Little Grass Valley Reservoir, dam in Plumas County, California
Little Grass Valley Reservoir is a man-made lake in Plumas County, set within the northern Sierra Nevada among pine and fir forests. The water fills a forested valley and the surrounding shoreline has several campgrounds and boat launch areas.
The Maidu people lived in this area for generations before settlers arrived for mining and grazing in the 1800s. The dam was completed in 1961, flooding the valley and creating the reservoir that exists today.
The reservoir draws people who come to fish for trout along the shore or from small boats on the water. On weekends, families set up near the water's edge and spend the day outdoors in a way that feels unhurried and simple.
The reservoir is reached by a paved road from the town of Quincy and is open to day visitors as well as campers. Arriving early in summer is a good idea since the campgrounds and shoreline spots fill up quickly on weekends.
The Peninsula Campground is a walk-in only area where no vehicles are allowed, so campers carry everything to their spots under the fir trees. This makes it one of the few places around the reservoir where the nights feel genuinely removed from road noise and parking areas.
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