Beckwourth Pass

Beckwourth Pass
eponym: James P. Beckwourth (1851 discoverer)
Elevation	5,221 ft (1,591 m) 1,591
Traversed by	California State Route 70 Feather River Route
Location
Location	Plumas County
Range	Sierra Nevada (U.S.)
Coordinates	39°47′30″N 120°6′28″W / 39.79167°N 120.10778°W / 39.79167; -120.10778

Beckwourth Pass is the lowest Sierra Crest mountain pass and is located at the Sierra Valley's eastern edge near Chilcoot-Vinton, Plumas County, California. Beckwourth Pass is east of Beckwourth, California, in the Sierra Nevada, and is 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Reno, Nevada. The pass carries California State Route 70 across the sierra crest. The Feather River Route crosses the sierra crest underneath Beckwourth Pass via the Chilcoot Tunnel. Both Route 70 and the rail line are alternate routes to connect Sacramento, California with Reno, Nevada for when the primary routes, which cross the Sierra via Donner Pass, are closed due to winter storms.

History

Beckwourth Pass as seen from the Feather River Route in the Sierra Valley looking east.

The mountain pass was the crossing for the Beckwourth Trail during the California Gold Rush, and the narrow gauge railbed of the 1895-1916 Sierra Valley Railway is visible on the eastern slope.^[1] On August 8, 1939,Beckwourth Pass was designated a California Historic Landmark.^[2]

The Chilcoot Tunnel of the Feather River Route was built by the Western Pacific Railroad near the pass and is currently used by the Union Pacific Railroad.

References

1. ^ "A Brief History of Plumas County, California". http://www.cagenweb.com/plumas/hist.htm. Retrieved [date tbd]. 
2. ^ "Beckwourth Pass". http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/listed_resources/default.asp?num=336. Retrieved [date tbd].