The Graeagle area used to be a fantastic three-day golf getaway. Not anymore. There are just too many good courses to play in three days. You need a week or more. This Plumas County mountain hideaway boasts three first-class resort courses, all open to the public, with a fourth poised to open this summer. It also includes a pair of fun 9-hole courses, for a total of six choices.
Plumas Pines Golf Resort, a longtime favorite of Graeagle golfers, is a challenging resort course sprinkled with water and other hazards. Great scenery and mountain views abound at this layout that backs-up against the Plumas National Forest and borders the middle fork of the Feather River. According to Director of Golf, Tom Godman, “Mountain streams and tall pines virtually frame each hole on this course.” Built in 1980, the par-71 course measures 5,258 to 6,538 yards. Rates are $30 to $60, including cart. For tee times, call (530) 836-1420.
The Golf Club at Whitehawk Ranch, another of the beautiful courses in the area, was recognized last year by Golf Digest Magazine as California’s 18th best golf course. Whitehawk is a lush, manicured course that winds its way through meadows and woods, offering outstanding mountain views and scenery. This 18-hole, par 71 layout with four sets of tees ranging from 4,816 to 6,928 yards, according to golf pro Van Batchelder, “provides a fun challenge to golfers at all levels.” Summer rates are $95 midweek and $105 weekends, including cart and range balls. Shoulder season rates are $75-$85. Pro Shop: (530) 836-0394, (800) 332-4295.
Graeagle Meadows Golf Course is semi-private and open daily to the public. It offers a wide open meadow style of golf that is easily walkable, with interesting crossings of the Feather River meandering through the course. Built in 1968, the par-72 course measures 5,589 to 6,725 yards. Rates are $35 to $40; carts $30. For tee times call (530) 836-2323.
The historic Feather River Inn, in Blairsden, two miles from Graeagle, features a well-kept 9-hole course that crosses Highway 70 and the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. It’s flat and easy to walk with rates at $12.
Feather River Park Resort offers an easy 9-hole course that is good for beginners. The course is part of the resort which offers rental cabins, swimming pools and tennis courts. The course is flat and walkable with rates ranging from
$10 to $18. Call (530) 836-2328.
Scheduled to open this summer at Clio, just east of Graeagle is The Dragon at Gold Mountain, a planned semi-private championship 18-hole golf course and residential development. Dragon’s director, Norm Blandel, promises golfing excitement on this course from the first hole, Dragon’s Lookout, through the 18th hole, Excitement. Call 1-800-446-5368.
Planning your trek. Before you depart for a tour to Graeagle and Plumas County, visit them on the web at www.graeagle.com. and www.plumas.ca.us. You might also request a free visitor’s packet from the Plumas County Visitors Bureau at (800) 326- 2247. Tell them Sierra Heritage sent you.
Start out. Nestled in the pines of the Northeastern Sierra on Highway 89, a scenic one-hour drive northwest of Truckee, you will find the quaint charming town of Graeagle, considered a favorite quick getaway for those seeking to relax and renew.
In the beginning. Graeagle began as a mill town known as Davies Mill. Arthur Davies moved his mill and many of his little red buildings via train from their Sardine Valley location to the Graeagle area in 1916. Today, these are the very same buildings which signify the downtown, housing the specialty shops and restaurants.
Shop the great indoors. Souvenir hunters will delight in the Graeagle Gift Shop, which is loaded with fine collectibles and unique jewelry. The environmentally conscience will revel in the selection of items found at Eco Centric, and home decorators will adore Whitehurst and Associates. Spend an afternoon to browse the Graeagle Art Gallery or try on something stylish at Graeagle Boutique.
Bring your golf clubs. Known as a golf mecca, Graeagle challenges golfers with several championship 18-hole courses.
Venture the great outdoors. Grab your hiking and fishing gear and head to the Lakes Basin Recreational Area. Hikers can trek along one of the many adventurous mountain trails, and fisherman can catch rainbow and brown trout in the pristine lakes. Later on, saddle up for horseback riding at the Graeagle Stables (530) 836-0430 or putt around with the kids at the Mini Meadows Miniature Golf.
For dinner, dine on contemporary cuisine at Grizzly Grill, southwestern faire at Coyote Bar and Grill, or home style cooking at Olsen’s Cabin.
Rest assured. You can rough it in a campground at Lakes Basin Recreation Area or pitch a tent near the historic Plumas Eureka State Park. You might go for the rustic experience and relax in a cabin at River Pines Resort (530) 836-2552, or stay in the luxury of a condominium at the Graeagle Meadows (530) 836-1100, five minutes from town on Gold Lake Road.
Today is for enjoying your favorite activity. Play a round of golf, hike or bike a trail or two, hook a rainbow trout, shop or just plain relax in any way you see fit. Remember, you are in Graeagle to relax and renew.
