While still beautiful, peaceful, and charming, be prepared to see the effects of forest fire and post-fire recovery when you visit Plumas County. The 2021 Dixie Fire burned significant portions of Plumas County’s forested lands, the Feather River Canyon, and communities along the highway 89 corridor. The Dixie Fire started on July 13, 2021, and was not completely out until Oct 25, 2021. It is the second largest single-ignition wildfire in California’s history.
Dixie Fire Intensity
The intensity and severity of the Dixie Fire and the Beckwourth Complex Fire was mixed. Some places look nearly untouched a year later while others have significant damage. The good news is that much of the county, including public lands, parks, trails, and campgrounds are open and ready for adventure.
Plumas County residents and businesses look forward to hosting visitors to our special region and sharing our slice of paradise.
When driving through the Feather River Canyon on Highway 70 and north on Hwy 89 through Greenville and in the Lake Almanor Basin you will be faced with miles of devastation along the roadway. Take a minute and look past the destruction. You will see creeks, wildflowers, logging roads to explore, and views you didn’t know existed.
Outdoor Activities
A majority of trails and campgrounds opened for the 2022 season with a few opening a little later than usual for clean-up. Please check the following websites for specific updates and alerts.
While mega-fire is not something to look forward to, there is a small but beautiful silver-lining to the terrible 2021 fire season in Plumas County. This year’s wildflowers have been epic! With extra ash and carbon in the system, many of the high mountain meadows and creekside trails have had superblooms. Even within the forest fire footprint we’ve been seeing good re-growth. Check out our Wildflower Guide to plan your wildflower adventure for next season. Like fall foliage too? We are starting to see amber in the oaks and gold in the willows and cottonwoods. Read our Awesome Autumn Blog to learn what’s poppin’ as you plan a fall trip to the region.
Explore Plumas County post-Dixie Fire
Dixie Fire Impacted several Communities
The communities of Chester, Lake Almanor. Quincy, Taylorsville, and Bucks Lake all survived with little to no damage. The Feather River Canyon was impacted by the Dixie Fire, but historic Belden Town and Caribou Crossroads survived with little damage. The eastern part of Plumas County, including the Lakes Basin, Graeagle, and Portola are also thankfully damage-free, however the Beckwourth Complex did get close to Portola and burned near Lake Davis and Frenchman Lake.
Greenville in Indian Valley suffered extensive damage and lost over 200 homes and most downtown businesses. The community came together quickly and is working hard to rebuild. The grocery store is back up and running, one gas station re-built, and there is a new coffee place and a pop-up restaurant. More businesses continue to re-open. Watch for Greenville community events in the summer of 2022.
Photo by Jake Edwards
Photo by Jake Edwards
View of Lassen Peak and Conifer Forest Post Dixie Fire
Example of a High Severity Burn area on Mt. ConardKnow Before you Go
- The fire consumed an area of 1,505 square miles in total covering five counties, Butte, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, and Shasta. This is an area 50 times larger than San Francisco.
- Expect road delays due to clean-up throughout the county. Cal Trans can be reached at 530-427-ROAD to check for current conditions
- Be aware of potential fallen trees, limbs, and hidden stumps
- Please adhere to closure notices. This will allow for a faster recovery for our forests.
Learn More about the Dixie Fire
Do you want to know more about the local experiences with the Dixie Fire? Local residents and photographers are telling their stories through the Dixie Fire Stories Project on Facebook and Instagram. This collection of stories includes audio, written stories, and powerful photo documentation. The Dixie Fire Stories Project is featured at the Plumas Arts Gallery in Downtown Quincy in the months of July and August and was recently featured on a news segment on North State Public Radio.
Photo by Joanne Burgueño
