MAP FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP!*
