Tours, self-guided and group
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Self-guided
Make sightseeing a learning experience! Interpretive walking and driving tours of Plumas County's communities, byways and forests tell the history and the stories behind what you see. Contact the Plumas County Visitors Bureau to obtain free copies of these self-guided tour brochures. Or pick them up at information centers, forest service offices and area businesses.
Quincy walking tour
A self-guided walking tour of 61 Quincy buildings and sites rich in history is available through the Heritage Walk brochure and map. The 17-block tour of downtown begins at the Plumas County Museum, located behind the county courthouse on Main Street.
Trail of Maidu Indian legends
A driving tour that highlights Indian legends as well as scenic beauty through Indian Valley is outlined in a free pamphlet, An Ancient Trail of the Mountain Maidu Indians.
The self-guided auto tour encompasses 67 miles from Quincy to Susanville and features 16 separate sites where motorists can stop and look, or walk about with the interpretive guidebook.
Points of interest along "The Worldmaker's Trail" include a traditional campsite, the figure at Soda Rock, Thundering Falls, Monster Snake Pool and many others, all of which have spiritual beliefs attached to them.
The approximate two-hour tour, which follows State Highways 70, 89, 147 and 36, can be taken from either direction. The 24-page illustrated pamphlet contains a map, mileage chart and photographs of each stop.
Beckwourth's wagon route
Plumas County pioneer James P. Beckwourth-known also as a trapper, Indian chief and storyteller-discovered the lowest pass over the Sierra. His wagon route from Marysville to Reno, which transects much of Plumas County, is now designated as a National Historic Trail. Portions of the trail can be followed by car, bike and on foot. More information about the trail is available in a free pamphlet, History of the Beckwourth Trail.
Greenville walking tour
The Historic Greenville Main Street Walking Tour takes a nostalgic look back to the town's gold rush origins. The four-block, round-trip tour encompasses 21 historic buildings, some of which maintain architecture and artifacts dating back to the late 1800s. The sites, which now house a range of modern-day businesses, are each designated with signs and historical photographs to accompany the map and brochure.
Feather River Byway
A self-guided driving tour brochure and map, Feather River Scenic Byway, was published as part of the byway's 1998 dedication. The tour highlights 17 natural, historic and manmade features of this 130-mile stretch of State Highway 70 from Oroville to Hallelujah Junction. The map also points out rest areas, vista points, campgrounds, historic monuments and visitor information centers throughout Plumas County. A more detailed regional map of the Feather River Scenic Byway also is available for sale.
Backcountry, scenic drives
Owners of four-wheel drive vehicles looking to get off the beaten track can explore four Plumas County backcountry routes. A series of brochures, Plumas County Backcountry Drives, details the historical and natural attractions of each route, and provides mileage, directions, maps and photos.
The series includes the Humboldt Summit-Humbug Valley Loop, the Indian Valley-Antelope Lake Loop, the Beckwourth-Antelope Lake Indian Valley Route, and the Quincy-La Porte-Johnsville Route.
Plumas County's most popular scenic drives also are featured in a series of itineraries. These paved routes, geared for any vehicle, take travelers on adventures that combine history, outdoor recreation, stunning landscapes and visitor amenities.
Historic Gold Mining Sites
A two-hour auto tour of former gold rush mining settlements has been developed in the La Porte area. The 30-mile tour on dirt roads features remnants of the mining activity in six locations, marked with interpretive signs. A brochure, Auto Tour of Historic Town Sites on the Plumas National Forest, features photos, descriptions and a map.
Touring nature
Look elsewhere in this Visitors Guide to order brochures or read information on viewing Plumas County's fall colors, wildflowers and bird-watching areas.
Snowflowers are among the colorful highlights when touring nature.
Group Tours
Plumas County has developed a series of sightseeing itineraries geared at groups, bus tours, or clubs. These regional itineraries are based on shoulder-season travel, from October to May, when rooms and restaurants are more readily available. Others are developed for special interests, such as wildlife viewing, winter sports, railroad, history, auto touring, ethnic tours and corporate retreats.
Plumas County now offers 16 regional tour itineraries geared for sightseeing groups, special interests, or even individual travelers. These self-guided itineraries are based on travel during the months of October through May, when rooms and restaurants are more readily available.
The 3-day trip itineraries, available online at www.plumascounty.org, are designed to assist tour/travel trade professionals, school groups, clubs, or anyone who's seeking help in making special-interest or off-season travel plans. Itineraries can be taken in any direction, with alternate entrance and exit points, and several choices of accommodations and restaurants.
