Historical Clippings Book (HC-04) (198 pages)

ey el ms ’ How high? When? State rangers answer same question about dam again and again be “rough.” But here you realize most fully what price we pay for progr the splendor of virgin wilderness, the wildlife, the rich scenic country. Since no one has bothered to maintain roads into that portion of the Middle Fork that will be under water, you will have to walk to get to it. And the rigors ofthe walk are the reason the canyon will go under without having been seen by many people, [f you are in the mood for a workout, and for a stirring and memorable plvvhee se per: hs hE ncn: jie ” iv ~ t j-hike, take a day to walk Ponderosa-Way < =+~ > to Bean Creek Bar on the river. a ee Panning good spots on South Fork: still yiclds trace of color, but most of the nuggets were panned, sluiced, picked out years ago it was one of the most rugged canyons in California. It would probably have eR ad Heading west on the old Feather River _ Mighway, you're stopped at this gate NOVEMBER 1963 remained wilderness. indefinitely but for the! Oroville Reservair, and the subsequent upstream dams now in the planning stage. The Middle Fork is said by some to offer the finest trout fishing in the State, It also offers rare opportunities to rockhound, bird watcher, and naturalist. Its upper stretches and its rugged Bald Rock Canyon will not be destroyed by the Oroville Dam, but proposed irrigation dams, like those now constricted on the South Fork, threaten its entire course. The South Fork, site of countless early placer mining locations, has many swimming holes and short trail hikes along those portions that are not already under reservoirs, If you have time, take-a day to visit each of the forks. CURRY BIDWELL BAR STATE PARK Tf you don’t have time to travel over the entire reservoir area, you can take a short drive from Oroville to Curry Bidwell Bar State Park. It is one of the most attractive parks in the state system, and its picnic spots and swimming hole are favorites of residents as well as visitors to Butte County. The 20-odd pienie sites here have South Fork retains much of its natural beauty despite its stormy history of gold mining and logging. Now it faces inundation _—. stone fireplaces and are shaded by willows. The park is a monument to John Bidwell and to the miners who worked the diggings here between 1850 and 1856, Several landmarks are here, among them the Mother Orange Tree (the first orange tree in Butte County) and the first suspension bridge in California. The tree, planted in 1856, still bears fruit. The bridge components were brought around the Horn during the 1810's, and assembled over the river at Bidwell Bar in 1856, Both the bridge and the tree will be removed before the waters rise, though some fear the old bridge will not withstand dismantling. An old stone store, the only building remaining from boom town days, will be inundated when a 600-foot depth of water covers the park, The park is just off the Oroville-Quiney Road, 9 miles from Oroville. A sign on the road clearly marks its location, FEATHER RIVER RAILWAY Just before you reach the Curry Bidwell Bar park entrance, you cross the tracks of the Feather River Railway, owned and operated by the Georgia-Pacific Corporation. If it is Sunday or a holiday, you may enjoy walking upstream along the tracks to the point where the South Fork joins (Sec Aeefirl jatot ) / Se Drive from Oroville to Enterprise, continue across Enterprise Bridge, and follaw the road for 5 miles. To the left you will see a narrow dirt road that looks impassable. It is. Park your car and walk. AL most immediately you cross the Feather » River Railway tracks running north to Feather Falls Pine Mill. From here you . have about a 5-mile hike to the river. The road goes through some fields, then around Kanaka Peak, and then over the lip of the canyon, descending (net too steeply) in a series of switch-backs, As you pass by Kanaka Peak (on your left) you will be able to see Feather Falls splashing and sparkling downward across the gorge to your right. From this point the falls are about } miles away: they )omark roughly where the reservoir will end on the Middle Fork, ) On the way down, depending on the time of day, you will see quail, doves, and innumerable song birds, and you may see some Jarger animals. There used to be a bridge across the river, but it is gone now, You can swim here, but the water is very cold, and only strong swimmers should challenge the current, ‘Traveling along the river bank is slow but not impossible, and the fishing is excellent. United States Geological Survey topographic maps of Forbestown, and Bidwell Bar quadrangles will indicate reads (some are passable by jeep) and trails into the Middle Fork, All are interesting, but few are being maintained, A Erk SUNSET.

