Photo: Dave Garcia Gold, Ghosts, and Sierra Gambols: Service in Plumas-Eureka State Park, California Highlights:
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Trip Number: 09070A Price: $ 395 Deposit: $50 Capacity: 16 Leader:
The Trip  Photo: Dave Garcia Sixty miles northwest of Lake Tahoe and nestled among the majestic peaks and alpine lakes of the Sierra Nevada lies Plumas-Eureka State Park. The park is steeped in lore and legends of the California Gold Rush. The campground lies at the foot of Eureka Peak where $25 million in gold was carved from the 65 miles of tunnels mazed in Gold Mountain (its prior name). The mile high historic visitor center was once a bunkhouse for one of the many gold mines in the park. The historic blacksmith shop, miner's cabin, stable, and the massive Mohawk Stamp Mill contain relics and early gold mining equipment for viewing. In 1849 “Crazy Stoddard” a hunter and prospector claimed to have stumbled upon a lake with gold nuggets on its shoreline. Attacked by Native Americans the next day, he escaped and wandered lost and aimlessly for days through the mountains until he found some miners who gave him food and shelter. Stories of his fabled “Gold Lake” spread like wildfire and created the gold fever stampede of Feather River Country. Remnants of the “boom and bust” ghost towns of City of 76, Jamison City, Eureka Mills, and Johnsville which were spawned by the “Gold Lake” legend can still be explored today. The Project Plumas-Eureka State Park was created in 1959 with over 6,000 acres of forest, meadows, waterfalls, creeks, and two lakes. Through the decades continued budget cuts have left the park with overgrown trails and exotic invasive plant invasions. Specific projects have yet to be determined but there is ample work to do for years to come.
 Photo: Dave Garcia The trip will be 8 days long with the first and last day consisting as travel, camp set up, orientation, safety talks, camp take down and equipment and facilities clean up. We will work four days and have two days off to explore and enjoy the spectacular area. The trip will start at Lisa Group Camp at noon on Saturday with lunch and orientation to the park, its visitor center, and traditional campfire program that night. We will spend time after work exploring the numerous mines and remnant ghost towns in the park. The hike to Mt Elwell (7,818 ft high) from our camp is a 12 mile (3,000 ft elevation gain) hike past 5 alpine lakes with a vista of the fabulous Lake Basins Area with over 50 lakes. This will be a planned hike for one of our free days. There are numerous options for our second free day from hiking peaks, kayaking lakes, bird watching at Sierra Valley an Audubon Society nationally designated Important Bird Area, to visiting Butterfly Valley and viewing the native endemic and rare insectivore California Pitcher Plant (Cobra Lily) in bloom with insectivore Sundew Plants. Getting There The nearest airport is Reno Nevada about one hour away. Plumas-Eureka SP is in Northern California off of highways 70 and 89, 5 miles from the towns of Blairsden and Graeagle. The historic gold mining town of Johnsville is surrounded by the park and has one commercial establishment, the Iron Door Restaurant.
We will be staying at Lisa Group Camp with hot showers and flush toilets. There is no electricity or cell phone service available at the campground. We will be camping next to Jamison Creek and only a two mile hike from Grass Lake so bring your swimsuits. Our menu will be vegetarian-friendly with lunch being the first meal on 5/30 and the last meal on 6/6.
We will be hiking up and down ridges with tools and day packs restoring trails. Trail work in the sun is strenuous and it is very important that you are in good physical condition. The Mt Elwell hike is 12 miles with more than 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Good stamina and aerobic capacity are important in completing this strenuous hike.
The tools will be furnished by the park. It is crucial to have a good pair of leather gloves. You will also need sturdy work boots, long pants, and long sleeve shirts to protect you from the brambles, sun, and insects. In addition to your camping equipment you will also need a day pack, water bottles, rain gear, sunscreen, hat, and bandana. We will provide food but you need your own spoon, fork, knife, and plate. We will provide a first aid kit but you should bring moleskin, bandages, aspirin and any medications you require. Plumas-Eureka SP generally has a mild climate in June with temperatures ranging from 40 to 90 degrees. However, there have been rare June snow storms and snow pack will sometimes last into July. It is best to have layers of comfortable clothing. A complete list of equipment will be sent to approved participants. If you have any questions, please contact the trip leader.
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Conservation Gold mining was a devastating industry to the environment. The need of lumber for tunnel support beams, rail track ties, housing, and mining complex structures de-forested entire mountain sides like Eureka Peak. Landscape scars of hydraulic mining on Jamison Creek are still visible 100 years later. Hydraulic mining devastated streams and rivers by polluting, silting, and clogging the waterways. Silted rivers became un-navigable and also blocked salmon migrations and suffocated fish. In 1870 San Francisco was the marketing center of the salmon industry with 21 salmon canneries located in the bay area. Hydraulic mining was so deleterious that in 1883 the courts outlawed it in the Sacto-San Joaquin Valley in an attempt to protect the California Salmon Industry.
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Cook  Mollie Dean enjoys meeting the interesting people on Sierra Club Service trips and preparing hearty meals for them. She appreciates learning about the habitat and environmental issues at the trip site and especially likes seeing the results of the work project. She has cooked on trips in California from Catalina to Lassen National Park and in Colorado on the Yampa River. At home in Minnesota, she works on wetland issues with her local Sierra Club chapter, does math tutoring with immigrants, and helps organize a community garden. General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Dave Garcia was a California State Park Ranger for 28 years. He has led Sierra Club kayak, mountain bike, and habitat restoration trips. Dave's trips are about the service commitment of working hard, playing hard, making new friends, and having fun!