Lake Davis is the centerpiece of the Lake Davis Recreation Area, which supports boating, camping, cross-country skiing, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, picnicking, snowmobiling, swimming, and wildlife viewing.
Beckwourth Peak, begins at Beckwith Street and Riverside Avenue in Portola. It continues through the U.S. Forest Service picnic area off Highway 70 to Rocky Point Road, where walkers and riders can continue along the river. There are also ample quiet roadways near Portola, Lake Davis and into Sierra Valley that are 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 built by the legendary pioneer James Beckwourth, who discovered the route through the Sierra Nevada now followed by Highway 70. Grizzly Ranch Golf Club, ranked the #1 course in the Sierra Nevada by Golf Digest (2014), a public accessible golf course and residential community, is located east of Portola along Grizzly Road on the way to Lake Davis. Just to the south of Portola is the golf and vacation resort/residential community of Gold Mountain, where the Nakoma Resort clubhouse is built on an original Frank Lloyd Wright design. Perched above the wild and scenic Feather River, the Dragon Golf Course is a true mountain course boasting stunning views from every tee box. Annual events like Railroad Days, Santa Train, sled dog races and the Lake Davis Ice 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 the historical downtown area. The city’s downtown park hosts a number of outdoor concerts, festivals and events that include a summer concerts series. It has a skateboard park, swimming pool, horseshoe pits, baseball/ softball fields, basketball, tennis
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2016 - 2017 PLUMAS COUNTY VISITORS GUIDE
Portola - Sierra Valley
...Portola and Sierra Valley from Page 70
➸ Go canoeing or paddling on the headwaters of the Feather River.
➸ Spend a day museum-hopping at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum, where you can drive your own locomotive, then visit the Williams House Museum and Beckwourth Cabin. ➸ Get close to nature by birding, fishing or wildlife watching at Lake Davis, the Sierra Valley and Frenchman Lake. ➸ Take a stroll, jog or bike ride along Portola’s scenic Riverwalk or on one of the many trails identified at the City Park. ➸ Shop for gifts or find bargains at one of the several thrift stores found in Portola’s historical downtown Commercial Street and browse the shops along Hwy. 70.
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Linda Cooley
P O R T O L A A N D S I E R R A VA L L E Y
Watch the movement of light on water…
➸ Explore the mountain roads above Sierra Valley and Lake Davis on a guided ATV or snowmobile tour. ➸ Get cooking and gardening tips at Sierra Valley’s farmers’ markets on summer Friday afternoons. ➸ Check out amusing displays and unique merchandise at Wiggin’s Trading Post in Chilcoot. More information: (530) 836-6811 or 832-0671