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Plumas-Eureka State Park was established in 1959 and provides visitors with a glimpse into a fascinating period of California history, as well as opportunities for quiet recreation in a beautiful high Sierra mountain setting.
The focal point of the park is the museum building and historic area surrounding it. Originally constructed as the miner's bunkhouse, the museum now serves as a visitor center. Inside, displays depict the natural and cultural history of the park. Outside and across the street from the museum is the historic mining area, where the Mohawk Stamp Mill, Bushman five-stamp mill, stable, mine office, Moriarity House (historic miner's residence) and the blacksmith shop depict life in gold rush-era California.
During the summer, tours of the buildings and blacksmithing demonstrations are conducted by docents and park staff. Visitors can also enjoy fishing, nature study and hiking within the park.
Getting There
The park is five miles west of Blairsden on County Road A-14.
The park is five miles west of Blairsden on County Road A-14.
Climate
Summer temperatures range from about 75 degrees during the day to the low 40s at night, and winter temperatures average from a high of 40 to a low of 20 degrees.
Summer temperatures range from about 75 degrees during the day to the low 40s at night, and winter temperatures average from a high of 40 to a low of 20 degrees.
Operating Hours & Contact
Please contact the park for hours of operation.
Telephone: 530-836-2380
Please contact the park for hours of operation.
Telephone: 530-836-2380
Camping
Jamison Creek has 67 campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and bear-proof food lockers. Piped drinking water, restrooms, and hot showers are nearby. Sites accommodate trailers up to 24 feet and motor homes up to 28 feet. Reservations are recommended from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The campground closes from October through late spring.
Make Campground Reservations
Max Camper Length: 30 Feet
Max Trailer Length: 24 Feet
Jamison Creek has 67 campsites with picnic tables, fire rings and bear-proof food lockers. Piped drinking water, restrooms, and hot showers are nearby. Sites accommodate trailers up to 24 feet and motor homes up to 28 feet. Reservations are recommended from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The campground closes from October through late spring.
Make Campground Reservations
Max Camper Length: 30 Feet
Max Trailer Length: 24 Feet
Activities
Museum: The museum in the historic miners’ bunkhouse has natural history exhibits, archaeological finds, mining artifacts, a working scale model of the stamp mill, and hands-on exhibits for children. It also houses the camp store and park headquarters. The museum and camp store are open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, with limited hours year round.
Tours/Events: During living history days, costumed docents demonstrate life in a historic mining town. In the summer, tour the Moriarity House and learn how a miner’s family lived more than 100 years ago. Tours accommodate eight persons at a time - sign up at the museum. Docents and staff conduct summertime blacksmithing demonstrations and tours of the mine buildings. Ask about guided hikes, nature walks, and other activities.
Winter Recreation: Enjoy the solitude of several cross-country ski or snowshoe loops. The annual Longboard Revival Race series takes place at the historic Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl. At this event, hosted by the nonprofit Plumas Ski Club, contestants wearing 1860s attire race downhill on 9- to 16-foot wooden skis.
Fishing: Fishing opportunities in the Plumas-Eureka area include numerous alpine lakes and streams within a short drive or hike out of the campground. Jamison Creek flows through the campground and can yield the occasional trout.
Hiking: Plumas-Eureka and the surrounding area is a hiker's paradise. Campers can hike out of their campsite, and day-user's can park nearby to access a network of trails that navigates through the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
Museum: The museum in the historic miners’ bunkhouse has natural history exhibits, archaeological finds, mining artifacts, a working scale model of the stamp mill, and hands-on exhibits for children. It also houses the camp store and park headquarters. The museum and camp store are open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend, with limited hours year round.
Tours/Events: During living history days, costumed docents demonstrate life in a historic mining town. In the summer, tour the Moriarity House and learn how a miner’s family lived more than 100 years ago. Tours accommodate eight persons at a time - sign up at the museum. Docents and staff conduct summertime blacksmithing demonstrations and tours of the mine buildings. Ask about guided hikes, nature walks, and other activities.
