La Porte Cabin Rental Tours
Road Trip, Hike: Gibsonville, Onion Valley and Pilot Peak
This trip can be accomplished with a 2 wheel drive on gravel and dirt roads. Side jaunts require vigorous hiking. Please be prepared to take responsibility for yourself and respect the forest. Please pack out all litter.
Start at the corner of China Alley and Church Street. Set or note your odometer reading. Turn right on to Main Street traveling east passing the famous Reilly’s Saloon.
1.7 Turn right on the Quincy-La Porte road. It is 33 miles to Quincy, the county seat of Plumas County.
6.6 The intersection of the Quincy road and the Johnsville road, usually marked with signs to the Baptist Camp. Turn right and park. The second road to the right is the site of Gibsonville, once a thriving town with saloons, a newspaper and a downtown area. Explore it on foot. Wander down the site of the Masonic Temple and down to the diggin’s. Be vigilant to find ruins. Gibsonville was occupied until the 70’s. After exploration, return to the Quincy road and continue your journey.
10.9 "Y" in the road and a great overlook. Stop and view Mt. Lassen to the north. On a clear day you can see evidence of broken mountain peaks surrounding Lassen. Mt. Lassen is an active volcano, which last erupted in the early part of the 20th century. These mountain peaks as well as Lassen are remains of giant Mt. Tehama.
This is where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses the Quincy Road. Continue on the Quincy-La Porte road to the right.
12.1 Onion Valley. A beautiful alpine valley. Across the valley note the site of an old mine which is now called the rat’s hotel by the locals.
12.2 Trail on left to rat’s hotel.
12.3 Road to pilot peak. Turn right and proceed .5 miles to the top of the saddle. Check out the views. 3 options are available. Park and hike the road to the left uphill to the top of Buzzard’s Roost for more views or take the road to the right another .6 miles to another "Y". Park and hike to the right up to the top of Pilot Peak for spectacular views of Lassen, Shasta and even Nevada. Both these hikes are uphill and steep. Option 3 is to stay where you are and enjoy the view before proceeding on.
Return to the Quincy road and turn right .10 of a mile on the left is the road to Cleghorn Bar. The last 2 miles are for quality 4 wheel drives only. This leads to the Middle Fork of the Feather River, a wild and scenic river. If you have 2 wheel drive you can turn on the Cleghorn Bar road anyway for the first few miles. This road also offers spectacular views and sweeping meadows as well as lots of wildflowers in June and July. After exploration, return to the Quincy-La Porte road.
Turn right back toward La Porte. Reset odometer.
1.5 To "Y" and Lassen Peak overlook and the Pacific Crest Trail. The shortest way to La Porte is to the left, back the way you came. For an alternate way back to La Porte, turn right for a drive through the forest to Silvertip Springs near Little Grass Valley. Follow the signs to La Porte, turning left on to the Little Grass Valley road, finally ending up back in La Porte.
Return to La Porte and the Rabbit Creek deli for a well deserved meal after the arduous day of hiking.