Beckwourth Pass
Encyclopedia
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 (40.2 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.
, and the narrow gauge railbed of the 1895-1916 Sierra Valley Railway is visible on the eastern slope. On August 8, 1939,Beckwourth Pass was designated a California Historic Landmark.
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
.
Sierra Crest
The Sierra Crest is a ~ generally north-to-south ridgeline that demarcates the broad west and narrow east slopes of the Sierra Nevada and that extends as far east as the Sierra's topographic front...
mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
and is located at the Sierra Valley's eastern edge near Chilcoot-Vinton
Chilcoot-Vinton, California
Chilcoot-Vinton is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. The population was 454 at the 2010 census, up from 387 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Chilcoot-Vinton is located at ....
, Plumas County, California
Plumas County, California
Plumas County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The county gets its name from the Spanish words for the Feather River , which flows through the county. As of the 2010 census, the population 20,007, down from 20,824 at the 2000 census...
. Beckwourth Pass is east of Beckwourth, California
Beckwourth, California
Beckwourth is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. Beckwourth is located on the Middle Fork Feather River east of Portola...
, in the Sierra Nevada, and is 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. The pass carries California State Route 70
California State Route 70
State Route 70 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California. Connecting Sacramento with U.S. Route 395 near Beckwourth Pass via the Feather River Canyon, it was formerly known as U.S. Route 40 Alternate, crossing the Sierra Nevada at a lower elevation than Donner Pass on U.S. Route 40...
across the sierra crest. The Feather River Route
Feather River Route
The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...
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
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
with Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
for when the primary routes, which cross the Sierra via Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
, are closed due to winter storms.
History
The mountain pass was the crossing for the Beckwourth Trail during the California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, and the narrow gauge railbed of the 1895-1916 Sierra Valley Railway is visible on the eastern slope. On August 8, 1939,Beckwourth Pass was designated a California Historic Landmark.
The Chilcoot Tunnel of the Feather River Route
Feather River Route
The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...
was built by the Western Pacific Railroad
Western Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
near the pass and is currently used by the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.