Plumas County Nature and Wildlife

The wilderness area within plumas national forest are managed to protect and preserve their pristine natural values. These areas offer excellent hiking, backpacking and horseback riding in a primitive, completely undeveloped setting.

In the Plumas National Forest, the 24,000-acre Bucks Lake Wilderness near Bucks Lake has a broad diversity of plant life, trees and landscape features. Ranging from 2,000 to 7,017 feet in elevation, Bucks Lake Wilderness includes gentle slopes, steep canyons and sheer cliffs. Most of it is rugged with human access difficult. The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the area, and Mt. Lassen is visible on clear days, 40 miles to the north.

The Bucks Lake Wilderness was established by the California WildernessAct of 1984. The wilderness encompasses 21,000 acres, and is located near the northern end of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Topography
Elevations in the Bucks Lake Wilderness range from 2,000ft. in the Feather River Canyon to 7,017ft. at Spanish Peak. The top of the escarpment which the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT ) crosses unfolds a spectacular view of the forest to the east and north. An impressive view of Mt. Lassen is visible on clear days.

The Bucks Lake Wilderness has a broad diversity of topography and vegetation. Ground cover varies from brush fields to conifer stands, oaks and pure red fir stands. Several small lakes are scattered across the eastern portion of the Wilderness. Along the western slope are small meadows and quaking bogs hidden among the dense stands of red fir.

Trails

Mill Creek
Gold Lake
Granite Gap
Three Lakes Trail

No permits are needed to visit these wilderness areas, but fire permits for primitive camping are required. Visitors to these areas are asked to tread lightly and leave nothing behind. Mechanical vehicles, including mountain bikes, are not allowed.

Wildlife

With the abundance of National forest, you are sure run across some of Plumas County's wild creatures. Viewing deer, bald eagles and waterfowl are among the most popular and easy species to observe. There are two locations in Plumas County that are part of the Watchable Wildlife national network of viewing sites.

The Antelope Lake-Indian Creek Wildlife Viewing Site
This area is surrounded by wet meadowlands and is an excellent place to see migratory waterfowl from April through November. Birds of prey and beaver can be seen year-round.

The Lake Davis Wildlife Viewing Site
This wildlife viewing area is surrounded by meadows and pine forests; offering sites of nesting Canada geese, tundra swans, pelicans, bald eagles and ospreys. The best viewing is in spring and fall. Other wildlife includes coyotes, raccoons, squirrels, chipmunks and skunks. For those seeking more reclusive wildlife, there area black bears, bobcats and mountain lions.