Winter Recreation: Enjoy the solitude of several cross-country ski or snowshoe loops. The annual Longboard Revival Race series takes place at the historic Plumas-Eureka Ski Bowl. At this event, hosted by the nonprofit Plumas Ski Club, contestants wearing 1860s attire race downhill on 9- to 16-foot wooden skis.
Fishing: Fishing opportunities in the Plumas-Eureka area include numerous alpine lakes and streams within a short drive or hike out of the campground. Jamison Creek flows through the campground and can yield the occasional trout.
Hiking: Plumas-Eureka and the surrounding area is a hiker's paradise. Campers can hike out of their campsite, and day-user's can park nearby to access a network of trails that navigates through the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, including the Pacific Crest Trail.
Tips & Rules
Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers. The inside dimensions of the food lockers are 33" deep, 48" wide, and 21" high. Violators will be cited.
Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers. The inside dimensions of the food lockers are 33" deep, 48" wide, and 21" high. Violators will be cited.
Landscape
Today, Plumas-Eureka's "gold" is the great variety of plants and animals that exist within park boundaries. Black bear, deer, weasel, mink, marten, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, and a host of other mammals are seen through the summer months. Mountain meadows and forested glades are often dotted with an assortment of Sierra wildflowers.
Today, Plumas-Eureka's "gold" is the great variety of plants and animals that exist within park boundaries. Black bear, deer, weasel, mink, marten, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, and a host of other mammals are seen through the summer months. Mountain meadows and forested glades are often dotted with an assortment of Sierra wildflowers.
History
Native People
For thousands of years, the Northern Maidu inhabited the Feather River region’s forested ridges, high lakes and green valleys. They settled along the edges of valleys and migrated into the mountains to hunt or gather roots and seeds during the warm seasons. Talented craftspeople, they wove coiled and twined baskets to store dried meat, seeds and ground acorns necessary for winter survival. Maidu women created exquisite beadwork, highly sought after for trade and adornment.
The Maidu remained relatively isolated until 1851, when miners discovered gold on an exposed quartz ledge high on the slopes of Eureka Peak. Diseases, destruction of native food and plant resources and violence at the hands of European settlers rapidly reduced the native population. Many Maidu were eventually employed as laborers by white ranchers or miners. Today, Maidu descendants still follow the language, religious customs, basketry techniques and other practices of their ancestors.
Gold Mining
The 1848 gold discovery at John Sutter’s sawmill in Coloma brought scores of thousands of would-be prospectors to California. Gold fever came to Plumas when several miners struck gold on Eureka Peak. Thirty-six miners joined together to form the Eureka Company; other small mining companies quickly formed to work the area’s rich veins. Several area town sites formed to accommodate the miners. Jamison City began as a tent city in 1853, and the more refined Johnsville was founded in 1876. Eureka Mills sprang up on Eureka Peak around the same time.
As surface gold deposits diminished, smaller mining companies closed for lack of capital. In 1872 a British company purchased the Plumas Eureka mines, consolidating and further developing mining operations. A new stamp mill replaced two older mills, tunnels were enlarged, and new machinery purchased.
The Plumas Eureka mines operated profitably until the 1890s, and in 1904 the British company sold them. Operations slowly tapered off, and during World War II, the U.S. government passed the War Production Board Limitation Order, effectively ending all mining operations. By then, the Mohawk Stamp Mill had processed more than $8 million in gold from the mine’s 65 miles of tunnels.
A New Winter Sport
In the winter, heavy snows inspired miners to organize snowshoe races. The first race took place in Plumas County in 1861 - the first recorded ski competition in the western hemisphere. Snowshoes, or “longboards,” were 12-foot Norwegian-style skis that weighed as much as 20 pounds. Skiers had one long, large ski pole carried between the legs as a brake. On the straight courses, racers reached speeds of more than 80 mph. Skiing became a way of life for sport and travel. Some historians think the tramways for the Plumas Eureka Mine may have been the world’s first ski lifts.
Native People
For thousands of years, the Northern Maidu inhabited the Feather River region’s forested ridges, high lakes and green valleys. They settled along the edges of valleys and migrated into the mountains to hunt or gather roots and seeds during the warm seasons. Talented craftspeople, they wove coiled and twined baskets to store dried meat, seeds and ground acorns necessary for winter survival. Maidu women created exquisite beadwork, highly sought after for trade and adornment.
