The Feather River Scenic Byway stretches about 60 miles through some of Northern California’s most dramatic terrain, though the full route spans 130 miles across Butte and Plumas Counties. If you’re driving east-west on State Highway 70, you’ll follow the North Fork of the Feather River as it cuts through a canyon with steep, rugged walls that drop straight down to the water below. In spring, cascading waterfalls and wildflowers line the drive. Come fall, the canyon walls explode with color.

The engineering feats here are as impressive as the scenery — power plants, historic railroads, and the highway itself are all threaded ingeniously through those narrow canyon walls. You’ll see evidence of human determination alongside raw nature at every turn.

For actual things to do with your dog, there are plenty of hiking trails accessing the canyon, including sections of the Pacific Crest Trail if you want something more serious. The river itself offers opportunities for gold panning, and if you’re into water sports, there’s springtime rafting and kayaking. Fishing holes dot the creeks that feed into the main river, so if you’re angling for dinner, you’ve got options.

Small communities along the way — Storrie, Tobin, Belden, Caribou, Twain, and Paxton — have lodging, camping spots, convenience stores, and restaurants if you need to stop. The drive works in either direction. From Oroville, head north on Highway 70 to pick it up, and you can push all the way through to Highway 89 near Quincy, or continue on Highway 70 through Portola and out toward the Sierra Valley on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada.

The byway gives you access to the North Fork, California’s first designated Wild and Scenic River, which is worth knowing if you’re planning to spend time in the water or along the banks.