Where was Bushwhacked filmed?

One of the first scenes in the 1995 film Bushwhacked shows delivery man Max taking a package to the mansion of a millionaire named Reinhart Bragdon. Max is played by Daniel Stern while Bragdon is played by Anthony Heald. Max is tasked with taking the package late at night but comes across a fire in the mansion. After noticing the fire, he also runs into an FBI agent named Palmer, who corners the delivery man. Max manages to get away, and while doing so he accidentally grabs Palmer’s gun.

The day after the fire Max learns he is wanted for Bragdon’s death and sets out to clear his name. He first calls his boss to find out about other packages for the millionaire.

His boss says, “What the hell's going on? Some guy on TV said you killed somebody!”

Max tells him, “I know, but it's not true. I was set up. I gotta know if there's another package for Timberline Inc., to Reinhart Bragdon.”

The opening scene of the mansion fire, and the following scene of Max talking with his boss, was filmed in Placerville, California.

After Max learns that he is wanted for the fire and Bragdon’s death, he goes on the run from the cops while trying to clear his name. Early in the movie, he runs into a scoutmaster named Jack Erickson. Jack recognizes Max from the news and wants to take him in. However, Max has different plans. Max tells the scoutmaster, “Now you are going to pretend to be me.”

Jack tries to get Max to turn himself in and says, “You still have a chance to be a fine young scout!” Max proceeds to glue the man to the steering wheel of his car. He tells Jack to pretend to be him while driving down the road.

Max tells him, “Keep heading south, and don't stop driving until you get to Mexico and I'm going to be right behind you the whole time.”

Max then steals Jack’s van. Like much of the film, this scene was shot in Tahoe National Forest in California.

When Max steals Jack’s van, it leads to him being mistaken as a scoutmaster. He leads a troop of scouts into the woods, still needing to get to Devil’s Peak to clear his name.

When talking about their troop leader one of the scouts, Gordy, says, “My mom says the guy who's taking us has hiked all over the world."

Another scout responds by saying, “I'm sure he won't be half as good as the guy me and my dad had on our trip to the Serengeti."

Once the scouts have been led into the wilderness by Max, they end up creating a radio and find out that Max is wanted by the police.

Gordy tells Max they are creating a “crystal-dialed receiver.”

Once the kids have learned Max’s true identity, they set out on a plan to subdue him and contact their original scoutmaster. This scene, and others of the troops in the wilderness, were filmed in the Tahoe National Forest in California.

The scouts follow Max when Palmer takes him, and they come to his rescue when they learn the truth about what is happening. Max ends up falling into the river and is once again saved by the scouts. The river that Max falls into is the South Fork American River found in California.

After this scene, the boys decide they will keep going with Max to Devil’s Peak to help him finish what he started and prove what Bragdon is doing. The group reaches safety and decides to start a fire.

One of the scouts says, “Well guys, we gotta start a fire. Better start looking for pinecones.” He explains that “It says in the manual, whenever your camp is surrounded by greenwood, always use pinecones to start your fire.”

The scenes following Max’s fall into the river were also filmed in California in regions of the Tahoe National Forest. While you are there, be sure to take the time to see some of this beautiful area. Take a hike, go swimming, or do some fishing.

When Max finally reaches Devil’s Peak he is joined by Jack, who has managed to free himself and follow after the group. Max sees that the mother of one of the scouts, Mrs. Patterson has been captured. Max sets out to set her free, sneaking into the cabin to untie her. However, he has issues getting the knot undone.

Max says, “So, it's not a figure-eight, it's not a butterfly, and it's not a fisherman's.”

Bragdon enters the cabin and says, “It's a clove hitch.” He then adds, “I learned it in the Scouts.”

Bragdon has a gun, and this leads Max and Jack to being held at gunpoint near a cliff. This scene, and many of the final scenes depicting Devil’s Peak, were shot in California near Lake Tahoe.

Just when it seems that Max and Jack are done for, they are saved by a scout. Gordy runs at Bragdon to throw him off the cliff, but the scout ends up falling too.

One of the last scenes in Bushwhacked features Max saving the life of Gordy, the scout who pushed Bragdon off the cliff. Gordy fell too but was able to catch himself on a branch. This leaves it up to Max to save him.

Before climbing down Max says, “Hey kid, how's it hanging? Alright, Gordy, I'm coming down to get you.”

Gordy tells him, “No! You don't know what you're doing!”

Max responds with “Of course I do! I'm the Lizard! Remember?” And then manages to pull Gordy to safety.

Once Gordy is safe, the truth comes out about Bragdon and Palmer, who was conspiring to help the millionaire. This clears Max’s name of the crime, and he is even asked to become an official scout leader.

“As for you, Mr. Grabelski. When you took these kids on an overnight, you broke every rule in the book! But, when they got into trouble, you demonstrated the kind of courage, values, and honor, which are the cornerstones of the Ranger Scouts. It gives me great pleasure to present Max Grabelski...with the badge of Ranger Scout Leader,” Max is told.

He is then tasked with taking even more kids on an overnight trip to Yosemite. This final scene was shot in Tahoe National Forest near Lake Tahoe. This lake is one of the most popular lakes in the country and gets millions of visitors every year. No matter what time of year you are there, you can enjoy a walk around the lake.