Plumas National Forest

Where the Sierra Nevada meets the southern Cascades, Plumas National Forest spans 1.1 million acres of pine-covered mountains, deep river canyons, and alpine lakes in one of Northern California's most scenic yet uncrowded mountain landscapes. The Middle Fork Feather River, designated as a National Wild and Scenic River, carves a spectacular canyon through the heart of the forest, creating one of the deepest river gorges in California. The Lakes Basin Recreation Area near Graeagle features over 20 alpine and sub-alpine lakes nestled among granite peaks, offering excellent fishing for brook and rainbow trout in a compact and accessible high-mountain setting. The Bucks Lake Wilderness protects 21,000 acres of pristine backcountry, while Bucks Lake itself is renowned for trophy-sized trout fishing. The forest played a significant role in California's gold rush and railroad history, with the Western Pacific Railroad's Feather River Route threading through the canyon -- a route now followed by the popular Feather River Scenic Byway. Plumas supports diverse wildlife including black bear, mountain lion, bald eagle, and the California spotted owl, while its mixed conifer forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, white fir, and incense cedar provide important timber resources managed under sustainable harvest principles.