Fill up. For breakfast, enjoy a hearty meal of eggs and bacon sizzling hot off the grill at the Graeagle Restaurant or Cafe Mohawk , or indulge in European pastries baked fresh daily at the Village Baker. A local lunch favorite for homemade soups, salads and sandwiches is the Graeagle Mill Works. Burgers and shakes are served up at Graeagle Fros-tee, and be sure to try a
“Graeagle Mocha” at the Graeagle Outpost.
When the time is right, depart from Graeagle and travel the Feather River National Scenic Byway 25 miles west to the town of Quincy, the seat of Plumas County. This picturesque town is nestled against the western slope of the Sierra Nevada range and tucked at the edge of the lush American Valley.
Quincy is the largest community in Plumas County but still has lots of small town charm. A Main Street community, Quincy has an attractive historic downtown where shoppers can check out a variety of stores, antique shops and restaurants housed in restored historic buildings. Stroll by the historic Town Hall Theatre, which stages numerous musical and dramatic events as well as films. Don’t miss taking a peak at the walls of the Plumas Art Gallery (530) 283-3402, which features changing displays of work by regional artists.
The most impressive landmark on Main Street is the four-story Plumas County Courthouse, built in 1921. Enter the building to see its huge marble posts and staircases and its 2,000-pound bronze and plate glass chandelier.
Stroll through history. Look for the murals scattered downtown which portray Quincy’s origins, beginning with the Mountain Maidu Indians who were known for their exquisite baskets woven from materials they gathered in the valley. The town later grew as an industrial center for gold mining, logging and agriculture.
Stroll through history. Learn more about the area’s history at the Plumas County Museum, located behind the county courthouse (530) 283-6320. This indoor- outdoor complex is one of the most comprehensive museums in rural California, and is definitely worth spending an hour or more. Visit also the adjacent Coburn-Variel Home, a restored Victorian furnished with items from the museum’s collection to represent a middle-class family home in the turn- of-the-century, complete with old-fashioned gardens.
From the museum, you can take the Heritage Walk, a self-guided walking tour of 33 Qunicy buildings downtown, or follow the Historic Driving Tour of the American Valley, an eight-mile self-guided auto tour of historic sites throughout the scenic area surrounding Quincy. Tour booklets are availalble at the museum.
Eats. Morning Thunder Cafe, on Lawrence Street, is a lively spot that serves up great omelettes and beautiful sandwiches, along with vegetarian and Mexican fare. Sweet Lorraine’s, on Main Street, serves a variety of fare and has a pleasant outdoor patio. Just east of downtown, also on Main Street, the Ragged Jack Cafe, has an organic eclectic menu catering to vegetarian tastes in an artsy, renovated former home. Offering great Italian pastas and entrees in a cozy setting on Lawrence Street, is Moon’s Restaurant. A gourmet dinner at Ten-Two Restaurant is worth the drive to nearby Meadown Valley, where entrees such as Szechuan Salmon and charbroiled steaks are perennial favorites.
The great outdoors. The centerpiece of outdoor recreation in the Quincy area is Bucks Lake, located 17 miles southwest via Bucks Lake Road. The Lake’s sandy beaches are ideal for swimming and water sports, and there are two marinas that offer boat rentals and jet-skis. Forested campsites surround the 17-mile shoreline. Fishermen can enjoy landing huge rainbow trout, salmon and Mackinaw, on their own or with a guide. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding in the surrounding forest. You can find access to the Pacific Crest Trail in the adjacent Bucks Lake Wilderness. During the winter, the Bucks Lake area is a premiere destination for snowmobilers and cross- country skiers, as the road to the Lake remains unplowed.
A restful night. There are a number of mom-and-pop motels in Quincy, along with two bed and breakfasts. The Feather Bed, at 542 Jackson Street (530) 283-0102, is a beautiful Victorian located in the heart of downtown behind the county courthouse and just down from the museum. Grandma’s Cottage, at 2266 E. Main Street (530) 283-1316, is a quaint, two-bedroom older home. At Bucks Lake, you can have a meal or rent a cabin at Bucks Lake Lodge (530) 283-2262, Lakeshore Resort (530) 283-6900 or Bucks Lake Marina (530) 283-4243. Bucks Lake also offers an abundance of RV and tent camping. More upscale lodging is at the beautiful, antique-laden Haskins Valley Inn (530) 283-9667, a new bed and breakfast inn.
Relax and enjoy a leisurely drive back to Graeagle today for more shopping, golf or outdoor fun.
If you are traveling south on your way home, consider a scenic drive along the most stunning portion of the Feather River National Scenic Byway.
Follow Highway 70 down through the Feather River Canyon, an awesome granite gorge carved by the Feather River, with snow-capped mountain peaks in the background. The spring runoff produces hundreds of waterfalls, and brilliant wildflowers can be seen along the canyon walls and roadside.
Attractions. This unique high-way’s attractions include the famous Keddie Y, the only railroad trestle of its kind in the world, with three impressive tunnels blasted through granite. Farther down, pull over and photograph the Tobin and Pulga bridges, both aesthetic, engineering feats. The drive also features a series of seven hydroelectric powerhouses collectively known as the “Stairway of Power,” which ends at Lake Oroville.