Wintertime in Plumas County is serene and
beautiful, as snow covers the landscape and
things relax. This tranquil season offers a
terrific way to view nature’s landscapes while getting great exercise and having some
inexpensive winter fun.
It's a great time to explore Plumas County.
Miles of roads and trails offer excellent
cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.
Frozen ponds and lakes and snowy hillsides
invite opportunities for ice skating, ice
fishing and sledding.
Check the weather forecast at
(530)221-5613 and call (800)427-7623 for
road conditions. You may also refer to the
Caltrans
website for current traffic and road
conditions. Remember to drive more slowly
during during the winter and allow plenty of
time.
SNOWMOBILING
December to April. Depending on snow,
trails and snow-parks are open and available
at Bucks Lake, La Porte, Lake Davis, the
Lakes Basin Recreation Area, and the Lake
Almanor Basin near Chester.
Hundreds of miles of groomed snowmobile
routes are maintained throughout the winter
season. Grooming efforts sponsored through
California State Off Highway Vehicle funds.
These trails are maintained for snowmobile
use only.
Bucks Lake has
two staging areas open
during the season – Big Creek and Bucks Lake
Summit. La Porte has a
staging area with a warming hut and
restrooms and four trailside warming huts.
The Chester-Lake Almanor area boasts five
staging areas – Chester-Lake Almanor
Snowmobile Park, Swain Mountain, Morgan
Summit, Jonesville and Fredonyer. The Lakes
Basin Recreation Area south of Graeagle has
the Gold Lake Staging Area five miles south
of Highway 89 on Gold Lake Highway. Free
snowmobile maps available at Plumas County
Visitors Bureau, (800) 326-2247.
GUIDED SNOWMOBILE TOURS
Guided snowmobile tours are offered by
Explore! Sierra Touring Company in
Eastern Plumas, leaving from Chalet View
Lodge. ATV winter tours are offered by
High Sierra ATV Tours near Frenchman
Lake.
ARCTIC CAT RENTALS
High Sierra ATV Tours near Frenchman
Lake offers rentals of their new state of
the art Arctic Cat one and two-seater
machines. Call 800-596-8840.
CROSS-COUNTRY
SKIING AND SNOWSHOEING
December to April. Groomed trails in
Johnsville, Bucks Lake, La Porte, Child's
Meadow and Lassen Volcanic National Park,
outside of Chester. Literally hundreds of
miles of ungroomed trails also for
backcountry skiing within the Plumas and
Lassen National Forests. For guides and
maps, contact Plumas County Visitors Bureau,
(800) 326-2247 or the Plumas National
Forest, 530-283-2050, Lassen National
Forest, 530-258-2141, and Tahoe National
Forest, 530-994-3401.
Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals
available:
Mountain Hardware in Blairsden, (skis only)
530-836-2589
Sports Nut in Chester (skis only),
530-258-3327
Bodfish Bicycles in Chester, 530-258-2338
Child’s Meadow Resort (skis only),
530-595-3383
Guided
Snowshoe Hikes led by rangers are
held each Saturday from early January to
early April in Lassen Park.
Details are posted at the
Lassen
Volcanic National Park website or (530)
595-4444.
Winter Snowshoe Walks are offered to the
public by the
Almanor Ranger District, starting in
January, dates TBA. Call
(530) 258-2141 to pre-register for walks.
ICE SKATING*
A new outdoor ice-skating rink
opened last year in Chester!
The rink is located at the Truman Collins
Multi-Use Complex located on Meadowbook
Loop, off Main Street and adjacent to
Chester Park. The 60 x 50 foot-rink
offers skate rentals and will be open daily,
4-8 pm, weather dependent, as long as
the ice stays frozen! Fees are $5 per person
or $10 per family.
*Please call for updates, the ice
skating rink may or may not be open,
depending on weather and other
circumstances.
There are also frozen ponds and creeks ideal
for
ice skating if you have your own skates.
Check with local forest service offices for
favorite spots and conditions.
DOWNHILL SKIING
Coppervale Ski Hill is easily accessed a
short distance south of Hwy. 36 between
Susanville and Westwood. A Poma lift and a
rope tow are available to carry skiers and
snowboarders up 800 vertical feet. A box
ramp is on site rails of all
shapes and sizes. Ski and snowboard classes
are offered. A lodge is located at the base
of the slope with a snack bar. Full
day tickets are $20 weekdays, $25 weekends
and holidays, $20 for half-day, and ages 6 and under are
free with a paying adults. (530) 257-9965.
