 The
Feather River Canyon, located along Highway 70
between Oroville and Quincy, is one of the most
popular scenic driving routes in the state.
It’s a major portion of
the
Feather River National Scenic Byway and
serves as the lowest elevation east-west
passageway through the Sierra Nevada.
Cascading waterfalls and wildflowers in
the spring and brilliant colors in the fall
highlight the canyon’s natural beauty. The area
also showcases the marvels of power plant,
railroad and highway engineering between the
steep, rugged canyon walls that drop down to the
North Fork of the Feather River.
 The
historic Pulga and Tobin bridges -- highway and
railroad bridges that cross over each other
--and three tunnels blasted through granite are
among the most frequently photographed sites.
Seven hydroelectric powerhouses make up the
“Stairway of Power” along the river with
excellent views of the process in action.
Numerous hiking trails (including the Pacific
Crest Trail) are accessed in the canyon, while
the river provides opportunities for gold
panning, camping and springtime rafting and
kayaking. There also are numerous fishing holes
along the creeks that intersect the river.
Recreational flow releases on the North
Fork Feather River increase the
opportunities for whitewater enthusiasts, on
select weekends from June to October.
The small communities of Storrie, Tobin, Belden, Caribou, Twain and
Paxton
offer lodging, camping, convenience stores
and places to eat.
An annual
Miners Day Faire
is held in Twain over Labor Day
weekend, featuring an Old West shootout and
more.
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