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Recreational Activities

So Much to See and Do

Welcome to one of your most beautiful National Forests. The Plumas National Forest is uniquely located on the boundary between the rugged Sierra Nevada and the fringes of the Cascade Range. The Forest's diverse 1.2 million acres provide a magnificent backdrop for a variety of recreational activities.

Recreational Reports and Recreational Areas

OHV Use & River Running

Camping, Wilderness and Hiking Trails

Recreational Reports

View all the information about open campgrounds, open trails, and 4x4 areas in one spot. These include campground fees, facilities available, and trail locations.

Recreational Areas

The Plumas National Forest Recreational Areas are areas that have outstanding combinations of outdoor recreation opportunities, aesthetic attractions, and proximity to potential users. They may also have cultural, historical, archaeological, pastoral, wilderness, scientific, wildlife, and other values contributing to public enjoyment.

• Antelope Lake Recreation Area
• Bucks Lake Recreation Area
• Davis Lake Recreation Area
• Little Grass Valley
• Sly Creek
• Frenchman Lake
• Lakes Basin

Feather Falls

Feather Falls is about forty-five minutes east of Oroville in what was originally a town for lumber mill employees. The Feather Falls Trailhead is also in the area.

Feather Falls Map [2mb PDF]

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Butterfly Valley Botanical Area

This 500-acre area is set aside to protect and study special botanical resources, including the California Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia californica). Four other insectivorous plants are also studied here.

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Off-Highway Vehicle Route Designation

Over the next four years, the national forests in California will complete an inventory of all the roads, trails, and areas used by Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), identify a system of routes from that inventory and designate those routes/areas for OHV use.

Camping

Camping in the Plumas National Forest ranges from lakeside campgrounds to remote mountain stream hideouts.

Campground elevations vary from a couple thousand feet above the valley floor to more than 7,000 feet in elevation. Particular caution with weather should be taken for sites above 4,000 feet in elevation.

Generally, fee campgrounds are open from April through October. Campgrounds at higher elevations open in mid to late May.

Dispersed Camping is continued to be allowed on the Plumas National Forest adjacent to roads and trails, as long as no resource damage is being caused. A new dispersed camping policy will be developed when the Plumas National Forest Land Management Plan is devised.

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Trails - Hiking

The Plumas National Forest offers close to 300 miles of trails suited for every taste and ability. Whether you are looking for a leisurely stroll or a strenuous hike, what better way to enjoy the forest than first-hand. Hiking on our many trails offers you the opportunity to experience beautiful scenery and catch a glimpse of wildlife that you might otherwise miss.

Trails on Beckwourth Ranger District
If you have questions email the BRD Trail Coordinator

Trails on Feather River Ranger District
If you have questions email the FRRD Trail Coordinator

Trails on Mt. Hough Ranger District
If you have questions email the MHRD Trail Coordinator

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Pacific Crest Trail

The Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. About 75 miles extends across the Plumas National Forest, crossing two major canyons, (the Middle Fork and North Fork of the Feather River). Elevations range from 2400 to 7000 feet. Due to snow at the higher elevations it is usually mid-June before it is feasible to hike in this area. Whether you decide to only hike a short distance of the trail or tackle the entire 2,650 miles, you will experience some of the most breathtaking scenery in the United States.

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Bucks Lake Wilderness

The wonder of wilderness

Located in the northwestern part of the forest, the 20,000 acre Bucks Lake Wilderness has a broad diversity of plant life, trees, and landscape features....

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Floating the Feather River

Branches of the Feather River offer everything from slow summer tube floats to hair-raising class VI expert paddles.

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Help Us Protect Your Forests

Please preserve and protect your National Forests. To do this, try to leave natural areas the way you find them, by practicing "Leave No Trace" conservation ethics. Do not carve, chop, cut and damage any live trees. They have done nothing to deserve this treatment, and damaged trees cheapen the natural experience for others. Try to leave your camp or picnic site a little cleaner than you found it; the next visitor will thank you.

There are campgrounds on the Plumas National Forest that use the Pack it In, Pack it Out program for dealing with waste. This means that garbage cans are not provided. Campers are asked to bring their own garbage bags and take their garbage with them when leaving the campsite. While this seems like an inconvenience, the funds saved are used to provide additional recreational facilities. Do not bury litter; forest animals can smell it and will dig it up.