ICE FISHING
There are several lakes in the immediate
vicinity for the less strenuous but just as
exciting sport of ice fishing. Just check
with the forest service or any fisherman.
HUNTING
Winter is also waterfowl hunting and
viewing season.
The Indian Valley area northeast of
Greenville is renowned for the
number of waterfowl that winter there. The
Key Brand Duck Club offers
duck and goose hunting from October to
January.
Contact them at (530) 284-6944.
WINTER EVENTS
Winter Trails Days Events
Free winter sports events
for the whole family on Saturday,
January 7, 2011. To commemorate
National Trail Days,
Lassen
Volcanic National Park is offering
exciting opportunities for winter recreation
including snow play, skiing and snowshoeing.
Free cross country skis and lessons will be
available. Meet at the McGowan Trail Head
at 10:00 am.
Skis, boots and poles will be provided by
Childs Meadow Resort and Sports LTD.
Ranger led snowshoe walks for the general
public leave the Kom-Yah-man-nee Visitors
Center (530) 595-4480, at the south
entrance to the park, at 10:30 and 1:30 pm
(snowshoes provided for a donation of $1,
normal park entrance fees apply).
Bodfish Bicycles in
Chester will be discounting rentals
(530) 258-2338.
The St. Bernard Lodge in Chester will be
offering free snowshoes available from 10:30
am - 4:00 pm. Contact Sharon
Roberts at (530 258-3382 or
info@stbernardlodge.com for more
information. Additional activities
will be added. To view them see their Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/stbernardlodge.
Mineral Lodge (530) 595-4422 and
Millcreek Resort (530) 595-4449 will
also provide free snowshoes.
Visitors can also spend a
wonderful winter day at the Lassen Film
Festival On Saturday, January 14, 2011
beginning at 10:00 am. Films that
highlight park and outdoor recreation will
be shown in the visitors center
auditorium. Visitors can plan for
a fun day of snow play, lunch at the Lassen
Cafe, and viewing one or more films. Contact
the visitors center at (530) 595-4480 for
more information.
HISTORIC
LONGBOARD REVIVAL SERIES
Jan 15, Feb. 19 and March 18, 2012 Johnsville. (Please call to confirm dates)
A celebration commemorating the 1855 origin
of downhill ski racing in the old mining
settlement of Johnsville. Skiers on 11 to
13-foot longboard skis attempt to race down
the oldest recorded ski racing slopes in the
nation at Eureka Bowl located within
Plumas-Eureka State Park.
Decked out in historic costumes, the racers
use a single wooden pole between their legs
to stop, creating a snowy rooster –tail.
Homemade ski wax (also known as "dope")
placed on the wooden longboard skis provides
an authentic touch and is required for
speed. The races are open to both
participants and spectators, and include
food, drink, music, and prizes. Racers pay a
small fee for use of longboard skis, but
races are free to spectators. Contact the
Plumas County Visitors Bureau, 800-326-2247.
SNOWMOBILE POKER RUNS
Feb. TBA, Harold Schmidt Memorial Poker
Run, La Porte. 530-283-3402
Feb.4, Snowdrifters Poker Run, Bucks
Lake. 530-283-2262
Feb. 18, Lake Almanor Snowmobile Club
Annual Poker Run, Chester. 800-350-4838
Feb. 18, Winter Holiday Poker Run, Lake
Davis. 530-836-4112
SLED DOG RACES
January 28-29, 2012
Chester Winterfest Sled Dog Races
8 to 3 pm daily
Chester - 503-404-0799
or 530-258-2426
Feb. 18-19, 2012
Lake Davis - 530-832-5577
Dates subject to change.
Plumas
County roads are generally well-maintained
and passable during the winter. Chain
requirements are far less frequent than
other mountain destinations due to the lower
elevations. If it's snowing we advise
traveling via the Feather River Canyon on
State Route 70. This lower elevation route
offers a safe alternative to travel to and
from Plumas County even when Interstate 80
or other routes are closed. You're less
likely to ever need chains if you have
four-wheel drive or snow tires. For all
other vehicles, it's a good idea to carry
chains, especially when traveling via I-80. 
