The Lost Sierra: Peaceful Alternative To Lake Tahoe Area
Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park Was Bought Recently By Jim Foug As An Investment & He Is Loving The Campground Business That Gives Him A Break From The Bustle In California's Sierra Mountains
As most things in the west, European settlement in the area started with a hope and a tale. Thomas Stoddard, a gold prospector in the 1840s, claimed to find a lake filled with gold on the bottom. Naturally, people rushed to what is now Plumas County, California in the high Sierras. The lake of gold was never found, but some miners found some success in the creeks and rivers around. Towns sprouted up, different types of mines came and went, and the area has stayed pretty quiet ever since.
Now people aren't mining for gold, but there is another type of treasure to be found there - peace. In a state like California, which has a huge amount of population issues and traffic nightmares, finding places of peace are sacred. Plumas County is known as the "Lost Sierra" area of the Sierra Mountains. Jim Foug, owner of Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park, has a thought on why the area is called Lost Sierra. "I'm not really sure exactly what it means, but it is sort of a brand name for the area that someone came up with. I think it references the less crowded environment of the area compared the the Lake Tahoe area. People say that our area reminds them of Lake Tahoe from 40 years ago. Lake Tahoe is beautiful and there are a ton of things to do there, but it can also be busy." According to the Visit California, "This alpine wonderland of 8,500-foot peaks, nicknamed "the Lost Sierra" and dotted with turquoise lakes, is decidedly untrammeled." Much of the area lies within the federally protected Lakes Basin Recreation Area, an under-the-radar gem dotted with 50-plus glacially carved lakes. It is basically a recreation-seeking person's paradise. It has adventures like fishing, hiking, swimming and sailing within the area.
Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park was bought recently by Foug as an investment opportunity. "Where I live, in the Bay Area, finding affordable investment real estate that makes economic sense is challenging, so I started expanding my my search, and when I came across this RV Park, I had a gut feeling that it would be worthwhile so I pursued the property," he says. So far, he has really enjoyed it and felt welcomed by the guest that come every year. He says the previous owners did a great job establishing rules and regulations and made it a very smooth transition. Clio’s Rivers Edge RV Park is a very well reviewed park, one of 32 parks out of 16,000 that received an overall Grade A camping experience in 2016, something that Foug is continuing. "It is a very nice 30 acre parcel located right on the middle fork of the Feather River and the surrounding area is beautiful with many recreational options."
The area itself is very beautiful. The Mohawk Valley, where the campground is located, is one of the largest Alpine meadows in the country. “The natural landscape is really nice and access to the many alpine lakes is nearby so it's easy to go for a quick hike, bike ride or go kayaking in one of the lakes or rivers,” Foug says. The town nearby, Graeagle, is a popular tourism spot because it is relatively close to two population centers - Reno (one hour away) and Sacramento (2.5 hours away). Foug says, “For someone like me living in Silicon Valley where it is extremely busy and crowded, driving up to Clio and the "Lost Sierra" is real pleasure. It's like time slows down... I relax and am able to enjoy and appreciate the landscape.”
For Foug, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area is a real treat and, though he definitely likes to take advantage of all the recreation opportunities in the area, his favorite is returning to playing golf after he was done working on the campground during the day. “I played a lot of golf when I was younger, but have not played much over the last 20 years while raising my family, so being able to walk on the course in the evening and play 9 holes was very enjoyable for me,” he says. He liked it, not only because he could return to a sport he loves, but because of the solitude. “I literally saw no one else on the course except for several herds of deer.”
Lake Tahoe has the striking crystal clear water and Yosemite has the vast valleys and gorgeous meadows. They also have people...a lot of people...to interfere with your relaxing getaway. As Foug says, though those places are well worth going to, it almost feels as if one never left where they came from because it gets so busy. Luckily for Californians and others throughout the west, there are plenty of places to play in the Sierra Nevada that are still unspoiled and give people the opportunity to explore the vastness in peace and solitude - to get lost in the beauty of nature.
Lost Sierra Quick Fact Sheet:
What is it? The area around Lake Basin Recreation Area, including the towns of Clio and Graeagle.
Why is it interesting? Basically if one likes the scenery and western feel of Lake Tahoe, but doesn't want to deal with the crowds, Lost Sierra is your best bet. It has plenty to do recreationally and pleasant accommodations like Clio’s Rivers Edge RV Park
What is there to do? Hiking, camping, kayaking, windsurfing, boating, fishing, golfing, amongst many other natural activities.
Andrew Malo
A graduate of Northeastern Illinois University in Education, Andrew has taught for the past decade in Chicago, New Mexico, and Japan. He enjoys tinkering with trucks and motorcycles, woodworking, reading and computer programming.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Clio's Rivers Edge RV Park, located 2 miles from Graeagle. Nestled along the Feather River and situated among towering pine trees. Discover the Plumas and Tahoe National Forests with the Sierra Buttes, an area reminiscent of the Swiss Alps with 100 lakes.