 Portola,
Plumas County’s only incorporated city, is
intersected by the Union Pacific Railroad and
the Middle Fork of the Feather River. Nearby
Lake Davis is well known for excellent trophy
trout fishing and camping and for viewing
wildlife and spring wildflowers.
The city also is home to the world renowned
Western Pacific Railroad Museum,
where visitors can climb about an extensive
collection of train cars and locomotives and
even drive a diesel locomotive themselves.
A log home on Highway 70 on the east end of
Portola houses the
Williams House Museum. The 1931
house, on the California Historical
Register, displays history of Portola and
the surrounding area.
Portola's Riverwalk
features a paved path that meanders a short
distance along the north bank of the Middle Fork
Feather River, with additional access from the
Williams House. This pleasant stroll with views
of Beckwourth Peak begins at the Beckwith St.
and Riverside Ave., in Portola. It continues
through the U.S. Forest Service picnic area off
Highway 70 to Rocky Point Road, where you can
continue along the river.
There are also ample quiet roadways near
Portola and Lake Davis popular with bicyclists.
During winter, these routes provide great
terrain for skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers.
East of Portola is the
Jim Beckwourth Museum, a log cabin
trading post once owned by the famous pioneer,
James Beckwourth. Grizzly Ranch, a
private golf course and residential community,
is located east of Portola, along Grizzly Road
leading to Lake Davis.
Annual events like Railroad Days, Winter Holiday snowmobile poker run and sled
dog races at Lake Davis, and the Lake Davis
Fishing Derby attract many visitors to Portola. A variety of restaurants and
lodging options, shops and other amenities can be found both along Highway
70 and across the Feather River in old downtown. The new Feather River
Community Arts Center on downtown's Commercial Street features an art
gallery, performances, classes and a cyber cafe.
The city's downtown park, which hosts a number of outdoor concerts and
events, has a skateboard park, swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts,
playground and picnic area.
 Further
east along Highway 70, the vast expanses of the Sierra Valley
occupy a large portion of Eastern Plumas County and play a major role in the
county’s cattle-producing industry. Here are situated the towns of
Beckwourth, Vinton
and Chilcoot, the latter being the gateway to Frenchman Lake,
a great trout fishery and popular camping area.
A bi-annual Cowboy Poetry show is held in Vinton in March and
September.
The headwaters of the Feather River are located in the Sierra Valley
and this wetland habitat has made it a prime location for
bird watching.
Bird watchers can commonly observe diverse types of waterfowl and raptors
along the county roads south of Highway 70.
Rock hounds also have much to explore in this area. Fossils, quartz, and
astounding sculptures of natural volcanic rock, found in places like Little
Last Chance Creek Canyon, are evidence of the valley’s unique geological
formations. For more information, visit the
Portola Visitors Center, (530) 832-0671, or
the
Eastern Plumas Chamber of Commerce, or
call (800) 995-6057. |
