Plumas-Eureka State Park

Plumas-Eureka State Park
Location in California Show map of California Plumas-Eureka State Park (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Plumas County, California
Nearest city	Blairsden, California
Coordinates	39°45′40″N 120°42′24″W
Governing body	State of California
California Historical Landmark
Official name	Jamison City, Eureka Mills, Johnstown, and the famous Eureka Mine[1]
Reference no.	196

California Historical Landmark 723, Johnsville Ski Area, Plumas

Plumas-Eureka State Park is a California state park located in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range in Plumas County, California.^[2][3]

The park, as a mining museum, shows and protects the history of the active mid-19th-century California Gold Rush mining period. As a large natural area, it shows and protects the serenity of the mountain's meadows, forests, lakes, and granite peaks. Camping, picnicking, biking, fishing, and hiking are offered.^[2]

Eureka Peak, formerly Gold Mountain, was the site of some of the first organized ski races in North America.^[4] The National Longboard Championship, the longest running ski races since 1911, have been held in the Park at the Eureka Ski Bowl since 1993.^[5]

Gold Discovery Days is a living history weekend held in July within the park. The celebration features mining-era demonstrations and activities.^[3]

Mining history

The historic mining area includes a museum in the miner's bunkhouse, the Mohawk Stamp Mill, Bushman five-stamp mill, stables, a blacksmith shop, the mine office, and a miner's home "Moriarity House".^[6]

A California Historical Landmark marker is located in the park honoring the mining areas of Jamison City, Eureka Mills, Johnstown, and the Eureka Mine.^[1]

Natural history

Further information: Ecology of the Sierra Nevada

Plumas-Eureka State Park is in the Sierra Nevada Coniferous Forest ecosystem of the Temperate Coniferous Forests Biome.^[7]

The park's animals include golden eagles, porcupines, black bear, deer, weasel, mink, marten, mountain lion, bobcat, fox, and many others.^[2]

The park is within the Middle Fork Feather River watershed and encompasses some of its headwaters, including Jamison and Eureka Creeks.^[2]

Access

Plumas-Eureka State Park is located about 60 miles (97 km) north of Lake Tahoe in Northern California. It is 5 miles (8 km) west of Blairsden on County Road A-14.^[2][8]

Proposed closure

This is one of the 48 California state parks that was proposed for closure in January 2008 by California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a deficit reduction program since rescinded following public outcry.^[9] Plumas-Eureka State Park is open to the public, except during the winter season.^[2][8]

See also

• List of California state parks
• Protected areas of the Sierra Nevada
• The Lost Sierra
• Johnsville
• Pioneer Ski Area of America California Historical Landmark at Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram

References

1. "Jamison City, Eureka Mills, Johnstown, and the famous Eureka Mine". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
2. California, California State Parks, State of. "Plumas-Eureka SP". CA State Parks.
3. "Plumas Eureka State Park Association". www.plumas-eureka.org.
4. "Longboard Ski Races". The Historical Marker Database.
5. "Longboard Skiing has a Long History in the Sierra". Sierra Sun. March 31, 2006.
6. "Plumas Eureka State Park Association". www.plumas-eureka.org.
7. "WWF - Sierra Nevada Coniferous Forests". wwf.panda.org. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010.
8. "Plumas Eureka State Park Association". www.plumas-eureka.org.
9. CBS5.com: List Of Calif. Parks To Close In Budget Proposal Archived 2008-02-23 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• official Plumas-Eureka State Park website
• Plumas-Eureka Park Association website