The Maidu remained relatively isolated until 1851, when miners discovered gold on an exposed quartz ledge high on the slopes of Eureka Peak. Diseases, destruction of native food and plant resources and violence at the hands of European settlers rapidly reduced the native population. Many Maidu were eventually employed as laborers by white ranchers or miners. Today, Maidu descendants still follow the language, religious customs, basketry techniques and other practices of their ancestors.
Gold Mining
The 1848 gold discovery at John Sutter’s sawmill in Coloma brought scores of thousands of would-be prospectors to California. Gold fever came to Plumas when several miners struck gold on Eureka Peak. Thirty-six miners joined together to form the Eureka Company; other small mining companies quickly formed to work the area’s rich veins. Several area town sites formed to accommodate the miners. Jamison City began as a tent city in 1853, and the more refined Johnsville was founded in 1876. Eureka Mills sprang up on Eureka Peak around the same time.
As surface gold deposits diminished, smaller mining companies closed for lack of capital. In 1872 a British company purchased the Plumas Eureka mines, consolidating and further developing mining operations. A new stamp mill replaced two older mills, tunnels were enlarged, and new machinery purchased.
The Plumas Eureka mines operated profitably until the 1890s, and in 1904 the British company sold them. Operations slowly tapered off, and during World War II, the U.S. government passed the War Production Board Limitation Order, effectively ending all mining operations. By then, the Mohawk Stamp Mill had processed more than $8 million in gold from the mine’s 65 miles of tunnels.
A New Winter Sport
In the winter, heavy snows inspired miners to organize snowshoe races. The first race took place in Plumas County in 1861 - the first recorded ski competition in the western hemisphere. Snowshoes, or “longboards,” were 12-foot Norwegian-style skis that weighed as much as 20 pounds. Skiers had one long, large ski pole carried between the legs as a brake. On the straight courses, racers reached speeds of more than 80 mph. Skiing became a way of life for sport and travel. Some historians think the tramways for the Plumas Eureka Mine may have been the world’s first ski lifts.
Accessible Features
Camping: Three paved campsites in the lower campground (#s 8,9 and 10) are generally accessible but do not accommodate tent stakes. The shared faucets and trash disposal are 47" high, require twisting and have a drain lip that may obstruct wheelchairs. Restroom with showers: The restroom opposite site 8 is usable with stall size a little tight. Showers are usable but assistance may be needed to operate shower controls.
Picnic Area
Jamison Day-Use Picnic Area: Some picnic tables are accessible and are located on accessible pathways. The nearby restroom facility is generally accessible but permits front transfers only. Accessible parking is available.
Museum/Visitor Center/office: The museum/office is located in an older structure. Exhibits are generally accessible. Restroom is usable. A designated accessible parking space is adjacent to the building.
Camping: Three paved campsites in the lower campground (#s 8,9 and 10) are generally accessible but do not accommodate tent stakes. The shared faucets and trash disposal are 47" high, require twisting and have a drain lip that may obstruct wheelchairs. Restroom with showers: The restroom opposite site 8 is usable with stall size a little tight. Showers are usable but assistance may be needed to operate shower controls.
Picnic Area
Jamison Day-Use Picnic Area: Some picnic tables are accessible and are located on accessible pathways. The nearby restroom facility is generally accessible but permits front transfers only. Accessible parking is available.
Museum/Visitor Center/office: The museum/office is located in an older structure. Exhibits are generally accessible. Restroom is usable. A designated accessible parking space is adjacent to the building.
Community Trips
Started this day hike from the Eureka Ski Bowl parking lot. If you have 4 wheel drive, or even a vehicle with decent clearance, you can save 1.3 miles (each way) and around 700' elevation by driving the dirt road to Eureka Lake. From Eureka Lake, you head west across the Eureka Lake dam to begin the Eureka Peak loop trail. Around .5 miles from the lake, you will hit the Y...
This is the track from the car to the shack following Tom DeMund's guidebook.