Below are brief descriptions of the tours, which can be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat. For more information on any of these tours, or for help for a specialized group itinerary, please contact Plumas County Visitors Bureau, (800) 326-2247, or email us at pcvb@psln.com.
Tour 1 - Fall in Love with Plumas County: View spectacular fall foliage in the Northern Sierra (Sept-Oct). Includes Feather River Canyon, Quincy, Lake Almanor, Indian Valley, Graeagle, Portola. Plus museums, walking tours, shopping, fine dining and more.
Tour 2 - Gold Rush and the Great Outdoors: Explore Oroville's historic gold mining attractions, then head for the tiny hamlet of La Porte for hiking, skiing or snowmobiling. Includes museums, Lake Oroville, Feather Falls, Union Hotel.
Tour 3 - Volcanoes and Lakes in the Shasta Cascade: Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park dominate the landscape on this tour of Redding, Red Bluff, Chester, Lake Almanor and Westwood. Victorian homes, shopping, hiking, winter sports, and more.
Tour 4 - Architecture, Quaint Towns and Scenic Byways: Travel two scenic byways on sightseeing adventure from Chico to Plumas County. Tours of Bidwell Mansion and Nakoma Resort (by Frank Lloyd Wright), a covered bridge, trains, museums, hikes, lakes, and shopping.
Tour 5 - Seasonal Pleasures and Small Town Treasures: The Northern Sierra village of Graeagle is the base for trips to Bucks Lake, Quincy, Portola Railroad Museum, Plumas-Eureka State Park, and a cattle ranch. Plus birding, fall foliage, walking tours, shopping.
Tour 6 - Historic Mountain Towns in the Northern Sierra: Discover off-the-beaten path Sierra getaways linked with Gold Rush legacy: Downieville, Graeagle, Quincy and Portola. Walking tours, museums, birding, Plumas-Eureka State Park, train attractions, Nakoma Resort (by Frank Lloyd Wright.)
Tour 7 - Wonders of the Railroad World: A rail fan's dream come true along Hwy. 70 from Oroville to Reno Junction. See unique bridges and tunnels, the Keddie Wye, William's Loop, and drive a locomotive at Portola's Railroad Museum.
Tour 8 - Antiquing and Bargain Hunting: A sightseeing tour and shopping spree at antique, thrift and consignment stores in quaint Northern Sierra towns. Find treasures in Portola, Quincy, Greenville, Chester and Graeagle, with time out for great meals.
Tour 9 - Birding and Wildlife Viewing: Spot an amazing variety of species in pristine Northern Sierra habitat, including Gray Lodge, Indian Valley, Antelope Lake, Feather River Canyon, Lake Davis and the renowned Sierra Valley (Important Bird Area.)
Tour 10 - Winter Fun on Foot in Plumas County: An invigorating tour of snow-covered forests on skis and snowshoes! Choose from groomed or backcountry trails and accommodations near Graeagle, Bucks Lake, or Lassen Volcanic National Park, with equipment rental available.
Tour 11 - Snowmobiling in Plumas County: Check out spectacular winter beauty in one of California's finest snowmobile destinations. Ride miles of mountain trail in Chester-Lake Almanor, Bucks Lake, La Porte or Graeagle, relax in cozy accommodations. Rentals available.
Tour 12 - Historic Plumas County: Explore the past in Northern Sierra small towns, from Maidu Indians and explorer James Beckwourth, to gold mining, railroading and timber. Follow historic auto routes and walking tours, visit unique museums and sites.
Tour 13 - Timber: History, Harvesting and Future: Learn about role of timber harvesting in Sierra-Nevada communities on visits to lumber mills, museums and Quincy Library Group fuels reduction projects. Includes Graeagle, Quincy, Chester and Westwood.
Tour 14 - Diversity in Northeastern California's Past: The Northern Sierra's multicultural heritage is celebrated on this Quincy and Oroville-based tour that highlights the Mountain Maidu and Yahi Indians, African-American explorer James Beckwourth, Chinese laborers, and Swiss-Italian dairy farmers.
Tour 15 - Auto and Motorcycle Clubs: Scenic touring Along Roads Less Traveled: Drive quiet rural byways and backcountry roads with breathtaking mountain vistas and charming small towns in the Northern Sierra near Quincy. Choose from several auto tours off of California Routes 70 and 89.
Tour 16 - Corporate Retreats: Re-energize your staff on a mountain retreat featuring Plumas County's four seasons of recreation and scenic beauty. Combine business with golf, snow sports, fly-fishing and more. Cabin-style conference facilities.
If you're interested in bringing a group tour or setting up a specialized group itinerary, contact the Plumas County Visitors Bureau at (800) 326-2247 or email pcvb@psln.com.
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