Magalia, CA

33 Apartments for Rent

What's in a name? Magalia was founded after the California Gold Rush of 1849, as a mining camp bearing the moniker of Mountain View. Shortly thereafter, a dog breeding business led to a name change to Dogtown. But don't go barking up the wrong tree, the town's current name, Magalia, is based on the Latin word meaning "cottages."

The quiet town of Magalia is located near Lassen Volcanic National Park. Like lava tubes? Into hiking, outdoor trails, tall pines? Then Magalia is your kind of place. If you prefer skyscrapers to tall trees, move on, otherwise this bucolic community could be the perfect spot for you.

Moving to Town

Looking for rental houses in Magalia, California? You'll find that home for rent or an apt for rent, and townhouses for rent are also available. But give yourself at least a month to find a rental in this community, as rentals are coveted here. Check online listings and the local paper and peruse the streets of town on foot or by car to find the best spot for you. Be sure to come equipped with the kind of information most landlords require today: your ID, credit report, and bank statements or W2s.

Neighborhoods

There are three main neighborhoods in this community.

Stirling City: Rural in feel, this area borders public land and consists of mostly single family and mobile homes, constructed between 1940 and 1999. Most properties are occupied by owners, but you can find rentals with some searching.

Nimshew: Suburban in density, there are small to medium sized single family homes, small apartment complexes and mobile homes here, mostly newer properties, built between 1970 and 2000. Vacancies tend to come up with some frequency here.

Skyway / Wycliff Way: Located adjacent to the Magalia reservoir, this suburban neighborhood includes both single family and mobile homes built between 1940 and 1999. Tree lined streets and the Paradise Pines Golf Course make this neighborhood a solid draw.

Life in Magalia

You'll want to have a car if you live here, as the majority of residents commute in their own private vehicles. Commute times are generally short, between 15 and 30 minutes.

This is a great spot for nature lovers: you'll find many interesting critters and plants from black tailed deer to grey squirrels, newts in streams and lakes, tall cedars and bull pines.

There's Gold in Them Thar Hills

Surrounded by hills and meadows, Magalia was famous for producing the largest gold nugget in the world in 1859. A hydraulic mine in Feather River Canyon just northeast of town produced a mammoth 54-pound gold nugget, which was called the "Dogtown Nugget."

While the town has a remote feel due to all the nature surrounding it, it's actually only 30 minutes to Chico, where restaurants, major retailers and businesses thrive. Highway 99 leads residents to Chico and beyond.

Nearby Paradise Lake offers boating and fishing opportunities, as well as many spots to bird watch, walk and hike.