This Undiscovered California Destination Feels Like Lake Tahoe Without the Crowds

"Tucked between Lassen Volcanic National Park 's calderas and the winding roads that dip toward the Feather River Canyon, Plumas County feels like California before the crowds. During my recent drive through the area, I was transported to an undiscovered, more nostalgic version of the state, where narrow mountain highways lead to glassy alpine lakes and former gold rush communities still ooze with small-town charm."

"As I crossed a vast swath of northern California from Mount Shasta to Tahoe City on my road trip, I came across one of the state's last unspoiled regions, dotted by quiet rural communities and mostly covered by forest. My cell phone service dropped sporadically, but it didn't matter because I was focused on the incredible scenery. Plumas County, which is larger than the state of Delaware, lies in the northern Sierra Nevada mountain range away from major highways."

"Named after the Feather River (Rio de las Plumas), the county was established in 1854 during the gold rush and was rooted in mining, logging, and railway industries. William Berry, an official historian of the United States Ski Association, used the term "Lost Sierra" to describe the area, including the eastern portion of Plumas County, when he visited it in 1933."

Plumas County occupies a remote portion of the northern Sierra Nevada between Lassen Volcanic National Park and the Feather River Canyon. The region features narrow mountain highways, glassy alpine lakes, and former gold-rush communities with preserved small-town character. The county is larger than the state of Delaware and lies away from major highways, resulting in sparse population and intermittent cell service. Established in 1854, the local economy was historically based on mining, logging, and railways. The area contains Lake Almanor, Plumas-Eureka State Park, and Bucks Lake Wilderness, and has been labeled the "Lost Sierra" since 1933.

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