Canyon Dam, Embankment dam in Plumas County, California.

Canyon Dam is an earthen embankment dam that crosses the North Fork Feather River to create Lake Almanor. The structure holds back water that flows through a series of hydroelectric facilities downstream.

The Great Western Power Company built Canyon Dam in 1910 as part of a hydroelectric development project. The design was changed from a stone structure to an earthen embankment before construction began.

The name Lake Almanor is said to combine the initials of Guy C. Earl's daughters, Alice, Martha and Elinor, with "manor"; the reservoir was named in the early 20th century. The lake is now a summer destination for fishing and boating near Chester.

The dam is located in a forested area and accessible by regional roads in northern California. Visitors should be prepared for changing weather and variable conditions in the mountain terrain.

The reservoir feeds water into a cascade of power plants along the river corridor. This series of facilities demonstrates how one dam functions as part of a larger interconnected energy system.