“Quietude with the absence of business care” was how the Northern Enterprise characterized the new “city” of Jonesville on June 12, 1869. This summer resort community, located in the shadow of Colby Mountain, was built on squatters’ rights by Chico residents in search of outdoor recreation and an escape from the valley heat. Over 150 years have passed and we still venture to Jonesville for the same reason.
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About Colby Mountain Recreation Project
The Colby Mountain Recreation Project is a collaborative effort that envisions 40 miles of new singletrack traversing a spectacular alpine landscape, welcoming a new generation of residents and visitors to seek adventure or a retreat from the world in this undiscovered corner of the Sierras. We need your help to write a new chapter of sustainable outdoor recreation in Jonesville, one that invests in protecting the pioneering spirit of this community and stewarding the natural beauty of the region for the next 150 years. What started as a concept for rebuilding rural economies that had been devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire through recreational tourism, the Colby Mountain Recreation Area has grown into a multi-faceted vision developed over months of stakeholder engagement. The conceptual design now incorporates forest health demonstration sites, environmental education facilities, day-use and emergency response amenities, and an extensive network of multi-use trails. With the support of the U.S. Forest Service, the project will effectively open up an underappreciated corner of the Lassen National Forest to outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. |
Timeline
The Colby Mountain Recreation Project will move forward in four phases:
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Connected Communities
With funding from the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, this project is part of the Connected Communities initiative led by our friends at Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship. The Colby Mountain Recreation Project will eventually form the westernmost node of the 300-mile Lost Sierra Route connecting 15 mountain communities across the region. Establishing a trailhead in Jonesville creates a trans-Sierra trail connection sure to reward endurance athletes and adventurers of all stripes with spectacular views and unprecedented access through the Range of Light. |
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We Need Your Support
Together with your help and our local partners (Butte County Resource Conservation District and Northern California Regional Land Trust), we are currently raising funds for the project’s formal planning phase. These funds will allow us to undertake broader community visioning and input, environmental planning and permitting, and final site design which are all critical steps leading to actual construction of trails and infrastructure. Our goal is to have a shovel-ready project by January 2022!
Together with your help and our local partners (Butte County Resource Conservation District and Northern California Regional Land Trust), we are currently raising funds for the project’s formal planning phase. These funds will allow us to undertake broader community visioning and input, environmental planning and permitting, and final site design which are all critical steps leading to actual construction of trails and infrastructure. Our goal is to have a shovel-ready project by January 2022!
The History of Jonesville
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Supporters and Donors
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