The Lost Sierra region is a Northern California alpine wonderland of 8,500 rugged peaks,
peaceful forests, rushing rivers, verdant valleys and hundreds of glacially carved lakes. Tucked
between the Sierra Buttes and Mount Lassen, the region is about an hour north of Truckee and
the Tahoe region and a little more than an hour northwest of Reno. If you’re looking for off-the-
radar, year-round recreation and adventure among pristine nature, this is the place for you. The
region encompasses charming rural communities in Plumas, Sierra, Butte and Lassen counties,
including the towns of Graeagle, Portola, Quincy, Blairsden, Sierra City and Downieville.
Planned for the region is a 600-plus-mile trail system called the Lost Sierra Route that would
connect 15 mountain towns from Truckee northward to Westwood.
Things to do in The Lost Sierra
The Lost Sierra is a land of pristine nature, and most people live or visit here to enjoy the great
outdoors. About 80 percent of this region is within public lands, including the Lakes Basin
Recreation area. Recreational opportunities here include swimming, fishing, waterskiing,
sailing, windsurfing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, golfing, birding and
winter sports like snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The towns in the region
also offer shops, restaurants, outfitters, hotels, inns, campgrounds and lodges. Annual events
fill the calendar here year-round, from sporting events and bike races to fishing tournaments,
farmers markets, holiday celebrations and those honoring the region’s Gold Rush history.