ey el ms ’ How high? When? State rangers answer same question about dam again and again be “rough.” But here you realize most fully what price we pay for progr the splendor of virgin wilderness, the wildlife, the rich scenic country. Since no one has bothered to maintain roads into that portion of the Middle Fork that will be under water, you will have to walk to get to it. And the rigors ofthe walk are the reason the canyon will go under without having been seen by many people, [f you are in the mood for a workout, and for a stirring and memorable plvvhee se per: hs hE ncn: jie ” iv ~ t j-hike, take a day to walk Ponderosa-Way < =+~ > to Bean Creek Bar on the river. a ee Panning good spots on South Fork: still yiclds trace of color, but most of the nuggets were panned, sluiced, picked out years ago it was one of the most rugged canyons in California. It would probably have eR ad Heading west on the old Feather River _ Mighway, you're stopped at this gate NOVEMBER 1963 remained wilderness. indefinitely but for the! Oroville Reservair, and the subsequent upstream dams now in the planning stage. The Middle Fork is said by some to offer the finest trout fishing in the State, It also offers rare opportunities to rockhound, bird watcher, and naturalist. Its upper stretches and its rugged Bald Rock Canyon will not be destroyed by the Oroville Dam, but proposed irrigation dams, like those now constricted on the South Fork, threaten its entire course. The South Fork, site of countless early placer mining locations, has many swimming holes and short trail hikes along those portions that are not already under reservoirs, If you have time, take-a day to visit each of the forks. CURRY BIDWELL BAR STATE PARK Tf you don’t have time to travel over the entire reservoir area, you can take a short drive from Oroville to Curry Bidwell Bar State Park. It is one of the most attractive parks in the state system, and its picnic spots and swimming hole are favorites of residents as well as visitors to Butte County. The 20-odd pienie sites here have South Fork retains much of its natural beauty despite its stormy history of gold mining and logging. Now it faces inundation _—. stone fireplaces and are shaded by willows. The park is a monument to John Bidwell and to the miners who worked the diggings here between 1850 and 1856,

Several landmarks are here, among them the Mother Orange Tree (the first orange tree in Butte County) and the first suspension bridge in California. The tree, planted in 1856, still bears fruit. The bridge components were brought around the Horn during the 1810's, and assembled over the river at Bidwell Bar in 1856, Both the bridge and the tree will be removed before the waters rise, though some fear the old bridge will not withstand dismantling. An old stone store, the only building remaining from boom town days, will be inundated when a 600-foot depth of water covers the park, The park is just off the Oroville-Quiney Road, 9 miles from Oroville. A sign on the road clearly marks its location, FEATHER RIVER RAILWAY Just before you reach the Curry Bidwell Bar park entrance, you cross the tracks of the Feather River Railway, owned and operated by the Georgia-Pacific Corporation. If it is Sunday or a holiday, you may enjoy walking upstream along the tracks to the point where the South Fork joins (Sec Aeefirl jatot ) / Se Drive from Oroville to Enterprise, continue across Enterprise Bridge, and follaw the road for 5 miles. To the left you will see a narrow dirt road that looks impassable. It is. Park your car and walk. AL most immediately you cross the Feather » River Railway tracks running north to Feather Falls Pine Mill. From here you . have about a 5-mile hike to the river. The road goes through some fields, then around Kanaka Peak, and then over the lip of the canyon, descending (net too steeply) in a series of switch-backs, As you pass by Kanaka Peak (on your left) you will be able to see Feather Falls splashing and sparkling downward across the gorge to your right. From this point the falls are about } miles away: they )omark roughly where the reservoir will end on the Middle Fork, ) On the way down, depending on the time of day, you will see quail, doves, and innumerable song birds, and you may see some Jarger animals. There used to be a bridge across the river, but it is gone now, You can swim here, but the water is very cold, and only strong swimmers should challenge the current, ‘Traveling along the river bank is slow but not impossible, and the fishing is excellent. United States Geological Survey topographic maps of Forbestown, and Bidwell Bar quadrangles will indicate reads (some are passable by jeep) and trails into the Middle Fork, All are interesting, but few are being maintained, A Erk SUNSET.