 Colorful
shows of wildflowers can be seen along major
Plumas County roads during the late spring and
early summer. Conifer trees make up the most
prominent part of the county's landscape, but
the forest also supports some 2,000 species of
plants, most of which are flowering. Among the
best places to spot color are:
The Feather River Scenic Byway
(Highway 70 through the Feather River
Canyon). Especially showy from April through
June with a constantly changing display of
wildflower color. Early color may be
seen in the yellows of the delicate
waterfall buttercups and the reds of the
redbud shrub. Later color may be seen in the
yellow bush monkeyflower and in the blues of
the shrubby silver lupine.
 In
the central part of Plumas County, May and June
are the best wildflower months. Beautiful
displays may be seen in Indian Valley,
especially along Stampfli Lane. The roads near
Taylorsville and along both sides of the North
Arm are also good for wildflower viewing. The
road from Taylorsville through Genesee Valley
and up to Antelope lake is magnificent in the
spring.
Highway 89 along Lake Almanor has
some colorful wildflowers, especially the
area about midway between Canyon Dam and
Highway 36 where there are wet meadows. The
east shore of the lake along Highway 147 is
pretty with the white color of bitterbrush
and serviceberry.
The appearance of the landscape east of
Chester along Highway 36 changes in
spring with the flowering shrubs. Another
hot spot is along the roadside of Highway 32
south of Chester, where riparian areas
produce an abundance of wildflowers.
The Bucks Lake Road (Quincy-Oroville Highway) from Bucks Summit to Bucks
Lake Lodge has beautiful flowers especially in the wet areas around Whitehorse
Campground.
In June, the meadows in the eastern part of Plumas County, especially around
Lake Davis and Red Clover Valley, put on a vivid display of purple
camas and larkspur, yellow meadow buttercups, butterweed and others.
If you're willing to explore away from the roads, the Butterfly Valley
Botanical
Area north of Quincy is amass with color in June. The area has a large
variety of species, including the unique and rare California Pitcher-plant, a
yellow plant which traps insects and digests them. A tour map and information
sheet on the area is available.
The Lakes Basin Recreation Area offers the area's best show of
wildflowers from June through August. The network of good trails in this area
pass through colorful meadows and springs and open ridges of wildflowers, all
with great views of the craggy Sierra crest and the many lakes within the basin.
There is also a book available to guide hikers, Wildflower Walking in the
Lakes Basin, available at area bookstores.
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