I'm going to formally announce the Feather River Canyon Road Meet, which will take place on October 4, 2025. As the name suggests, this meet will focus on CA 70 through Feather River Canyon, which runs along the North Fork Feather River between Lake Oroville and near Quincy. This is arguably one of the best drives in the western US, and it contains enough bridges, tunnels, railroads, history, and fun roads in a short distance to make any transportation enthusiast quite happy. The road itself is an engineering marvel, as is the railroad that also uses the canyon. If we're lucky, we may even catch a train at the Pulga Bridges, Tobin Bridges, or Keddie Wye, which are among the most famous transportation photography spots in the country.
Given the time of year, the amount of territory covered, and the time required to do the canyon, this will be as much of a "guided day trip" as a road meet, but I assure you that there will be enough to make this worth your time. I also expect this to last a little longer than a typical meet tour, but again, these are roadgeek bucket list items.
The meet will start with an informal breakfast in the Oroville area, TBD.
Leg 1: Oroville Feather River Bridge to West Branch North Fork bridge https://maps.app.goo.gl/MrTppYDu81AEocaM7
Leg 2: West Branch North Fork bridge to Pulga Bridges https://maps.app.goo.gl/YS13H7oCrozV5P288
Leg 3: Pulga Bridges to Tobin Bridges https://maps.app.goo.gl/SxtVycKzdNyi5xYW9
Leg 4: Tobin Bridges to Belden Town https://maps.app.goo.gl/Rzv88dENN7s92jNr9
(Restroom break at Belden Town rest area, which has bridges and an old stamp mill)
Leg 5: Belden Town to Keddie Wye https://maps.app.goo.gl/KptmJA4HtjqVyDAn6
Leg 6: Keddie Wye to Quincy https://maps.app.goo.gl/fBhdqrnqHPJrpqpw6
(Meal stop, TBD)
Leg 7: Quincy to New Bidwell Bar Bridge via Old CA 24 (may include a couple of short stops, potential for a restroom break) https://maps.app.goo.gl/7YiGhS9aCDsGHHWs9
Leg 8: New Bidwell Bar Bridge to Oroville https://maps.app.goo.gl/bNYRcHVZ3HGUpwKs5
I have considered adding a stop after the New Bidwell Bar Bridge at the Old Bidwell Bar Bridge, located inside Lake Oroville SRA. This would likely require paying park admission, but it is the oldest suspension bridge in the western US and was replaced by the New Bidwell Bar Bridge when the dam was constructed.
I know this type of tour may not be for everyone, but CA 70 is too special to not have a road enthusiast event celebrating it.
FWIW the three times I've stopped at the old Bidwell Bar Bridge I just asked the guy at the gate if I could see it really quickly. I was never asked to actually pay during any of the visits.
But yeah, if you're gonna be visiting that area Meet or not that old bridge is a must stop for any road fan.
I vote for yes bridge.
Seems my schedule will more than likely be free for this weekend. Our travel plans for my wife's birthday and for Hawaii have solidified.
Meet Facebook event has been created: https://www.facebook.com/share/1E5fSww2pE/