La Porte Cabin Rentals Tours
Road trip, Hike: Slate Creek, Queen City, Port Wine and Howland Flat
This trip may be accomplished by 2 wheel drive on dirt and gravel roads. It covers a lot of territory as well as history. The entire trip can take 4 hours or longer depending on stops. As usual please respect property rights especially those of the pioneers in the cemeteries. When you take this trip or any other off road adventure please be prepared, take responsibility for yourself and pack out litter.
Set or note your odometer at the corner of China Alley and Church Street. Note the La Porte cemetery on your right as you leave town. This is well worth a visit when you return.
.2 On the left is the famous La Porte sanitary disposal area (dump). Around the dump and throughout the area, you will notice eroded hillsides and piles of rock and gravel. These are the remains of mining activity in the1800’s. The remains are called "spoils" and the sites themselves "diggin's". Much of the area was mined with huge amounts of water. This was called hydraulic mining and was outlawed in the late 1800’s. Gold was the number one reason for La Porte and the surrounding mining towns. Water the number one commodity to get the gold.
.9 Road to Spanish diggings another larger example of hydraulic mining. Walk to the overlook or drive down.
1.9 The bridges of Slate Creek. A good place to stop at the wide spot right after the bridge and an excellent area for sunning and exploring. Slate creek was heavily mined and evidence can be seen all about. In fact, a channel was blown through the rocks under the first bridge to divert the water in order to make the channel more accessible. Rabbit Creek flows through La Porte and joins Slate Creek from up the hill near the bridge.
3 .7 On the left is the remains of the Sierra County maintenance building which was in use until the 1950’s. Stop and look over the bank to the right and see if you can identify the portal of an old mine. Remember this is private property so trespassing is forbidden.
3.9 "Y" in the road. This is more or less the site of Queen City, Sierra County, another booming gold town. For the next .5 mile evidence of activity are above and below you. Stop and look if you wish. There are old flumes, old house sites and mines. Then go right.
4.4 Stop and look up the hill to the left for the reputed remains of the Wells Fargo building. You are now in Port Wine.
4.5 "Y" in the road. Go straight or slightly right. Lot’s of diggin’s.
4.6 Port Wine cemetery. Stop if you wish and respectfully check out this historic site. Veterans of the Civil War are here.
Turn around and follow the road back to the first "Y" at Queen City. Odometer should read 5.4 and go straight.
6.2 Slight "Y" stay left. In many cases we do not discuss every possible turn off or "Y". Always stay on the main road.
6.6 Note old buildings on the right. They extend back up the hill.
6.7 Stop and look at the huge mine operation called Pioneer pit on the right. Dead center of the pit is the start of a drainage tunnel that extends 1500 feet and is directly under the road and where you are parked.
7.1 Stop at the wide spot and view recent mining activities on the left at Gardener’s Point. This is the Brush Creek mine.
8.5 Cross a single wooden bridge over Little Slate Creek this is Cedar Grove Ravine. To the right and up the creek are some very pretty, secluded pools for sunning and dipping.
* 8.8 The road to the left takes you back to La Porte. This is the route you will be taking upon your return. If you wish you may take it now and return to La Porte, resetting your odometer now and following the guide at the next asterisk for mileage.
To continue to Howland Flat, go straight or to the right also resetting your odometer.
.2 Stop and look to the woods on your left. A faint trail lead to the St. Louis cemetery. St. Louis was another booming mining town. This cemetery is little visited and worth a visit.
.5 The actual site of St. Louis.
.6 Overlook of the diggin’s at St. Louis.
3.4 To 3.6 area of past and current mining activity.
4.0 Past and current diggin’s.
4.4 Howland Flat. Stone building on the right. Howland Flat was a prosperous mining town settled in the early 1850’s. In 1861 the Union Tunnel company washed out 110 ounces of gold in 8 hours. Howland Flat continued its boom or bust cycle until the early part of the 20th century.
4.5 Miner’s home building on right.
4.8 Park and stroll through the cemeteries. The one on your right (uphill) is a catholic cemetery while the one to the left (downhill) is a Protestant one. Straight-ahead is the Winkeye Mine, which was in operation last in the 1980’s.
Straight-ahead past the Winkeye Mine is the road to Poker Flat which should not be attempted without a very sturdy 4 wheel drive vehicle or a mule.
After you have explored this historic area, retrace your route to the last major "Y" about 4.8 miles.
*Reset at "Y" to continue back to La Porte. Turn right if coming from Howland Flat, left if you are not continuing to Howland Flat and coming from Port Wine. Look to the left as you travel this road for great views.
.7 Old and new Slate Creek Bridge and miner’s tunnel. Stop and explore. To the right is a picnic area. Across the bridge next the old historic cement one, you can view a tunnel carved from one side of Slate Creek to the other. This was done as a diversion to allow easier mining of the bend in slate creek.
5.0 Overlook the town of La Porte on your left. Can you see your cabin on China Alley?
5.2 Pavement at last. Turn left and its .7 miles to La Porte where you can wrap up you adventure with a treat from the Rabbit Creek deli.